St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-06-30
!: Miss Letitia's Tfoassela
r1y oliye Winston oass.
Ims6htoAUASn0nSomDAksn

sntnvn~nS nSn~nSemsentens
7 ETITIA HOUGHTON was going to
II be married; consequently many OF
her dear feminine friends said il was q
shame, asscandal, for Letitia to, think Of
such folly at her time Of life. These
same authorities declared she was IS
years old, adding there was no fool like
an old one. o. .-,
Letitia was on the sunny side of IS,
but did not look as If she were 10. being
handsome, with pretty home, . tidy
i1ceme,akind heart and . sound bead.
The beneaciaries of her bounty had
become accustomed to consider her .
spinster, too confirmed : devotee to
single blessedness to change her state.
What right had that old thing to be
taken in by an impecunious adwenturer,
when she had friends of her lifetime
who naturally expected-she had no
kinspeople-fo be remembered in her
will, not that they, were mercenary,
but that they had sort Of claim upon
her.
Remarks of this kind were freely in
dulged in when the invitations were re-
ceived.s Twenty-Five or thirty women
talking at once is rather. confusing,
and as the speakers became excited
tile cohnments became. more personal
and assumed an ill-natured turn. 1t
was at . church sewing circle, and
tongues were flying faster than
needles.
IA exceedingly pretty and richly
dressed woman, q guest of the society,
ROW took up the cudgels' in defense of
the absent.
Ladies, ladies, II this a modern
school for scandal, or . church society
held in the basement of . sacred edi-
fee? You al have cause to Be grateful
to Letita; why should you speak Of her
so bitterly now, because she exercises
the right we have all claimed?"
Mrs. Allyn Alden was leader Of So
ciety, whose dictum made or unmade
q newcomer entering the charmed cir
ele.S Mrs. Jennie. rs Mrs. Alden was
generally called, was power. and with
ptdnptitude they proceeded to Feat
their words with marvellous celerity.
Mrs. Jennie smiled and bade them
good morning. On the way to Miss Le-
titia's she made gesture as if she had
touched an ill-smelling weed.
"What power Of harm such women
can do at times! I do not pose as a
reformer, but I really would like to
recall the ducking stool for their ben
eft. Poor Letitia! hope she has not
chosen unwisely."
Her musings ceased rs the coachman
drew rein before the pretty old-fash-
toned garden of the Houghtons. Mrs.
Jennie was met in the yard by the
bride-elect, whose fresh and fair COM
pJexion had defied the ravages Of time.
With her bright hazel eyes and wavy
light brown hair, she might have
passed for IS at most.
.'Come into the house, Jennie; it's
lovely out here amongst the flowers,
but I have some things wish to show
you; the dress has come; am too old
to be married in white satin, SO select
ed q pink brocade trimmed with lace.
/ have nsver had 80 many pretty clothes
made at one time in my life, for l never
needed to. I don't think I'm envious,
but when I saw all my friends hand |
some outfits it occurred to me that it
would be an inducement to marry. Do
you not like it?"
..But where did you meet the man
you expect to marry. Letitias I would
not give my life into the keeping of an |
utter stranger"
.sYou needn't be uneasy about me;
he's . very pleasant man, and I'm posi- |
tive we will get on very well together;
Is for love, we are not young people, |
and have said nothing about that, but
re will do well enough. as friends. Did
Won nAtiCe that black and gold visiting |
silk, Jennie?"
!. Mrs. Jennie perceived that the bride
to-be preferred to talk about her
clcthes instead Of the man she Lad
promised to marry, and made NO other
Effort to drag him into the conversa-
tion. Miss Letitia brought every article
Tor Mrs. Jennie's inspection.
.Do stay to lunch; I've 30 much to
tell you yet! want it understood that
meant NhatI said when wrote on the
ards I didn't want presents; please
make my friends understand that. will
nans i knowe thai they viii wdft to
rive me presents; you can't know how
rlad 4 am that 1 ami liked, Jennie"
Mrs. Alden would not shake Miss Le-
itia's faith in the professions of friend
,hip she believed sincere, but when
heir spiteful comments were recalled |
q aneered her afreeh with them. Il
For that purpose Mrs. Jennie drove
,ack by the church, where she found
IAefS4cieV @Pss.ng She dA Anot
IL. She Of tie sharp tongue gave
Arin little cackle and said:
.That speast NJ mhsg give them
vftAout fail: she's afraid We won't i