St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-06-30

uating that something was wrong
voicing pity which their. eyes and coun
tenance belied. ...a-z..
Thoroughly exasperated, Mrs. Jennie
was about to give . crushing retort
when Miss Letitia reappeared. <
She was slightly pale, herdemeanol
a mixture of regret and dignity, whil,
. blending Of defiance was depicted il
her erect attitude.
I've had a telegram from Mr.. Lang
worthy; business of family nature
which I shall not be at liberty to di
vulge indiscriminately. compels him t
start for Europe as he sent the mes
sage OF; consequently there will bs
no wedding tonight. That need no,
interfere with our enjoyment Of the
supper; the presents will be returned
to their donors tomorrow. Mr.. Alden
will you see me to the table? The min
lister will take you, Jennie"
Her astounding revelations called
forth = chorus. of obs and abs, and q
dozen excited women began to ply her
with questions, protesting against her
returning the presents, but she waved
them aside. ~
She gave her guests no time to dis
cuss her affairs in groups. but marched
them into the dining-room, some wear
ing from the undiminished pangs OF
curiosity an expression as if they were
being led to instant execution.
Miss Letiti> was the life of the party.
ard the theey tist So fxls een
Tilted did not gain ground; her exs
planation was accepted rs true-as far
az it went. More than one face be-
came blank when Miss Letifianid:
Jennie, be sure to come around to-
morrow and help me pack those pres
ents; some are sorvaluable / will not
be satisfied until they are returned;
fortunately all are labeled"
81 will come, with pleasure, Letitia," !"
replied Mrs. Alden, while Mrs. Ponson-
by whispered dolefully: IF she would
ask me-" -
EARLY next morning Mrs. Jennie ac-
cordingly put in her appearance, find.
ing her friend in exceedingly good
SPIRITS rs st-Ftt EsssF
While tying up gaudy plated cake
stand, a gift from Mrs. Ponsonby, Mrs.
Alden said: i.ttt III IfstH
'.Letitia, why return the presents?
Were you in earnest when you said
there was not much likelihood of there
being a marriage?'' :. .sy
Miss Letitia was bending over the
bed, replacing handsome silver ladls
in its velvet box.
The constrained position may have
been the cause Of her heightened color.
Her face, as she turned toward Mrs
Alden, wore conflicting expressions,
triumph, shame. and over all . half
sad, half defiant look. Her first words
were apparently irrelevant: -
"Tve learned much, Jennie" she
said, as she folded dozeE fine thread.
handkerchiefs and placed them
with lingering regret in the costly boz
they came i'm; ''how exquisite these
are, and like the donor! Oh. yes, was
saying how much had learned since
I had sent out those tickets. I've ale
ways had, too-confiding disposition,
and, while I'm not now a cynic, I've
had eye-openers, plenty of them.
Going about to different stores. rid.
ing windy days, veiled, on the cars,
have given me an insight into peoples
character that has been both painful
and profitable; 1 needn't tell you whom
mean, for see you know. I'm not
fool; the only regret is self.
contempt that I've been taken in
them so long, but I've never outgrown
J girlish pleasure in being liked.
You had your husband and chill
lren, and I never begrudged wives and
mothers their happiness, for my life
had been healthy. happy one, and 50
am / q spinster that l be.
ieve was born one; I've never seen the
nan I have ever imagined could
Iancy, but there was one thing l did
want"
Mrs Alden had listened sympathet.
cally; as Miss Letitia paused for
,reath she ventured to speak. what
vas tuat, Aetlt1A
"You may laugh. Jennie, if you wish,
nut that was no more nor less than .
"What2 Do you mean that"
''I mean, and / know it will 70 ne
urther, that I couldn't have a trous-
eau without a marriage, and that was
vhy / sent out cards. Don't you un-
lerstand, Jennie? The marriage could
lot take place-because there was no
bridegroom at all; now it's OUT.
For once Mrs. Alden was surprised
'eyond the power of expression. but |
vhen she did recover her merry laugh
er was delightful to hear and w,s
oined by Letitia. ' i
"What = good joke!" gasped Mrs.
ennie. "wouldn't it make the Rich
aond danes open their eyes? It shall |
o NO further, though would like Allyn
. know, if you have no objection.
That would Mrs. Ponsonby sayy'
sEmbellish it until We wouldn't
now it; but there's one thing she
ont enjoy any more; expectA tions of |
AarinG my fortune. I shah leave my
loney as 4 fund for old meidss trous.
Globe