The Afro-American advance., 1900-06-02

posite what il said. Ii is never too late
to learn-wisdom.Z Good morning.
must 60 home.
Mr.. .Ponsonby gazed after the car
riage and said to her dear familiar
friend:
Mrs. Alden does have the knaek Of
taking one by surprise; she eonfuses q
person So; of course, | didn't mean
that is. didn I intend to own
THAT you took that way of assuring
Sophy number of bouquets and pres
ents? / thought you didn't mean TO
say that. dear,,di you" suggested
the friend. sweetly.
Miss Letitia's wedding night had ar
rived. She was looking extremely hand
some aud accepted the effusive eompli-
ments of her friends in apparently good
faith; they declared she did not look
day over 10.
As Yet the groom had not made his
appearance; Miss Letitia had excused
herself moment or two, but as the
minutes heightened into an hour with
out her returning. significant glanees
were exchanged and the buzz OF many
voices was heard.
1t is astonishing how much pleasure
some people derive from the distress
or modification of their friends. Mrs.
Ponsouby and her coterie were lnsln-
uating that something was wrong;
soicing pity which their eyes and eoun-
tenance belied.
Thoroughly exasperated, Mrs. Jennie
was about TO give crushing retort'
when Miss Letitia reappeared.
She was slightly pale, her demeanor
| a mixture of regret and dignity, while
a blending of defiance was depicted in
| her erect attitude.
I've had telegram from Mr.. Lang
worthy: business of a family nature,
which | shall not be at liberty to di-
yu,ee indiscriminately, compels him to
! start for Europe as he sent the mes
sage off: consequently there will be
no wedding tonight. That need not
| 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 a chorus of obs and abs, and a
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 Letitia was the life of the party,
and the theory that she had been
Tilted did not gain ground; her ex'
planation was accepted as true-as far
as it went More than one face be.
came blank when Miss Letitia said:
Jennie. be sure to come around To-
morrow and help me pack those pres.
ents; some are so--yaluable | will not
be satisfied until they are returned;
fortunately all are labeled"
II will come. with pleasure, Letitia,"
replied Mrs. Alden. while Mrs. Ponsoh.
by whispered doiefully: "If she would
ask me-"
Early next morning Mrs. Jennie ac.
cordinglY put in her appearance. find
ing her friend in exceedingly good
spirits.
While tying up a gaudy plated cake
stand, gift from Mrs. Ponsonby, Mrs.
Alden said:
"Letitia, why return the presents!
We're you in earnest when you said
there was not much likelihood of there
| being a marriage?"
Miss Letitia was bending over the
bed. replacing a handsome silver ladle
| in its ve,vet 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 a hall
sad, half defiant look. Her first words
were apparently irrelevant:
"Iye learned much. Jennie" she
said. as she folded q dozen fine thread.
cambric handkerchiefs and placed them
with lingering regret in the costly box
| they came in; how exquisite these
are, and like the donor! Oh, yes. was
saying how much had learned since
| | had sent out those tickets I've al.
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 ears
have given me an insight into peoples
| character that has been both painful
| and profitable; needn't tell you whom
/ mean, for / see you know. I'm not a
sentimental fool; the only regret is self.
contempt that I've been taken in
them so long, but I've never oufgrown
girlish pleasure in beipg liked.
You had your husband and chill
dren, and never bcgrudged wives and
mothers their happiness. for my life
had been a healthy, happy one, and 80
completely am | a spiDster that ! be-
| lieye was born one; I've never seen the
man l have ever imagined / could
fancy, but shere was one thing / did
want"
Mrs Alden had listened sympathet-
ically. as Miss Letitia paused for
breath she VeBtured to speak. What
was that. Betiiia ~
you NAV laugh. Jennie, If you wish,
but that was no more nor less than a