St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1900-06-30
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: Miss Letitia TrOuSSean :
BY olive Winston Gage. 4
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7 ETITIA HOUGHTGN was going tt
l. be married; consequently many O
her dear feminine friends said It was {
shame, a scandal, for Letitia to think o.
such folly at her time Of life. These
same authorities declared she was 5;
years old adding there was no fool like
an old one.
Letitia was on the sunny side of 45
but did not look as if she were 40, being
handsome, with pretty home, a tidy
income, a kind heart and sound head
The benefciaries of her bounty had
become accustomed to consider her a
spinster, too confirmed a devotee tc
single blessedness to change her state
What right had that old thing to b@
taken in by an impeeunious adSenturer
when she had friends of her lifetime
who naturally expected-she had No
kinspeople-to 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-
celTed. Twenty-Five or thirty women
talking at once is rather confusing,
and as the speakers became excited
the comments became more personal
and assumed an iH-natured turn. 1t
was at church sewing circle, and
tongues were flying faster than
needles.
An exceedingly pretty and richly
dressed woman, guest of the society,
now took up the cudgels in defense Of
the absent.
Ladies, ladies, is this a modern
school for scandal, or church society
held in the basement of a sacred edi-
fee? You all have cause to be grateful
to Letitia; why should you speak of her
SO bitterly now, because she exercises
the right we have all claimed?"
Mrs. Allyn Alden was a leader of So
ciety, whose dictum made or unmade
a newcomer entering. the charmed cir
Gle. Mrs. Jennie, as Mrs. Alden was
generally called, was power, and with
promptitude they proceeded to eat
their words with marvellous ce1erity.
Mrs. Jennie smiled and bade them
good morning. On the way to Miss Le-
titia's she made a gesture as if she had
touched an ill-smelling weed
What power of harm such women
can do at times! / do not pose as
reformer, but l really would like to.
recall the ducking stool for their ben
eft. Poor Letitia!. hope she has not
chosen unwisely.'
Her musings ceased as the eoaehman
drew rein before the pretty old-fash-
ioned garden of the Houghtons. Mrs.
Jennie was met in the yard by the
bride-elect, whose fresh and fair com
plexion had defed the ravages Of time.
With her bright hazel eyes and wavy
light brown hair, she might have
passed for .35 at most.
"Come into the house, Jennie; it's
lovely out here amongst the flowers,
but have some things wish to show
you; the dress has come; am too old
to be married in white satin, so | select
ed pink brocade trimmed with lace.
I have never had 50 many pretty clothes
made at one time in my life, for Inever
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, Letitia? I would
not give my life into the keeping of an
utter stranger"
You needn't be uneasy about me;
ne's very pleasant man, and I'm posi-
tive we will get on very well together;
as for love, we are not young people,
and have said nothing about that. but
We will do well enough as friends. Did
you notice that black and gold visiting
silk, Jennie" ?" 5
Mrs. Jennie perceived that the BRIDE
to-be preferred to talk about her
clothes instead of the man she had
promised to marry, and made no other
effort to drag him into the conyersa-
ton. Miss Letitia brought every article
or Mrs. Jennie's inspection.
DO stay to lunch; I've so much to
ell you yeti I want it understood tlat
meant what said when wrote on the |
cards didn't want presents; please
make my friends understand that, viii |
Tou? | know that they will want to |
rive me presents; you can't know how
slad | am that am 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 |
t angered her afresh with them.
For that purpose Mrs. Jennie drove
Jack by the church, where she found |
he society dispensing. She did not
light, but told them of Miss Letitia's |
rish. She of the sharp tongue gave
hlill little eackle and said:
That means we must give them
fail; she's afraid we won't
i've anything, and takes that means
o make sure
ssWas that the reason you had mo
lowers on the cards when your daugh-
er graduated? Letitia's bouquet was
with a jeweled butterfly. So /
lad you enlightened me; have won
cred why that clause was inserted,
ut had no idea it meant exactly op-
osite what it said. It is never too tate
learn-wisdom. Good morning.
nust go home
Mrs. Ponsonby gazed after the car
iage and said to her dear familiar
riend:
Mrs. Alden does have the knaek of
akino one by s11rurisa. She nonfnsaS