St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-02-23

l5peellhg some WoIo oI pleasure anu
approval.
But none came. Ada sat quietly
in rocking chair, her eyes fixed
meditatively Gil the floor, her fingers
toying with the handle Of her par
asol.
At length, when the silence was
becoming oppressive, she looked up,
and a faint sigh escaped her lips.
Il wish you could hear Flora Day
mouth play that she said. s'she
plays it with somuch expression. 1t
would be perfect revelation to YOU 2
Il wish j could, answered Clara,
| politely, but her face flushed, and she
had to turn away her head to conceal
the tears that sprang to her eyes.
Belle must sing for us, said gen
tie Nellie, anxious to smooth matters
over. ..She hes delightful voice. !"
ooh, you're partial in your praise, !"
said Belle, as she went to the piano.
Miss Ada may. not like it at all. !.
She took up "a song which she knew
Nellie liked, and sangit with unusual
power and expression.
There! What did I tell You"
cried. Nellie, as the Inst note died
away. Wash that fines"
s'That used to be considered a pref
ty song" admitted Ada, reluctantly,
..but no one sings it now. I heard it
sung SO much By the servants in the
hotel where mamma and Istayed last
winter that learned to actually hate
it.
A hasty rejoinder trembled on
Bellies lips, but she repressed it when
she saw Nellie's look Of distress, and
relieved her feelings by only closing
the piano with a bang
Suppose we all go over to my
house and play lawn tennis" said
Nellie. There's a lovely breeze, and
we can have two on side.
No lawn tennis for me-" said Ada.
TT is entirely too vigorous an amuse
ment.
sThen viii You play croquets.
asked Clara.
''Croquetl Nobody plays croquet
now. It's all out Of fashion"
eve play it" said Belle. eve
don't care for the fashion down here
in the country"
30, Isupposenot, rejoined Ada,
letting her languid gaze wander over
Bellies plain, short gingham dress
and stout shoes.
well, what can we do?' asked
Nellie. SsWe mustn't waste the whole
morning in talk
SYou three can nplay croquet, and
I will sit on the porch and write g
letter." said Ada.
This met with the approval Of the
other three and Clara Left the room
to find paper and ink.
There was small table on the
porch, and a comfortable chair, and
Ada settled herself down with an air
of relief and drew toward her the
box of paper Clara had brought. #II
Are YOU sure yonlhave everything
you need" asked Clara, politely.
q think So. answered Ada, as she
dipped her pen in the ink.
But she had written only half
dozen words when she pushed the
paper away with an impatient move
ment, and leaned back in her chair.
Clara was halfway down the steps,
eager to join Belle and Nellie at the |
croquet ground, but happening to
glance around, she saw Ada's attitude
and came back at once.
eNhat is the matter9 she asked.
Isn't that a good pen?'
Yes, the pen is good enough, was
the languid reply.
@Then perhaps the Ink .
No, it isn't the ink. It's the pa
per. To be perfectly frank with you, |
| never could write on cheap paper,
But you needn't mind. / have some
in my trunk that just suits me, and |
my letter can wait I'll walk down
with you to the eroquet grounds, and |
look on while you play
Mortified and embarrassed, Clara
could say nothing in reply, and she
signifed her assent to this arrange
ment only by nod. And she had no
heart to enjoy the. game. 1t was a re-
lief to her when it was over, and Nell
lie and her visitor were gone.
Shes the most hateful girl I ever
knew cried hot-tempered Belle,
when Clara told her of the remark
Ada had made about the paper. ssItl
seems to me she don't know how to /
say anything except unpleasant
things. When / mentioned te her
that next Friday would be YOUR
birthday. she said she supnose;1 Won