The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-02-02
CLARA'S CONVERSION.

Its your own fault, Clara" sal
Walter May.
"Of course it is" cried out Clara, pas
sionately, stamping her foot on tn
carpet. do you suppose l don't kno,
it perfectly we'll? And that is wha
makes it SO hard-oh, go cruelty har
to bear."
The fact was that Mr.. and Mrs. Wal
ter May had begun life at the wroni
end.
Clara Calthorpe was pretty youn,
girl, just out Of the hotbed atmospher,
Of fashionable boarding school. Wal
ter May was bank clerk who had no
the least doubt but that he should ul
timately make his fortune out o.
stocks and bonds.
Clara" he had said to his youne
wife while the golden circle of the
honeymoon was yet OverhadOwins
their lives, would you like country
tfe?"
"Oh, dear, no." said Clara, involun-
hrily recoiling.
Because" said Walter, some
what wistfully, my father and
mother are alone on the old farm
and I think they would like to have
US come and live with them"
Il shouldn't like it at ALL" said
Clara, "and mamma says no young
bride should ever settle down among
her husbands relations"
Mr.. May frowned a little, but Mrs.
Clara had pretty positive way Of her
own. and he demonstrated no further.
But at the years end Walter May
had lost his situation, the clouds of
debt had gathered darkly around
them, and all the pretty, new furni-
ture, Eastlake cabinets, china dragons,
proof engravings and hothouse plants
we're sold under the red flag. They
had made complete failure of the
housekeeping business, and now, in
| the fourth story of third-rate hotel.
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter May were looking
their future in the face.
q
was no sort of doubt about that. She
had given recherche" little parties,
which she couldn't afford. to people
who didn't care for her. She had pat
termed her tiny establishment after
models which were far beyond her
reach and now they were ruined.
She had sent a tear-besprinkled let
ter to her mother, who was in Wash
ington trying to ensnare arich husband
Tor her younger daughter, but Mrs.
calthorpe had hastily written back
that it was quite impossible for her to
be In New York at that time of year,
and still more impossible to receive
Mrs. Walter May at the monster hotel
where she was boarding. And Clara
who had always had vague idea that
her mother was selfish, was quite GER
tain Of it now.
There is but one thing left for you,
Clara said Walter. sadly.
And that"
is to go back to the old farm.
nave no longer home to offer you,
out you will be SIRE of
warm welcome from my father and
mother. shall remain here and do
my best to obtain some new situation
which will enable me to earn our daily
bread"
Clara burst into tears.
10 to my husbands relations?" she
'oobed. "Oh, Walter, cannot"
"Yon will have to-" he said dogged-
Y, or else starve!"
so Mrs. May lacked up her trunk
ana obeyed. And all the way to Hazel
eopse Farm. she cried behind her veil
ana pictured to herself stony-faced
oid man with a virago of a wife. who
WOULD set her to doing menial tasks
~o oVerwhelm her with reproaches
'~ having ruined poor dear Walter"
- Tor he farmhouse itself. she was
qo'te sure 1t was desolate place, with
n AID potatoes growing under the
~Iy Windows, and the road in front
mied with cows and pigs and harrows
aa9 broken cart wheels. But in the
a'iast OF her tears and desolation the
"iver called out:
:, nazeiscopse Farm! Mr.. Noah
- Here's tn 'ouse, ma'am."
a long, low, gray stone mansion, all
stranded with ivy, its windows
vrisht with geranium blossoms and
Me scarlet autumn leaves raining down
~ y. ae velvet-smooth lawn in front.
safa COULD Just see how erroneous. had
Veen all her preconceived ideas, when
'.s found herself, ciasped in arms
- me sweetest and. most motherly of
Old ladies'.
Wy poor dear." said Mrs. May ca
feAsingly.
Iou are as welcome as the sunshine,
knter," said smiling old gentle
nea n spectacles.
CARA was established in the
enair in front of q great fire of
= ssle ioss. and tea was brought in and
~ TWO old people cossetteG and pet.ed