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

IlhE AMI UNIlhEs
"oh, Clara, cried Belle Pritehard,
running into the sunny morning
room where her sister was diligently
practicing on the piano, I've just
heard such a piece Of news! I've been
over to see Nellie. Armstrong, and
they're going to have company-tWo
girls from the city.
''When are they coming inquired
Clara, excifedly. sas
Es0ne Of them is coming to-day"
answered Belle. E|They both can't
leave home at the same time, for their
mother is an invalid. What makes it
SO interesting is that they are twins,
and 50 much alike that at first no one
can tell them apart. Nellie never
met them, but she saw them once at
a concert. They sat just in front Of
her, and she says they are SO pretty!
It is Ada who is coming to-day, and
she will stay two weeks, and then
Elsie will come. Won't it be nice?
Nellie says she will expect us to help
her entertain them, for she wants
them to have a real good time
"We'll be glad enough to help" !"
said Clara. "Pve been longing all
summer for a little fun. Well go
fover. this evening and call. HoW-old
is Ada?o
Sixteen; just your age. Nellie
sent for new croquet set to-day, and
handsome racquet. So we can have
all the croquet and lawn tennis We
want
The girls could scarcely settle
themselves TO anything all day, and
were very impatient for evening to
come. Theyled such quiet lives that
it seemed a very important and eg=.
citing event to1neet a stranger.
They started for Nellie's as soon as
supper was. over, and Clara carried a
large bouquet of scarlet geraniums
as an offering to her friends guest.
It was only q short distance to the.
handsome stone house in which the
Armstrong; lived, but Clara and
Belle walked so fat that they were
tired and warm BY the time they
reached it.
And they felt painfully conscious
of their flushed faces and dusty shoes.
when Ada Howard rose from the.
bamboo chair in which she was re-
clining and. looking delightfully."- cool
in her white linen dress and blue
ribbons, came forward to meet them
But it was not the contrast she af-
forded to themselves, nor anything
she said, that made the girls feel
shabby and plain, but the way IN
which she looked them over.
Il felt like a tramp actually like
tramp Belle said to her sister, IN
confidence, that night fI don't be-
ieye I'll put on my blue lawn again
without shudder Her eyes seemed
TO light on that darn on the sleeve
the first thing, and | knew she noticed
that tuck had been LEI out in the
skirt. And when you and Nell went
into the house for a glass of water,
she took occasion to ask me if / had
trimmed my hat myself, and to say
that the trimming nowadays was al
ways put on the front, and that it
was dreadfully old-fashioned to have
it on the back. She said she thought
I'd like to know, for of course We
couldn't be expected to learn the lat
est fashions in such a place as this. !.
ssshe is d little odd, !. Clara admit
ted, reluctantly. "ishe said she won-
dered how I had kept that white can
vas belt 50 clean, for it must be five
years at least since they were worn.
/ felt ashamed of myself for minding
such a petty thrust, but [ did feel ii. |
However, she is Nellie's guest, and
we must make the best of her.
Yes, ] suppose so, sighed Belle;
but don't belieye.I shall everI like
her. She is an awful disappoint-
ment."
Making the best Of the stranger
proved very trying work indeed
Nellie came over the next morning
with Ada to call, and the latter asked |
Clara to play something on the piano.
Clara, conscious that she played
well, for she was devoted to music, |
and had been well taught, chose a !;
little serenade Of Schubert's, with |
which she was very familiar.