The Opelousas courier., 1902-05-03

va Soo Ri&2 o.
or out to the farm with Aunt Rachel?
) We won't urge either course, but you
must decide something before Satur-
day." .
MaryTS mother stood in the doorway,
buttoning her gloves. She looked anx-
iously at Mary, who sat on the lowest
step, holding three open letters that
she evidently was eager to read.
"Wesl, mother dear, here is my last
complete and unconditional deei-
SION"
Really, Mary? You aren't going to
have another before night?"
mo, mother, I've wavered long
enough"
you certainly have"
Don't be .sarcastical' to your one
and only Mary" said the and only
Mary. with an embrace that almost
ruined her mothers chiffon ruchings.
"You see, mother, if l go to Aunt
Rachel's, | shall get so bored that
Aunt Rachel will regret she ever
asked me, and forget that she had ever
labeled me a sunny presence VI
course it would be near enough for
| Cousin Burney to come out and stir
us up: but Burney is so absorbed in
his summer hospital that he can talk
| of nothing else but slum children with
the measles. Burney is a perfect bore
at times-since he got his M. D."
"My dear"
Now don't be shocked with your
own Mary. l don't NEAR anything
dreadful, but I'm not interested in
measles and germs. Now If | go with
you I'll have a lovely time, and Aunt
Rachel will be none the worse In the
end. So l am going with you. Are
you glad?" she asked, with a Wheed-
lesome smile.
"Of course I want you myself, dear;
but Aunt Rachel does need the sunny
presence. She is SO lonely! II you
should change your mind again, re-
member that Aunt Rachel will enjoy
having as many of your friends visit
you as the house will hold" said her
mother.
"Ye-es, I know; but I shall not
change my mind now. In fact, l don't
want to go to Aunt Rachel's. mother.
I don't like farms, and-I would rather
go with you"
A little shadow came " her
mothers face; but she merely said:
Then it is decided that you go with
u.s."
aren't you glad?"
II am always glad to have you with
me. Your father and I would be quite
desolate indeed without you; but,
dear, I wish you would learn to be
more Interested"
I'm undressing people? Perhaps
I shall some time, but / am SO tired of
them now! Burney doesn't know any
other kind; and really, mother, |
couldn't stand a whole summer filled
with a farm-and-and Burney's in
evitable enthusiasm w dirty little
children-aside from Aunt Rachel,
who is always urging me to help
.urney. No, it's dreadful! But I don't
believe in Burney's giving up his sum
mer to keeping children alive who
nave nothing to live for"
I'VE won't discuss that again." her
said, gravely. Il must go
Good-by, dear"
Mary returned to her seat on the
Iteps. Mother doesn't understand"
The thought, wistfully. Il never want
ID Burney to study medicine; and to
i've his time to saving lives that are
'etter ended, when he might at least
ave valuable ones, it is too much. I
imply won't stay neal him all sum- /.
ner and listen to him! 1t will teach
i'm a lesson" she concluded virtuous-
=. (,
She had never wholly forgiven her (,
ousin because he had, against her !
dyice, studied medicine with the In :
of devoting himself to the free
Yards OF the city hospitals for chill /,
rem. :
why don't you do something that ;
I'LL benefit humanity. Burney," she !
ad repeatedly said, instead of keep .
lg children alive who have no past !;
0 present and no future but misery?"
"You don't understand" Burney as :
speatedly had said, that l am reliev- =
lg their misery for the moment. You :
ont know what they may have to
We for. They are little human chill
and have a right to their lives; d
want them, and / shall help them y
eep them" II
You are very foolish and sentimen-
j." Mary said; but possibly she re 3
oected his foolishness and sentiment =
lily more than she admitted. u
II think Burney might at least con-
der his family and come to Califor- q
a. instead of setting up a summer q
resh Air Hospital" she said plain =
yely to herself, as she unfolded her
st letter. g
It was from Aunt Rachel; and it
i'd, In part, Il hope that you will q
END the summer with me. ca
,arie. ] am getting to be an old ni
oman, and won't nave many more
miners. You may fill the house as
lth 'Eretty maids all in a row. IL
u like. Do be kind to Burney. 81
9 Is doing a noble work. Let him M
II you about it."
AS IL he didn't, day and night" g
aculated Mary. " eDo-be-kind to TO
lrney.' I'm not unkind to him. and XII
is chasing a shadow
She began to read her second letter. nj
was from q distant friend, who said
1t: Father says your cousin, Dr.. kn
lrney Harriston, is doing such a fine to
sce OF work this summer with ~ ha