The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-01-11

~ AM not beautiful-aot rretty
even. I have strong suspicio n
that Emmie, my sister,. considers
: me absolutely plain, and 1 know
for a fact that Jack and Tom, my
brothers. regard me as downright
ugly. When people want to be good
TO me, they call me ''interesting-loo.s-
fng'' and wink at the shape Of my
nose. My hair is bright red, and
have a temper to correspond. In short
my personal appearance and character
leave much to be desired. and, as JACK
says, what Rob could see in me to
but am coming to that later OF.
Emmie is a remarkably handsome
girl, and, though she has never told
me so, I believe she has always felt
intensely sorry for me on account CT
my want Of beauty. She is very sweet
and good, and l am sure she would
willingly have given me a share of
her good looks if that had been posi-
be- However, sS it was rot possible,
Emmie was reluctantly obliged to
agree with me that nature intended
me for an old maid. l had long ago
made up my mind to that; and, money
not being particularly plentiful at
home, knew I should be obliged to
earn my own living at scme time OR
otl<F. l might not have begun quite
~ lDon as did, If it hadn't been for
mother.
When the probler, of Ennie's pres
pects in life had been satisfactorily
settled by her engagement to Charlie
BQprchier, mother began to very
ahout me. fancy she considered my
matrimonial chances dubious, but not
desperate. Anyhow. as soon as Erlinie
was provided for, mother began to
make heroic efforts On my behalf.
That sort Of thing gets on your nerves.
At least, It got on mine. MY temper.
q said before, IS not angelic, and
= those days I lost it half q dozen
sines 4 da7.
last Informed poor mother. with
euits unnecessary violence. that
would perish sooner than marry c1y
onepf the nice young men whom she
noneced, with wonderful optirisn,
. suitors IN embryo. I added, more
over, that I reveled in the prospect Of
cee6ming bache.o- girl; and to provo
ny point. I launched forthwith upon
. course Of lessons in shorthand and
Upewritiag, calculated to fit me for
siaf exalted position in life.
That is how, some months later, I
eame to be travelling twice a Cay be-
1keen Kings Cross and Chancery lane
e the top of Waterloo omnibus. The
1miiy considered that had de-
neaned myself by becoming q type
Ns1teF. butt gloried in my position OF
ytond independence and didn't par
neulxrly dislike the WORK.
NOW. when one has Travelled on top
ue came omnibus for any length Of
- one begins to regard ones fellow
seengers IS quite old friends. At
that was ny experience. l
eied in their company so often
tneir faces became perfectly IA
4 nat to ne. and If. rs sometimes
4 1ened. I came across one Of them
". where. my first impulse was to
Z; e them warmly by the hand, until
- embe-cd that they We're not the
nate friends l took -hem for-that
aed never even been INTRODUCED.
&c was one passenger in whom I
"a abnormal interest. I make
ehamaless confession with due
aiity. AMI in the hope that I shall
- misunderstood. It is quite pos
tnat he would never have occu-
my thoughts to any app:eciable
- II be had not trodden upon
.toes-accidentally, Of course.
said, "Oh, beg your pardon"
= nurmured, Don't mention it."
ead seen him good many times
rc, but it was not until that mo-
tlat my interest began to be
ked. think it must have been
yoice, though I an bound to admit
as face was attractive, too. Then
sd the way he lifted his hat when
mmercd that apology. In short,
t mind owning that he inspired
With very friendly feelings.
Int myself wondering how old he
and tried to steal glance ut
Qnobserved--.only to fiud that he
doing exactly the same thing. or
It Is only natural that a man
g feel slightly interested in q sifi