The Opelousas courier., 1903-08-22
Love Assistance.

"My dear, men are good as fetchers
and carriers thoroughly indorse the
opinion Of a lady novelist on the sub
ject-but I don't believe in tying my
self up to a man for life"
THAT may be all very well for you,
Jennie, but then it isn't every young
woman who can be so self-relianr and
so able to make her own way" added
Helen Carron m~editatively. "It's nice
to think that you've got a strong nan
to protect you, and whom you a
help"
well, I don't feel the need of a pro-
%tector," asserted Jennie Nelson quietly.
"And If I have any ability to help, I'll
help myself and take the credit"
I'm half inclined to believe that you
are putting it on" said Helen, testing
ly. Anyhow, I won't utter those
opinions too loudly in case you alter
your mind later on. I have noticed
that Mr. Coyne has been attentive"
ITO you!" interrupted Jennie again.
well, he might do a great deal
woEse!"
And that was all that could be heard
by the young man seated in a shady
nook of the garden.
He had been 1azily reading when
voices fell upon his ear, he had lis
tened with some amusement and curl
osity to the first words of the two
girls-which we have not set down
here; but when they began to talk of
matters matrimonial, his face became
grave and he also dreaded that they
might elect to wander his way and dis
cover that he had been listening.
Then he heard his own name and his
cheek flushed a little
81 wish they had said a little more"
he muttered, after a long pause. tits
like beginning a book and finding that
the last pages are gone. I might have
discovered whether / had any chance
or not"
The problem seemed to be a very
hard one to solve, for Mr.. Harold
Coyne remained in his brown study
for a considerable time. At length he
left the nook with an air of resolu-
ton about his handsome features.
ct suppose we mortals r strange
creatures. I wouldn't mind facing a
dozen savages and fighting for liberty,
but I don't like the idea, Of popping the
question to a woman, and-and not be-
ing sure Of the rep1y!!"
A fortnight passed, and the months
holiday in the delightful country
house was nearly at an end; two days
more and they would all be whirling
away to their respective homes and oc-
cupations, these young people, so full
Of life, youth and Vigor. If Mr.. Coyne
had any intention of making his at
tempt on the affections Of either Of the
girls whose conversation he had over
heard. he had not shown any special
sign Of his Intention. He had been
attentive to the two girls, who were
almost ipsenarable;l they were often
accompanied by another cavalier, and,
had he SO desired, the could have had
many q aniet talk with either. but
he had not availed' himself Of the OPP
portunity. The hostess, who had
hoped that he might have chosen Hell
en- Carron, was a trife disappointed at
the thought that the month had slip
| ped away without her desire having
been realized.
"There goes Jennie Nelson" she
said half audibly, as she looked
| through the window and saw the girl
walk toward a bower in an out-of-the
way r 81 thought they were all
out for an excursion. 1 confess" she
added with a sigh as she turned from
the window, "that I don't understand
that kind of woman. I'm old-fashioned
I suppose, but I wonder whether she
has a soul above figures and signs:
She will develop into a professer-or q
professoress-of mathematics, whereas
1t is a woman's part In life to be the
helpmate of a ma and the mother Of
a family"
She left the window with the ides
thnG Jennie had sought that retreat
and had taken advantage Of the alb
sence Of the rest in order to study
some new problem; but she would have
been surprised had she waited q min
ute or so longer and had seen Coyne
strolling in the same direction.
Jennie was leaning back with hel
eyes closed; she had suffered from Z
slight headache and felt disinclinet
for the walk proposed by Helen ant
eagerly welcomed by the others. L
was not that the headache was sewers
enough to prevent enjoyment; she die
not feel quite right, and was just a wet
bit irritable, without being able to ex
plain why.
"Do I intrude, Miss Nelson? Oh, pra.
do not disturb YOURSELF" CAS- sht
sprang to her feet Eyes, please ST
down again-iust as you were. That
right! / want to ask your assistance