The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-10-31

would haFe walked with 1uftsu move
ments Asort of Int in every step.
AIRS PennyWellha Just froWned at her
son for turning To- look after her Yong
PennyWen Is = scamp. FL be dares "a
hurry out / remember I wish TO speak
70 Mrs. Wamp, the iandladys about some
matter. For the life OF me. I can't think
Whatft is
ind as ! open the door that the sir
3 delicious. The day Is bright and
sunny and perfect AsI descend the steps
wave my hand lightly to Tom Hall, who
g passing on the other side Of the street.
ne stops, looks at me ~inquiringlys and.
finally crosses over.
why, what's the matter?" he axs
claims, coming nearer.
Nothing. Why?"
by George, are you crazy2" as he
slaps me on the back.
Ionly smile at Tom. Somehow the sun
Is so warm and CHEEKY that | can afford
to be afable.
The once IS a dHeary place. A hOrTid,
grinding place. Men come in and inter-
rupt your quietest thoughts. If that to-
baccO scheme / have afoat comes to a
head I am going to take a stfrom busi-
ness. Strange, though, had not thought
business cares irksome before. am to
dine with George Scott tonight. It.
seems there is a difference Of opinion
among the stockholders about the dlvt
dends. When Scott left my Office just
now he asked IL / had heard good news.
He remarked in explanation that !
seemed jolly to-day. Great Heavens,
can It be true that / have not been jolly
all the time! But, then, this tobacco
scheme in Mexico has been on my mind
a good deal Of late.
I'm glad the day Is over. I dined with
Scott. The business wasn't so important,
after all.
At table this morning / took UP the
paper, as usual. don't care much about
the news to-day; but I must makeapre-
tense. l must be careful about holding
it upside down. That young Pennywell
is dull, but he would notice that and sing
it out before the whole dining-room. And
he might make it very embarrassing for
a gentleman Of quiet tastes.
notice that Mrs. PennywelI is staring
at the chair opposite me. 1t must be oc-
cupied. / glance slyIy. It is, and she
has a fuzzy pink bow under her chin thin
morning. Sarah Belle wore pink. like
pink. Ny plate of mullins is steaming
hot. I am sure she'll like them. pass
them across. She looks at me a moment
with wide-open eyes, then, deliberately
famAw4nr wa~r aawrwfn-1F ~Ea ,n11,a til
waiter and requested a plate of mullins
for herself. She placed disagreeable
emphasis on each word. If Sarah Belle
had lived I would have sworn that the
saucy eyes flashing at me and the scorn-
full, willful pout were hers.
I am surprised to find Mrs. Wamp at
my elbow. Excuse me, Mr.. Gray, the
servants made a mistake In placing Miss
Ashley at your table. failed to remind
them Of your wishes. Mrs. Pennywell
has kindly consented to let Miss Ashley
SIT at her table. Hers being the only
with a vacant place"
Can 1 believe my own ears? Mrs.
Wamp speaks to me as Il I were in the
habit Of objecting to people at my table.
She seems to take It as a matter OF
course.
why. indeed, Mrs. Wampr I begin.
I am greatly embarrassed, for I am
thinking Of Sarah Belief mean, Miss
Ashley-picturing her at theStable with
the lorgnette and that young PenHywelt
with his inane grin. Il am sure if Miss
Ashley has no objection to sit here
have none"
Ny face is very red, I know, and you
may hear a pin drop in the silence Of the
room.
She losses her head. know she has
decided on the other table. She turns
about and coolly surveys it. She meets
the insipid smile Of young Pennywell.
She evidently likes the scoundrel. She
pulls Mrs. Wamp down and whispers.
Mrs. Wamp smiles, mods and passes out.
/ am surprised to see the young lady
proceed with her breakfast. / am all
curiosity. She pours the cream over her
oatmeal. / like people who enjoy cream.
Are you going to stay here at my Ia.
bIe?" / venture.
wouldn't it be wise to have the table
surveyed frst?"
"Why?"
Il want to know the boundary line. I
won't trespass any more, and I'll pay
back the muf1Rs / borrowed yester-
day"
Forget about Il" I began. Il mean
forgive me. My mumn plate is yours
and the mullins on It'll stopped /
wanted to say more.
"And you won't care, and you won't
be cross2'
Bless her heart and her Sarah Belle.
like face, But / say aloud, with good.
breeding and reserve. because. of course,
she wouldn't realize about hshing-ponda
and pink sun-bonnets and eurls and
dainty laughs and brown eyes, II should
be delighted"
Romance in Art.
The vicissitudes Of art are euriously
gFf-aaaamkaH R-r "a T.~r--gA a. nj