The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-01-02

soon think of going out in front of the
house and confiding in our old stone
post"
The tears came into Mary's eyes.
She was silent.
1t was at this moment, perhaps, an
opportune one, that Mrs. Owens came
into the room.
What, Mary, not ready for the the
atre yet?' she said. ITS almost s
O'Clock. Why, Mr.. Carpenter, am glad
to see you! I'm sorry We haven't an
extra ticket. 1t looks so inhospit-
| able" and she ratified on.
Mr.. Owen came in too, and Mary
went up stairs to put on her things
When she came back Mrs Owen was
still talking, David pretending to lis
ten, and Mr.. Owen reading the even
ing paper. Then the three theatre
goers went out with more apologies,
and when their footsteps died away
David went out after them
He tripped on something at the
threshold and fell down the front
steps tearing his clothes. When he
got up he laughed dismally at this
unnecessary excess of misfortune.
What a successful evening"" he
said under his breath as he walked
away.
He was light hearted when he en-
tered the house; irritated and cross
when he came out. 1t makes very lit
tie difference at the end Of a mile
run how you felt before you began.
AS soon as David had heard the
theatre mentioned at the Owens he
had thought:
Then I'll go to see Violet Ander-
son."
Pleasant thoughts came back; the
struggling past, the successful pres
ent, the glorious future. Violet would
not receive him as Mary had done.
He rather thought he liked Violet
better than any girl he knew. Mary's
ideas were too much like mans.
She had a splendid mind, but after all
it is nice to have women feminine.
And they ought to be fond of music!
Mary could not tell one tune from an
other, whereas Violet-perhaps she
would sing tonight. When a man was
married it would be nice to have some
one to sing to him when he came
home from battling with the world
and beating it, David added, throwing
out his chest.
He did not want to come home and
argue and get cross and be told that
success was a bad thing He smiled
at this last idea and also at pleas
ant contrast which had suggested it.
self next.
Violet was sitting on the steps of
the front porch, near her father and
mother, when David made his appear
ance. He smiled as he saw the per-
feet taste and elegance of her simple
summer dress, and contrasted it with
some unfortunate inharmonious col
ors which he had seen not long ago.
After shaking hands all around, he
sat down next to Violet. Mr.. and
Mrs. Anderson set out to make a call,
leaving the young people alone.
The gentle south wind carried to
them the fragrance of the lilac in a
neighboring garden. In the next
street children were still playing,
though it was high time they were in
bed, and their voices were waited to
David and Violet softened by the dis
tance
1t was one of those evenings when,
somehow, one finds difficulty in low
ing ones neighbor. David found none.
How did you like staying at the
Callamores?" asked David. "Are
young married people agreeable at
home?"
81 didn't have an especially good
time," Violet replied, "but they did.
Do you know l rather envied them.
and wished l was married or engaged
or something"
If something" stood for "in love-"
David began to feel as if he were
something"
1t was pleasant to sit in silence. but
it was pleasanter to hear Violet's
voice on the night air. So he spoke
to her again, merely that she might
answer him.
"The only trouble with being mar
ried or engaged is that you must be
married or engaged to some one"
"And you think l shall find difficulty
in bringing any one to the point?" she
inquired, smiling.
He could not help being embar.
rassed. mo, l don't mean that. Only
l thought you might feel like being
in love and yet not know any one you
cared for in that way"
She half rose from the piazza step
and adjusted her dress so as to sit
more comfortably. Il think l shall be
able to find one,' she said.
Her reply set him thinking. But
you cannot think reasonably about a
beautiful girl Of twenty when she is
sitting next you on a piazza step.
David was conscious Of certain ab-
surdity in the attempt.
Wont you sing to me, Violet?" he
asked.