The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-03-05
Miss KnollyS Decides

WlOO AuVllJO U0Ulu0O'
Its evident you're English, Miss
Knollys.' said Dicky Norris, regard
ing his vis.a-vis scrutinizingly.
He and Miss Knol,ys were sitting
n the quaint little garden of the pen
sion. in Paris where Miss Knollys and
1er mother we're spending the month
" June. 1t was a court surrounded
IN all sides by the walls of high
houses, under one Of which the sally
port ran.
The walks were graveled, the flow.
,r beds we're in exquisite order. and
n the middle Of the space q circle
vas marked of by a hedge Of box
wood. Directly opposite the entrance
% this circle was q little gray stone
statue of some nondescript Venus.
At the foot of the pedestal stood a
little iron table. and all round the
hedge of boxwood was q circle of iron
:hairs.
Miss Knollys had pale gold hair,
beautiful blue eyes. the proverbial
English skin of milk and roses. and
aer name was Violet. As an English
girls should be. She wore white
waist and a tan lincn skirt, and she
vas fresh and wholesome looking, but
here was not vestige Of style about
aer.
She was sit:!Eg with her slippered
toes crossed-2.geon-toe her
slippers had ls~, fiat heels-what
more eloquent statement Of her utter
lack Of coquetr.! she was EN-.
broidering on an enormous tea cloth
specimens Of all the flowers Of the
aeld, arranged in heavy wreath
above the hem.
why is it 80 evident I'm Eng
lish:'' she asked. scowling little as
she laid q strand of scarlet silk over
. pale, pink rose, and then calmly be-
gan to execute art by picking out
with 1t the high lights on the unof-
tending flower.
Didn't you tell me that you had
been working on that thing for two
years." asked Dichy.
"Yes."
well. IN American girl would
either have finished It in a week or
have put It In the IRE, or have given
it to the cook"
"Oh! Mr.. Morris. Why" asked
Miss Knollys. in mild astonishment.
Because they do everything in a
hurry in our country" said Dicky.
But they couldn't do this in a hur.
~" protested Miss Knollys.
'Then they wouldn't do it At all"
said Dicky. Il don't believe they'd
do it at all, anyway. 1 know mother
buys all her stun like that in the
shops or at the woman's exchange.
"Oh! Isn't your mother fond of nee
my mother? / believe she could
make q ball gown out Of a carpet in
afteen minutes II she wanted to; she
Is SO awfully clever, but she hates
the sight Of . needle"
"Oh! how unfortunate" said Miss
"why?" demanded Dicky.
"Oh! a woman who doesn't sew
must 50 often be at q loss for occupa.
tion."
Goodness, no! Why, mothers al.
ways on the 60. She goes out good
deal and belongs to all kinds Of clubs
md yet she manages to be at home a
good deal, too, and she and dad sit
md hold each others hands and call
each other dear They're fond of
each other. Are yours?'
"You have no right to ask me such
! question:" said Miss Knollys, cold
y.
"Oh, yes I have. You know very
veil that I'm in love with you"
"And does that constitute a right to
2ry into private adairs?"
"It isn't prying. 1 am naturally in.
crested in your ideas Of marriage"
There was q silence for q moment.
Then Miss Knollys said:
my mother was in love with her
Iecond cousin. captain In the Guards.
The second son Of lord was in love
With her. The eldest son was deli
ate and . eonfrmed bachelor. She
married the second son. Then the
eldest son married and has now four
,oys. In my country we think a
yreat deal Of rank. Those are my ideas
II marriage"
"Well, they're SHY ideas!" said
Dicky. you'd better get over them.
Will you marry me?"
II can't" said Miss Knollys, faint
y, bending over her work.
Because Of the little French
.ount!'' said Dicky, not impertinently
" isalonsly. ..aaA
~, h4.N lIfnk atlil lover ana sha