The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-03-25
BY J. LINCOLN RANDALL.

AIR. HILTON HEY was eligible.
ttl Every one knows what tina
means. He had lately taken an oil
fashioned house near the village D:
Paxton. Also the Office of eh0rch war.
den at the village church.
Now, within the borders of Paxton
lived six single women more or less on
the after side of 40. Hilton hey was
On the after side of 40, too, pleasant
to look upon, and blessed with d CON
siderable portion of this worlds goods
Smurthwaite, widow; high tead" with
Miss .Heeley, golfed with Miss Evans
audited charity accounts for Mrs
stansfeld = likewise widow - lunched
with Miss Flint and her small nephew,
and practiced duets for q village CON
cert with Miss lord.
Then arose a cloud trife bigger
than 2 mans hand-a girl with red
gold hair and blue eyes, the new lady
organist Of Paxton church
The six went in for the unity which
is strength, and reported individually
On the situation as soldiers who mark
the movements of the enemy.
He saw her home from the choir
practice last night" said Miss Heeley,
who had dropped in to tea with Mrs.
Stansfeld.
SO Miss Evans told me- returned
Mrs. Stansfeld. I'll be bound she
kept him talking at the gate for long
enough. With no one to fetch her in
and shake her!''
Miss Heeley rose to 60. As she hur-
ried down the lane she met Miss Flint,
who burst into a communication with
out preliminary.
They're both in the church now!
She's practicing, and he's sitting in the
front pew. Miss Lord peeped in and
saw them!'
And Miss Evans told Mrs. Stansfeld
that they stood at Bridgets gate last
night talking for long enough with
their heads together!" gasped Miss
Heeley
7 shall speak to the vicar said
Miss Flint, decidedly. I'm going to
Mrs. smurthwaites and I shall ask her
whether she doesn't consider it our
duty
Good graciousl" said Mrs. Smurth-
waite, on hearing the news Il had
no ideaa
Nor had any of u.s." interrupted
Miss Flint, until we sag for ourselves.
1t shows how easy 1t is to warm
viper in your bosom without know
ing it!
Mrs. Smurthwaite Informed Miss
Lord the same evening that she was
no prude. but that when it came to
surreptitious kissing at dusk beneath
a Iaburnum tree the situation passed
beyond her comprehension and expert
ence Which was certainly correct
The vicar had a sudden attack Of
pleurisy, and the six took it as a per-
sonal insult. Miss Flint suggested
that the quiet of a sick room would be
conducive to a consideration Of af-
fairs, ard wished to write instead of
waiting for an interview. Then Miss
Evans said: "Why not write to the
grip And the idea took.
It was not a nice letter. It con-
veyed scathing disapproval Of what
the writer's termed shameless con-
duct" and demanded that it should
be discontinued, if only for the sake
OF the villagers, who were as yet hap
PLY ignorant of the ways of adj
Venturesses.
Its one redeeming feature was that
1t bore the signature of all the six.
They addressed it to Miss Joyce Chill
ferns Laburnum cottage posted it
and went their ways.
Joyce Chiltern was singing a little
French song from sheer light hearted
ness when the postmaa arrived next
morning.
The song ceased abruptly as
Bridget's soapy hand came round the j
parlor door.
:, "A letter, my dear"
80, You dear." cried Joyce, snatch
ing it eagerly.
But her face fell when she saw the
handwriting, She tore open the en-
yelope and read.
A sudden wave of color Tushed to her
cheeks; then she turned white, and
the tears gathered in her eyes.
1.-The pigs." she said-'tthe horrid,
hateful pigs!''
e 10 -
Hilton Hey was standlng before a
pier glass in his dining eoom.
Not bad, | fancy he said, survey
ing his reflection critically. Lots Of
fellows younger chan I an have gray
hair. I don't suppose shes more than
q. though. What would that matter
If she To- That's where I'm such
fool. daren't show her the least lit
tie bit that care for fear she'd snub
me. Who the dickens is coming at
this hour?a
Miss Cbiltern to see you. sir
Goodness n1uttered Hilton Hey.
Joyce looked round nervoqsly as she
entered the room, and Hilton Hey
marked her agitation.
Good morningt" he said, brightly,
holding out his hand. What q lovely