The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-02-11

her mother used their veranda great
deal, because they were both delicate
women and believed in fresh air.
All the time they worked indefati-
gably. Louise embroidered and her
mother made lace. There was an in
creasing demand for their work and,
fortunately, they both had excellent
nerves and eyesight. They earned
enough to keep them in comfort and
also to lay aside a bit for that inev-
liable rainy day of which they had al
ready lad some experience.
During the day they did their most
difficult work. The easier work was
done at night in the light of candles.
They used candles because they were
cheap and because, to, they had an
old-fashioned aversion for modern
ways of veranda lighting. They made
an unusual and strikingly serene and
graceful picture on a dark night, sit
ting behind the vines working while
the candles made a delicate radiance
round them. They were both small
women and much alike, even though
one was young and the other elderly.
Their faces were of that delicate
plainness which is far more attractive
than mere coarse prettiness. Their
real beauty was their eyes-blue eyes,
perfectly lidded and dashed. Yet many
looked at them, wondering what made
their faces SO pleasant, without once
thinking about their eyes, which were
as unobtrusively charming as their
voices and manners.
They had lived in Westmore about
four years, yet they had so little to say
about themselves that people knew
very little concerning them. They
kept their heart affairs, if they had
any, to themselves, and apparently
! lived lives Of the utmost placidity and
simplicity Kitty West said that visit
to them acted upon excited nerves
with the soothing effect of mild mar
cotic-one went away Gained and
cooled and agreeably drowsy.
Louise regarded Kitty West as her
dearest friend. Kitty was a gay girl,
very pretty and popular. Her &C,
Quaintance with Louise and her
mother had begun over an order for
some embroidery. Since then Louise
and her mother had constantly been
doing things for Kitty at reduced
prices, for Kitty had wheedling ways
and always planned to make her al
lowance go as far as it could. She
made love to Louise and in return
innocent, grateful Louise did for hel
her finest work. And no one knew
that Kitty did not pay her as much
as she could. Kitty salved her con
science by thinking that if Louise was
satisfied with the bargains they made
there should be no cause for discom
for on her part.
At present Louise was embroiderine
a robe for Kitty, while her mother
made some delicate lace for it. Louise
had been at work upon it for a lons
time, and now Kitty was hurrying hel
to get 1t done, as she wanted it to veal
upon a certain occasion-the Ardens
party, in fact, which was certain to bt
a great affair, since news of 1t had gone
forth so far ahead. Kitty felt exult
antly that her dress would be the fines
thing there-finer even than anything
Mrs. Holt would wear, and costing
so little. too.
One evening she took George Val
Tross with her when she went to Sc,
how Louise was getting on with tn
work. George Van Tross was the maj
Kitty meant to marry. He was an at
tractive bachelor. with large means
and of late he had been paying he
some attention, which was distinct,
encouraging, since he gave very littl'
time to women's society.
That particular evening 1t chance,
that Louise was alone upon tn,
, veranda, working by the light of he
candles. Her mother had gone to be-
with headache. 1t was a warm nigh
and she had on a little black gown, Gu
square at the neck and with shor
sleeves. Her fair hair was coiled loosel,
at the nape of her neck in a girlisl
J way. A yellow aura flared round he
from the candles. She looked like al
industrious little saint. George Val
+ Tross sat on the steps and watched he
! curiously, while he waited for Kitty
: He had never observed Louise before
{ though he had known about her. Sh
Q was distinctly out of his sphere. He
!, blue eyes, her little vanishing smile
her low voice were opposed to Kitty
opulent style of young beauty. AS the
went away he said to Kitty:
t You have an interesting little frien
g there"
9 Kitty laughed. why, she isn't
n friend exactly in the sense you NEAR
Y But like her. And then she Is sing,
: larly gifted with the needle. pay he
e a good deal of money"
e II dare say. But that intricat
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