The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-08-31
ate Of I,lfricla

brought up. Her mother had seen |
to that with the painstaking care Of
one who herself has learned through |
experience.
Elfrida knew at once when con-
fronted by bouillon spoon that It
was not cream scoop and she had
q great scorn for young man who
walked on the wrong side of one
upon the street. She always signed
her formal letters Most cordially
yours" and spoke Of her mother as
IN -mah," and with the accent care
fully placed on the last syllable.
So it is easily realized that ire
mendous self-control was required on
Elfrida's part to endure the young
man who sat next to her at the dance
given by the Royal Order of Brothers
Of omething-or-O Other in Elton Cor
ners, where she was visiting some
hitherto unknown cousins.
When the young man at the dance
had broken the ice by saying that
it was a pretty party Elfrida had re-
coiled. He had not been introduced!
else in this town and she could not
get used to such situation.
There was something familiar
about the young mans face as Ell
frida stared at him, but when the
full sweep Of recollection rolled across
her and she recalled vividly that she
had seen him in Reston's butcher
shop Elfrida almost choked. He was
a nice looking young man. Dimly
she recalled that his father was Res
ton, who owned the shop. Perhaps
| this young man cut off steaks and
sliced bacon!
Il think not" Elfrida said family
when young Reston asked if she would
dance that waltz
.sAll right; the next one, then he
said as matter OF course. Then
he went to hunt for another partner
Elfrida's cousins listened wonder
ingly a moment later to her fire OF
questions and her tale of woe.
.sWhy on earth shouldn't Ned Res
ton ask you to dance?' they inquired.
aHe goes with every one, and we've
grown UP with him! He went to the
college across the river and is good
looking. Why shouldn't he go to the
same parties as WEI?
/ Her sense Of being wronged was
hard to maintain, because young Res
/ ton had proved himself a good dancer
when he had come back and taken his
i waltz. E1frida hal touched his arm
with the tips of her fingers and had
i tried not to breathe as she went
j through the ordeal.
q The next light Ned Reston called
4 and her cousins seemed to assume
4 that the call was meant for their
. guest. for they gradually disappeared
and left her the burden of entertain.
ing him Only a strict sense Of duty
to a guest under ones roof prevented
her from rising and bidding him good
night She resolved in a kind Of
cold fury to have it out with he1
, cousins after he left, and it was WheT
she was taking out her hairpins later
that she realized with a start thai
she had forgotten to do SO. She hat
been thinking about western story
that Reston had told her. In angry
disgust she admitted that he coulG
talk WE'LL Still, the faint of thu
bucher shop hung over it all.
Elfrida Writhed the next day whe1
her cousins. frankly joked her abou
her catch, She felt disgraced
When there were picnics and othe
festivities to which every one Wen
in crowds Ned Reston singled out Ell
frida as a matter of course and nc
body acted as though it was in th,
least extraordinary Nobody tried t,
: help her evade him. 1t was impos
sible to make her cousins realize tn
fine line of distinction which mad
it right for her to eyade him.
Elfrida felt her brain tottering, espe
cially as it grew harder and harde
7 for her to realize in Ned Reston'
! company that the situation was in
: possible for a well brought up youn
! girl. Finally the young part var
: quished the well brought up sectio
> of Elfrida's nature and with littl
lnll1l Oi ChQhAsoAIO h0At vi ollS 1Ce2tIAC
a that Ned Reston was making love t
. her and that she liked it.
: It was some time after Elfrida'
mother was told that her daughte
was going to marry Ned, whose fathe
n was buying him half interest i
. the leading hardware store in Elto
d Corners, that she discovered the dar
n fact that this affluant parent owne
8 the village meat market.
We'll never, never speak of it!
she gasped to Elfrida in anguishe
dismay. The troussean was nearl
q finished and she really couldn't brea
!. off the match. My poor child! Ho,
d could you, how could youi''
g Elfrida regarded her mother In me,
o iative curiosity as though recallin
the time when she, too, had felt ths
g way. Then she laughed-not we
brought up laugh, but an amuse