The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1912-01-30
Hopes

uClIy ALI OO VI ~ -" oON-
that Miss French felt that she. the
fiattered recipient of these precious
condolences. might even be willing to
accept the name OF Smithers in ex-
change for hers. for such perfection
and virtue would come with It.
Miss French was passing a few
weeks at a health resort There she
had fallen into the company OF Mrs.
Smithers SO much that she felt 1t was
no coincidence when she found Mrs.
Smithers seated in her favorite cor
ner sewing or when she went for a
walk t the springs and found Mrs.
Smithers slowly moving thitherward.
to be easily overtaken.
On all such occasions Mrs. Smith
ers reveled in blissful ~recollections OF
beauties In her sons character or In
golden dreams of his future.
Miss French listened with a flutter-
ing bosom. 1t was not surprising that
her previously untouched heart
throbbed deliciously when Mrs. Smith;
ers told of the chivairy in her Johns
nature. Did an act OF bravery or
heroism reach her ears, never was,
she at a loss to recall something in
Johns brief but brilliant career that
put the heroism OF others completely,
in the shade. John was a lover Of all
things noble. of all good and true and
upright things, and he abhorred all
mean, weak. contemplate natures as
<hNr0,0h1v DC ho hofoA doNoft 0nA
sin.
II a child crossed their paths Mrs.
| Smithers saw In 1t, not her own pleas
ure and love in perfect childhood. but
Johns. John couldn't see a child on
the street without stopping to speak
to 1t. And generous! And kind! And
brave! And handsome! Oh, thoughts
of John brought tears to his mothers
eyes!
So when Mrs. Smithers pressed
| Miss French's hand tenderly and
whispered in a voice trembling with
emotion that John was coming to see
| his dear mother the following week.
| and that Mrs. Smithers looked for.
ward to the Joy OF letting Miss
French share the delights OF his pres
ence. Miss French pressed Mrs.
Smithers' hand in return. AS she did
so she felt a thrill of warmth and
happiness cross her heart.
It was most exciting and romantic
to think that she was loon to meet a
man who was almost. II not quite. per-
feet.
She listened with something OF the
mothers own excited intensity for the
carriage wheels on the day OF Johns
arrival. The thought even crossed
her mind that she ought to express
her appreciation to Mrs. Smithers for
giving her this great pleasure. She
pictured herself as she might be in
the future, as q blooming Mrs. Smith.
ers. sheltered and protected by John.
the envy Of all her friends. the pos
SCISSOR of absolute happiness.
Why did she feel 80 hopeful? Well
hadn't Mrs. Smithers assured her tina,
John was 80 attached to his mother
that he wouldn't dream Of falling IL
love without his mothers sanction!
And hadn't Mrs. Smithers looked
the world over In vain for a wife
worthy of John-iooked until she wal
almost tempted to admit that there
wasn't Q girl in the world capable o1
filling that exalted position! Blu
now Then Mrs. Smithers had smilet
meaningly at Miss French and had
patted her head. Wasn't that reason
enough for Miss French TO anticipate
. perfect future
When the carriage finally arrived
Miss French watched with an inten
sity that hurt, IL each passengel
stepped out of it. But when 1t wa
finally emptied she sighed q deep
deep sigh OF regret.
He hadn't come!
She reached for Mrs. Smithers' han,
to comfort the poor mother-but /
was gone. and so was Mrs. Smithers
With o~utstretched arms Mrs. Smith
ers was racing down the walk towar'
a wizened little man with a fast in
creasing bald spot and a p%ropensit,
for loud talk who was pickering witt
the driver over the fare and demand
ing his rights in a high pitched voic,
that reminded Miss French OF a Puncl
and Judy show His mother reache,
John before his transaction was cor
pleted and she threw herself into hi
arms before he a aware OF he
presence.
oh. hello. ma" he said. casually
but in a penetrating voice. 1T wa
sort OF hard to get away-my book
diant balance last night. and though
I'd have to stay over another day
but exed them Here. ma, you carr
this satchel. will you? ri carry tn
other u
Mss French fed precipitateiy fror
tneil ont,t that cue right escape tn
promises ~introducfson She require
II" e &c clear sway the debris OF he
ruiz ed air castles