Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1872-11-14
THE OLD REGIME.
A Tale ef the, q cod Old Times I'm lndi-
s..' '' q 'i4@''l diana. 50 s&-rs "t@ , sh .'

49, -E a.F
From the Literary journal r;y ...,l ,.,,,....,,
1t was as pretty country cottage as is to
be found even now in all the Wabash Valley,
situated on prominent bluff overlooking the
broad bottom land, and giving fine view of
the wide, winding river. The windows and
doors of this cottage were draped in vines,
among which the morning glory and the
honey -suckle were the most luxuriant; while
on each side of the graveled walk that led
from the front portico to the door yard gate
grew clusters of pine, sweetwilliams and lark
spurs. The house was painted white, and
had very green windpw-shutters- fash
ioned, to be sure, but cozy, homelike, and
tasty withal. .. .!. .,..r .....s, ~
About the hour of six on Monday morning,
in the month of May, O fine looking lad OF
twelve walked up the path which led from
the old orchard to the house, He was dressed
in loose trousers of bottle green jeans, Jacket
of the same, heavy boots and well worn hat
His face was strikingly handsome, being fair,
healthful, intelligent and bright, though now
it wore an indescribaple family visible shade,
as of innocent perplexity, or possible grief.
The mistress of the cottage was at this time
in the kitchen preparing for the week s wash
ing. She was middle aged, stoutly built,
healthy nlatron, sandy haired and slightly
freckled, blue eyed. and quick in her move
painful to see how strongly she now strug-
gied to master the emotions of sadness that
constantly arose in her bosom like specters
that would not be driven away. .orJ -} u
A bright eyed, golden haired maiden of
sixteen was in the breakfast room, washing
the N nrning dishes, and singing occasionally
snatches from mOurnful ditty. 1t was sad
indeed to see a cloud of regret and half sup
pressed anguish on the fair young face, and
dinlming the earnest sparkle of those usually
merry eyes! asuaan .5Jiag1 - 10 ,.dp10s
Mr. Coulter, the head of the family, and
owner of the cottage and its lands, stood near
the center of the sitting room, gazing fixedly
and sadly at the picture of O sweet child hold
ing white kitten in its lap, which picture
hung on the wall over against the fire place.
A look of sorrow betrayed itself even in the
dark, stern visage of the man. Occasionally
he drew his griZzled moustache into his mouth
and bit it fiercely. Evidently he was chaing
under grief. .r- .,f r...a ,a,e J
The cottage windows were wide open, as
is the Western custom in fine weather, and
the fragrance of the spice wood and sassafras
foated IN on the flood tide of pleasant air !;
from the great locust down by the yard fence
fell the. .twittering prelude to fipch's song.
A white line of fog above the river was
plainly visible from the west windows, and
through the f1eecy veil focks of teal and wood
ducks cut swiftly in their downward sweep
to the water. A golden flicker sang and ham,
mered on the gate post the while he eyed q
sparrow hawk that wheeled and screamed
high overhead. ,.r... q. att ..lw
The lad entered the kitchen and said to his
mother, in a voice full of tenderness, though
hardly audible: Iii ..l.... -. 5...iI .
"In the front room, Billy" answered the
Natron SolRmnly
Passing into the breakfast room, Billy
looked at his sister, and sympathetic fash
of sorrow played back and forth from the
eyes of one of those to the other; then he
went straight into the sitting room, and hand
ed something to Mr. Coulter. -. ... .
The man looked down at his boy proudly,
sternly, sorrowfully. The lad looked into his
fathers face sadly, exultingly, heroically. 1t
was living tableaux no artist could produce.
BILLY" said the father, grayely, 81 took
your mother and sister to church yesterday"
"Yes, sir" ...sl l...- ..a...gr
"And left you TO see to things" ... ..
eyes, sir" replied the boy, gazing out
through the window at the flicker as it hitched
down the gate post, and finally dropped into
the grass with a shrill chirp. 90 g.. ....
''And you didn't water the pigs"
5000! Oh, sir! Geeroody! Oh, me!
Lawsy, lswsy mel"
The slender scion of an apple tree rose and
fell in the hand of Mr.. Coulter; and up from
the jacket of the lad, like incense from an
alter, rose cloud of DUST mingled with the
nap of jeans Down in the young clover of
the meadow the larks and sparrows sang
cheerily, the gnats and flies danced up and
down In the sunshine, the fresh, soft leaves
of the vines rustled, and all was merry in
deed.
Billy's eyes were turned up toward the face
OF his father in appealing agony; but still
with sharp hiss the switch cut the air, fall
ing steadily and mercilessly on his shoulders.
And along the green banks of the river the
willows shook their shiny fingers at the lift
ing fog, and the voices of children going by
to school smote the sweet May wind.
'''Ob, pap, I'll not forget the pigs no more!"
aspect you won't neither.
The wind, by sudden puff, lifted into the
room shower of white bloom petals from a
sweet apple tree, letting them fall gracefully
upon the patch work carpet, and while a
plowman whistled plaintlyely In a distant
field. '- ".i,i -N
ssOutch. Crackee: Oh, pap, pap 70 .'..a
''shet your mouth. or III split you to the
back bone" J. Nv -. - ,.''...-.
How many delightful places in the woods,
how many cool spots beside the murmuring
river, would have been more pleasant to Billy
than the place he then occupied - ,'..'7in' i
"Oh, me! oh, mel" yelled the lad. ~, -" ~
Still the dust rose and danced in the slant!
ing jet OF sunlight that fell across tile room,
and the hens cut at the barn cackeled and
sang for joy over the new eggs laid in choice
places. 3 44'2 s'1' H'..H
At one time during the falling Of the rod,
| the girl quit washing the dishes, and, thrust
ing her head into the kitchen. said, In > voice:
. l,,aE a. slsg-u4 aHfH tnts i "tF -EHl-4t Ha-Eg