Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-09-13
ALEXANDRIA, PARISH OF RAPIDES La

fawn, at first, but, quickly comprehend
ing Jobs intent, she stood by and calml,
watched him founder waist-deep through
the water and release her game.
Meantime, she was Joined by a rosy
checked lass, who greeted Job as n
emerged, fish i'm hand, from the water:
"W'y, Uncle Job! You've Just mad,
yourself as wet as water! L declare
you scared me so when you jumped in
Where did you come from?" Then, see
ing that he was becoming embarrassed
she turned toward the beautiful angler
and said:
"This is Winnie Hutton, Uncle Job
She is pas cousin, come from New York
to stay with me month. This is Mr.. JOt
Dunlap, Winnie; Uncle Job, l call him.
but he's no kin, you know. Dear me-
how wet you are! And such big fish
Wy, it's ON Vinnie's hook! | didn't
know that! Amt it funnyi"
Job at once recognized the talkative girl
as Maggie Benton, daughter of Squire
Benton, who lived on large farm hard
by; but he acted like one in dream. He
could not tear his eyes from the face of
Winnie Hutton.
" It's high time for us to go home, VIM
ME, for ma will wait dinner, you know,
and we promised not to be gone more than
two hours, at most. Uncle Job, 1 think
you had better go home, too, and get some
dry pants on; you'll take cold, Pm afraid.
Give me the fish, I'll carry it. Good bye,
Uncle Job. Come to see US, before long,
will you"
Ere Job could rightly get his wander
ing senses home, the two girls had glided
out of sight, among the paw-paw bushes
on their way to Squire Benton's.
Forgetting his wet clothes, Job linger-
ed about the spot. as if inhaling some
what of Vinnie's freshness and rare beau
ty from the air she had so lately favored
with her charms. The oriole twittered
gleefully, as if unconscious of having wit
messed most amusing sylvan scene the
brook threw up its little waves and laugh
ed in babbling way, while, up and
down through the golden mist of summer,
the dragOn-fiies danced to the music Of
the wind.
"Gloryl" said Job, musingly, gazing
at the ground, meanwhile the
water trickled from his clothes. 'That's
q monstrous good-looking girl; awful
sweet eyes she's got. Winnie, Winnie
name-mighty purity girl"
At length, as if suddenly recollecting
himself, Job glanced at the sun, then
went down the stream bit and crossed Ii
)n log. Some laborers he passed on his
way home asked him If he was sick. He
ooked pale, they said. He smiled and
nodded, giving them no other answer.
Reaching his house, neat cottage,
wherein his widowed sister ruled supreme,
lob sat down on the porticO and smoked
lis pipe.
widow.
This reminded him of the fact that he
lad forgotten to bring home his book and
ishing- tackle.
"Didn't get any," he replied, without
aking his pipe from his mouth, or look
ng up. He was listening to the meadow
arks singing in the clover. field Just across
he lane in front of the cottage. His
yes were intrOverted to vision of beauty,
landing in the mid-region of his heart.
For the balance of the week, Job lay
bout the house, silent and thoughtful,
o the great annoyance of the widow, who,
hough pleasant and mild-tempered, was
rigid housekeeper, and, as she tersely
it, "Didn'r like to see fellow
90 lazy to get out of the way"
On Sunday morning, however, there
anne a considerable change. Job in
uired for clean shirt, and was little
ifficult to please in the matter. His alb
ntions were unusually thorough. He
cry carefully trimmed his beard and
rushed his hair, adding little perfnmed
IL. A pair of black and green striped
antaloons were fished up from the bot
Dm of deep clothes chest and critically
xamined. Then speckled, pepper and
alt vest, and blue swallow-tailed coat
assed in review, along with a red neck
e, and fiame-colored silk pocket hand
erchief.
At length, Job was dressed, and, when |
e walked up the aisle of the little church |
the crossroads, that LAY, he was pretty |
observed. He seemed proud |
his appearance, but took his seat as |
sual, and sang the hymns in clear tenor |
Dice, into which the delicious strains of a |
ire alto blended themselves, flowing |
om the lips of the young lady who sat |
18th the family of Squire Benton. The
tile church had never before heard such |
nging. Peculiarly exquisite was the |
of the song
"Love is the sweetest bud that blows,
Its beauty never dies,
On earth among the saints IL grows,
And ripens IN the skies"
This was the concluding hymn, fol-
wed by the minister's brief benediction,
ter which the congregation poured out
, the two front doors, blending into a
'owd, friend greeting friend after the
,mmon custom of country folk in the
Test. 1t was not1ong. before Maggie Ben
m came to where Job stood, and taking
i'm by the arm, fairly pulled him to
here Winnie Hutton and Squire Benton's
ife were preparing to enter carriage.
Here, Winnie, want you to see Uncle
Jb when he's not wet and dripping like
l ash-hopper," cried Maggie, as they
me up.
Mrs. Benton frowned at her mad-cap
,ughter, who ratified ahead, neverthe-
IS.
"He's real good-looking man when
rs fixed up, amt he. Vinnie?"
1t must not be inferred that Maggie
ZEN dreamed of ridiculing Job. Far
ON it. She liked him so well that some
,rsons thought her feelings little ten
,rer than is usual to mere friendliness.
he was young and wild, bred only in the
ughest country school of politeness,
ID consequently not at all refined, as the
ord goes-that was all.
U;np;o ayfapdad har litfla ulovo1 hap6