The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-03-22
Lola: An Idyl.
IFrom All the Year Round. |

a dove-cote on tie gable, and rustic
porch and veranAa. It stood in O for
est country, and with it's garden, or
chard, and scraps Of yelvety pastur-
age, was surrounded on many sides by
trees climbing d, heights, trees dip
ping and courtesging in hollows, trees
wading into the river where the red
sided cattle Lowell to drink, trees w.
in soft heaps against the silver grays
Of cloudland with mysterious blue
mist behind their boles.
The morning glitter was on every
thing as the master of the house, going
out with his dog, stopped and spoke
over the low garlen wall to his wife,
who, with handsin her apron pockets,
was standing gaiing attentively at her
bee-hives.
Let Fan have the satin for this
time, bat she must try to do with less.
Our living is too expensive"
81 have just been thinking of where
we can economic" }" replied the wife,
in an irritated tone. eve are too
many in the house for one thing. It
is time that girl Lola was earning her
"Humphj" said the husband, II
think she earns i already. She saves
you a nursery governess."
I can teach the children myself"
was the reply; "and their sisters
must learn to help. Lola gets nothing
from US but food and shelter. It would
be only fair to let her go into the
world"
"She's q shy thing, and is better
where she is. Besides, what would
become of Granly's children"
The husband and wife had walked
slowly from the bee hives to the house,
and stood under a lattice window,
which lay open.
"Talking Of Granny" said the hus-
band, chow long is Gray going to
stay at Reseiands7 He's a good deal
here, isn't he .
He's very pleasant company"
And our girls are attractive"
"Nonsense How little you know
of your own children! Ihave brought
up my girls to have their feelings un-
der prudent control. There is no mis-
take about his footing in this family"
"Well, Pm glad you're all SO pru-
dent, for he'd be the better for good
wife. He's a good fellow, and q clever
fellow, though poor rs job"
The porch swallowed the mistress
of the house, and Il h master went off
xAistling ar. tl.sh Z face leaaed for
ward and looked out Of tile lattice
window, pale, but with sort Of un-
Ilerglow, giving warm charm to its
tlimpled softness, with darkness and
depth about the eyes, and brightness
about the hair which the sunshine
now illuminated with genius for
love in every curve of it, and sort
Of golden light wavering across the
steady eyes and grave though happy
mouth.
"Thank God, ami not a young
lady," murmured Lola, taking her
fingers out of her ears, where she had
placed them all too late. What
would they think if they knew what
lie said to me yesterday Z"
She rose up quivering at the recol-
lection, nearly touching the slant roof
with her head in her pride. The room
was dark, and scarcely large enough
to hold Lola and glass of flowers
and some woodcuts framed with plait-
ed twigs on the dimly-lighted walls.
"He'd be the better of a good wife, y
said Lola, echoing the words that had
come up to her through the ivy, "but
he's as poor rs Job, and SO the fine
ladies leave him to me. I wonder
what it would be like, being a good
wife to a man as poor as Job. There
would be good deal Of scrubbing
and rubbing, l dare say; but I'm
ready for it if Pm wanted. Thank
Heaven l am not delicate! !" feeling
her firm plant wrists with her clasp
ing fingers. "pd as soon cook the
dinner as do worsted work any day.
It's well have no elegant tastes; +;
making common things look pretty is
the finest have. have rather q good
appetite" (ruefully), "but then l
could live on bread and milk. l can
cook; l can wash; and l can make
clothes. The smallest, tiniest cottage,
an easy-chair and a plain one; wine
for him, milk for me; an evening
lamp, bookcase, garden, good humor,
plenty of flowers
Lola's thoughts wandered away, and
lost themselves in the delights of the
home she was sketching. She shook
herself out Of her dream with low
laugh of undoubting g happiness. "The
chicks will be waiting-Granny will
scold." She adjusted her white calico
dress, plucked crimson rose that was
hanging over the sash, and fixed it,
with artistic fingers, in her bosom,
smoothed wilful ripple out of her
shining hair, took sun-burned straw
hat from a peg on the wall, and went
out Of the small chamber and out of
the house.
Granny's house was handsomer than
that nest-like one in which Lola lived
on sufferance. Granny was not rich,
but she liked to keep up certain old
fashioned grandeur. Indeed, none Of
these people in this forest country