Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-09-13

rent Of glorious summer weather. He
1ished with Winnie, gathered wild mul-
berries and late flowers for her, lay at her
feet while she and Maggie wove wreaths
OF spray or made sweet baskets of vines
and moss. He talked little, contented
with gazing in a childish, straight for
ward way into Vinnie's eyes. or with
listening to her wonderful voice as she
sang snatches Of the music she had
brought from her city home.
One day the three, Maggie, Job and
Winnie, sat under great old pippin-tree
in Squire Benton's orchard.
|" How can we do without Winnie, Job?''
asked Maggie, breaking silence of some
minutes.
Job started little and glanced appre-
hensively at Winnie.
"She is going away to-day week."
continued Maggie.
:" Yes" said Winnie, sand 1 suppose l
shall never again be here.''
Jobs face whitened, and close obser-
yer might have seen tremor run over
him from head to foot. A cat-bird sang
in the garden hedge, but the melody
rolled by unheeded.
"Seven more days." murmured Job,
= seven more days with us and then -"
20, them" said Maggie, " she will be
in New York with all the fine people and
-
rNo, go to Saratoga, /" interposed Vim
ME. Mamma is to meet me there"
sVinuie," said Job, suddenly rising,
did you ever think how mighty high the
stars are?"
. Yes, of course" she replied, at loss
what he could mean.
swell, you are as much above me as
the stars are higher than this here
world!"
80, no." she responded, looking up at
him with smile, "Pm sure you are much
above me just nOw!"
Job turned away without word. and
sOor after went home. That night he
walked his room and cOmmuned with
himself. Next day he began to whittle
with his pen-knife. The widow scolded
him for littering the floor, SO he went to
the woods and whitfield in the shade.
He had mechanical genius and infinite
patience. Slowly, carefully, lovingly he
whitfield. By the finest degrees butter
nut took the form of casket with hinges,
and clasp to the lid. On the day pre-
ceding the departure of Winnie, the work
was finished and Job stood before Maggie
Benton, holding the casket In his hand.
He was pale. almost haggard.
Maggie" he said, :" want you to give
this little fixin' to Winnie. Tell her my
soul is inside of it, will your"
''Of course, Uncle Job, will you make
me one?'
sSome time, may-be.'
Job did not linger long, not even long
enough to see Winnie, who was busy pack
ing her travelling trunk.
Wonder II she'll think about opening
it?" he murmured, as he slowly waded
through the rank clover on his way
home.
Next day he was leaning on the fence
out beyond the field in front of the house,
gazing fixedlydown on the dusty highway.
The sun hung red and dull just above the
EASTERN tree-teps, his rays scarcely able to
penetrate the mist that hung on the
norizon; but Job, despite the murky at
caught sight of Squire Ben
IONS carriage as soon as 1t turned dis
amt angle of the road. He pulled his hat
1own in front and compressed his lips.
As the carriage passed he darted burn
ng glance through the window, and his
eyes met those of Winnie. She recog-
1ized him instantly, and pushing up the
curtain, threw him kiss from the tips of
ler fingers. This was the Parthian ar
.ow. Slowly Job sank helplessly to the
ground, his face buried In his hands. 1t
vas nearly noon when he got up and went
pack to his house. For few weeks SUBJ
equent, little was seen of him. Solitude
eemed to be all he desired. He ate little,
md grew thin. Burrows came into his
,heeks instead of dimples. His eyes were
mild and sad. He never smiled.
One day Maggie came over to his house
,stensibly on some small errand, and to
zee the widow, but really to show him
ong letter from Winnie.
"Does she say anything about the little
kim gave her ?' said he quickly.
80, Of course not" said Maggie, "but
he sends you her regards"
" Her what?'
. Her kindest respects"
"Ah."
"Yes, and she thinks of you and me of.
en-. Says she hopes we are happy as ever,
"What do 1 care for all that9" cried
lob, savagely glaring at the girl. Then
Without another word he turned on his
leel and walked off.
A year swept slowly around and It was
gain suiuIucEs OOp udu kTduudkly iOSt |
lis health, till at length he kept his bed |
and the physicians said con- |
had fastened itself on MIN. The |
nvalid, however, made no complaint, re- |
naining stubbornly silent touching the |
rogress Of his disease, lying for most of
is time with closed eyes and compressed |
ps, deadly palor on his face, and his |
air and beard rapidly whitening.
Maggie Benton hOvered about him, true |
roman that she was, striving in every
ray to render him service of love.
One day Job fell into gentle sleep,
'om which, about ten o'clock A. NJ, he
woke, quite changed in appearance. A
tile flush showed Itself on either cheek,
nd peculiar brightness In his eyes.
" Maggie" he said, In something like
is old tone, "it's jus; "a year to-day, amt
r'
The girl came nearer, and he repeated
he question.
"Just year since when?' she asked,
ending over him.
"Since Winnie went away"
Maggie saw the look in Lis eyes, and
uickly understood the despairfng ten
erness of his voice. A chill winc seemed
, blow through her young heart, for now
ne knew that Job loved NOT her hut