New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-29

"But you never knew me to cheat, old
MANI -
ono" impassively. .......
"And do you think would cheat you
| noww
II dunno" said Charlie. 81 don't be-
lieve."
swell, old man-oId man." his voice be-
gan to quiver-:I shan't cheat you now.
My God odd man, tell you-you better
not make the trade!
Because for what ?" asked Charlie in
plain anger; but both looked quickly
| toward the house. The Colonel tossed his
| hands wildly in the air, rushed forward a
step or two, and giving one fearful scream
of agony and fright, fell forward on mis-
face in the path. Old Charley stood trans
fixed with horror. Bellies Demoiselles, the
realm of maiden beauty, the home of merri-
ment, the house of dancing, all in the
tremor and glow of pleasure, suddenly
sunk, with one short. wild wall of terror
sunk, sunk, down, down, down, into the
mereiless, unfathomable flood of the Mis-
sissippi.
Twelve long months were midnight to
the mind of the ehildess father; when they
were only half gone, he took to his bed;
and every day, and every night, old Char
him tenderly, tended him lovingly, for the
sake of his name, his misfortunes and his
broken heart. No womans step crossed the
floor OF the sick chamber, whose western
dOrmer windows Overpeeped the dingy
architecture Of old Charles block; Charlie
and skilled physician, the one all interest,
the other all gentleness, hope and patience
these only entered by the door; but by
the window came in a sweet-scented ever
green vine, transplanted from the caving
bank of Bellies DemoiselIes. It caught the
rays of sunset in it's fowery net and let
them softly in upon the sick mans bed;
gathered the glancing beams OF the moon
at midnight and often wakened the sleeper
to look, with his mindless eyes, upon their
pretty silver fragments strewn upon the
floor.
BY and by there seemed-there was-a
twinkling dawn of returning reason. Slow
~, peacefully, with an increase unseen
from day to day, the light of reason came
into the eyes, and speech became coherent;
but withal there came failing of the
wrecked body, and the doctor said that
monsieur was both better and worse.
One evening as Charlie sat by the vine
clad window with his fireless pipe in his
hand, the old Colonels eyes fell full upon
his own and rested there.
"Charl-,'' he said with an effort, and
his delighted nurse FASTENED to the bed
side and bowed his best ear There was an
unsuccessful effort or two, and then he
whispered, smiling with sweet sadness:
1--WE didn't trade
The truth, in this case, was a secondary
matter to Charlie; the main point was to
give pleasing answer. So he nodded his
head decidedly, as who should say: 'Oh,
yes, we did; it was bona fide swap"
but when he saw the smile vanish he tried
the other expedient, and shook his head
with still more vigor, to signify that they
had not so much as approached bargain:
and the smile returned.
nized. He stepped backward to the win
dow with broad smile, shook the foliage,
nodded and looked smart.
81 know" said the Colonel, with beaming
eyes, "many weeks
The next day
"Charl-"
The best ear went down.
"Send for priest"
The priest came, and was alone with him
whole afternoon. When ne left the
patient was very haggard and exhausted,
but smiled, and would not suffer the cruel
fix to be removed from his breast.
One more morning came. just before
dawn Charlie, lying on a pallet in the room,
thought he was called, and came to the bed
side.
cold man." whispered the failing invalid,
sis it caving yet :"
Charlie nodded.
at won't pay you out"
so dat makes noting" said Charlie. Two
big tears rolled down his brown face. dat
makes not'in."
The Colonel whispered once more:
''Mes bellies demOiselles in paradise-in
the garden-I shall be with them at sum
RISE" and so it was.