The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-01-15

ginning to feel decidedly shaky Wher
Jerushs and her mother came into thG
room and began arranging for the fu
neral.
"Rusha," said her mother, "here ii
that snuff, colored suit of poor Ben's /; o.
course he will never have any more use
for clothes, go just put them away
among your c~arpet-rags; they'll make
a splendid stripe"
Now that particular suit of clothes
was just the neatest one I ever owned,
arm-holes, wristbands, buttons, all just
the thing, and my blood boiled to hear
them talk SO coolly of using them for
stripes in a r~ag-carpet. They kept on
talking as theyswept, busted and cleaned
up the room.
"Bob says he will take the Martin
farm to work this year," said Jerusha,
cheerfully "and as soon as We are
married we shall go to housekeeping in
that little cottage close to the road.
Now I must get my carpet done just as
soon as possible, for I want it in that
nice little front room. These buds of
Ban's will make out enough rags, I
guess. His folks live so far way they
will inquire about his clothes.
Now, if it wasn't for the looks of it, VIC
could ask old Mother Smith about col
oring yellow f.; she's sure to be here TO-
day."
I was getting very mad now, indeed.
[ felt that the crisis was near, and that
I should either die Or explode if they
did not let my snuf-colored suit alone.
Jerusha picked them up-I knew it, for
I heard the buckles and buttons jingle
and made for the door. I tried to
shake my fist and yell at her, but all in
vain. Laid there, outwardly as quietly
as a lamb, inwardly boiling with wrath.
It was too much ; the deepest trance
could net have held out against the
loss Of that suit. With q powerful
effort I sprang up and screamed. Jeru-
sha dropped my clothes and her mother
the buster, and both fled from the room
and the house, Fever stopping till they
reached DIR. Browns, across the street.
With difficulty I managed to get my
clothes. had just got them fairly on,
when Mrs. Jones and her daughter,
followed by a numerous company OF
men, women and children, came peer
Cautiously into the room. I sat ON
my board and looked at them. Such a
seared-looking crowd was enough to
amnse an owl, SO I laughed; I knew it
vas ~unbeeoming, but I couldn't have
helped it if they had chucked NE into
my cofin-Which the undertaken was
just carrying past the Window-and
me the next minute. / laughed
/ Jared the chair out from under
one end of the board, and down I went
a crash. Then the doctor ventured
into the room, saying rather dubi usly
$50 you are not dead yet, Benz"
Well, no, not exactly" I replied,
g sorry to disappoint my friends about
The funeral, however"
"Yes." he said, rather absently,
6 bad, rather-that is-ahem y
Fooled ont of that snuff colored
stripe r I thought, as I looked ct Jeru-
go and speak with him." said her
in a staid whisper. "He's got
stamps, and you had better marry
him after ALL"
They began to gather around me and
congratulate me on my escape. I no.
iced that they cried a great deal moro
now than when I was dead. Jerusha
,ame and hung around my neck, snivel-
desperately. I gave her a not over
gentle push, and told her to wait next
lime until I wa safely buried before
The set her heart on my old clothes.
90 I am so glad r she said sweetIy,
without appearing to notice what I said
about the clothes" that you are not
lead, Benny, dear. My heart seemed
ii withered and broken to see you
ying all cold and white. I wept Bit
erly Owe your pale lace, my beloved. "
"Yes,"I replied, "I heard you and
Bob taking on terribly. It was a lucky
lie for me-"
"Could you hear q she gasped.
81 rather think I could, some" I
She looked toward the door, but it
vas crowded full, 30 she made a dive
or the open window, and went TIN ough
J like q deer. She shut herself up in
he smoke-house, and would not come
ut until after I had left the house.
Bob would not fill his promise of
carriage with his cousin because she
RED to make up with me again ; so
he is living a life Of single blessed
ese.
While I am writing, my wife ID cut
up my snuff colored clothes TO make
stripe in a new carpet for our front
pom.
Foul Air.
100