Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1879-04-16

Ors; | love grace and beauty; and
perhaps might have been bit of
an artist, in my way, if Id ever had
the opportunity. Richard used to
say so. But all! he said many u
fiattciing thing and many false in
those old days. And il ever
dreamed of any higher life than
contents me nOw-well, Eve given |
up dreaming.
For there's TOddles. so round and
sweet and soft and real. She leaves
me little time for building air cas-
ties.
You see, | love the child M If she
were my very own. For she came
10 me one day, abont four Years
ago, u wee little baby thing. curled
up in n heap on my doorstep when
! went to open the shutters. Wher'
ever she came from ! never knew.
TWl,lles never explained; she just
stretched up her little fat arms TO
me and gurglcd Tod Ol-d"ddle,r
and that WAS her sole introduction.
II was surmised that the child
had been dropped by some travel.
ing circus passing through the
town, and | had excellent neigh.
borly advice abOut putting the
treasure in the foundfing hospital.
But one seldom takes good advice,
and didn't.
To tell the truth, l grew 80 at
tached to the child that | should
even have been wicked enough. |
fear, to regret any ones turning mp
to claim il. But that's not at all
likely now, after so many years
no, not at all likely; no more likely
than that Richard and should
ever meet again in this world. And
hat-ihat is among the things that
never can happen.
II was on this wise, our parting:
Richards mother was old and
feeble and misery. She'd spent n
good deal of money on him-sent
him TO college, and expected. folks
said. to make something of him"
She always expected to get her
moneys worth ont of her transac.
tions. Richard held her in sort
of awe, somehow, though she was
"A little wizened old woman that lie
could have lifted with his left hand.
But liked him for respecting his
mother.
One day we two were sitting nj
twilight talking of the future dream
ily, as was our wont.
INV little one said Richard,
putting his arm abont me, "it half
Gems TOO bright 10 ever be-
"Erer be- echoed. "Oh, Rich
ard, if yon talk that way, it will
never be-
Richard smiled, hut his face grew
overcast. | felt that a storm was
coming.
"Wpllr | qupried, seeing that he
sat broodine aud silent.
"Darliug." he said, soothingly
IL knew II would come hardly Il
YOU; but how can go against my
mother. Her poor old heart IL
bound NJ in me, Jeanette, an'
she will never hear TOTO any thihi
that
, THAT seems to lower you,' | ad
died., in stecly voice that seehfe'
, TO cut it's way out of my heart llk
Il keen, cold knife.
T.. Tn. am a coward--a pol
: ,roon~ cried Richard, wringing hi
hands. IL WAS born to bring trou
/, bic on those love. Who. VIII
. shall | leave to suffer for me now
= Jeannettef'
I "The one who will say the leas
about it, answered hardly. VI
heart was throbbiug heavily, like
!, clock that ticks the hour of extct
|, ton. hu, made no cutlery, and "
=. parted in that final parting silently
T Aud | have lived silently ever sine
= One Year after that heard tia
VI Richards mother Was dead, an
II chen that he was married; who,
knew no.-who, | cared not. II
b. had married another woman Viii
!, my last words were ringing III b
Is ears-right there. before the ia'
= of the living Heaven, married ri
If other woman, and swore to 10,
ia aud cherish her, rs he had Oitt
10 vowed to love and cherish mt!
But | did not seem to feel tll
q blow AZ bad felt our parting.
NJ Just flung him out of my hea
70 there and then, and my love al
=. my silence vanished. l looked in
O the face of my misery with smil
If and | took this little shop in q
be village, and worked early and la'
no and made it thrive. Then, t,
,f. wears later, came my little TOddl
nj to me. sitting like Il lilly OH q