The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-12-13
The {. sulky, - which was hitched very

still insisted ON calling the foundered old
nag-was simply a spasmodic jump,
which sent the quaint old vehicle bounc-
ing up and down at every step, and gave
sthe girls F." the appearance of India
rubber ladies one on top Of the other!
Is it any wonder the boys of the house
where l was visiting called me to the
window to look at the odd triop
/ Why do the two ride in q sulky
made for oneP' asked, as my eye fol-
lowed the vehicle till it disappeared h ON
view.
"Miss Pauline is afraid to ride alone,
lest some gentleman shonld run off with
her." replied one Of the boys 4-S9
"No, nos" said the other. at is
because she likes something soft to sit
on, and Miss Orpha would let anybody
sit on her." said the other. my mother
once saw them riding with old Chloe
under them both, her black face peep
ing over he ladies shoulders, and her
long arms around them to keep them
from bouncing out. Tom says that was
three-story ride!"
And so the boys and girls ran on,
telling laughable stories Of Miss Pau
lines eccentricities and pride, little
dreaming of the sad emergency which
had set "the rhinoceros and tip-cart"
going, on that particular morning.
On jumped the woolly and spawned
old {" Conqueror," and up and down
bounced the doubly laden sulky, past
houses and stores and churches, till
they halted before the principal brick
building, which contained the post
Office, the bank, and the lawyers
offices.
Others beside them were flocking
round the bank; men in anger, and
women in tears. But it was all of no
use-the Savings Bank had suspended,
and the Doctors girls, with scores of
others, were penniless!
Poor Miss Pauline "could not and
would not stand it," She bounced
back home, her widespread skirts and
her Tapping veil giving only peep at
her sisters foot and hat-crying and
sobbing and talking very loudly about
villains and knaves and swindlers who
ought to be sent to State Prison or
hung!" 9fH A
"Why don't goa say something" she
shouted fercely, turning upon the half
stifled little girl beneath her, and saw
ing the mouth of old Conqueror, rs if
he had suspended.
because don't know what to say"
was the quiet reply of poor Orpha.
"But,'' she added, % I'll see if 1 can't
do something"
"You? Why you can't do any more
than an old cat!' was the polite retort
of the angry woman. "Unless," she
added, "you can bring down your pride
so as to go out hair-dressing-you can
do that; but then nobody has their hair
dressed in this town!'
al won't do that. I'll do something
nobler and better, !" said Orpha; "and
neither you nor mother nor Chloe shall
uffer.'
swell, you had better be quick about
| it, for there's just two hundred dollars
between us and starvatiOn!" and again
Miss Pauline laid on the whip and sawed
the mouth of her decrepit old friend in
the shafts.
ats all true, mother!" she cried, as
she entered the faded sitting-room, and
threw herself violently into chair.
/" The bank villains invested in Boston
property, that has sunk in value, and
they have suspended-I hope they'll be
suspended by the neck themselves! Or
pha, take off my things and help me to
bed" q
When Miss Pauline was settled in her
own room, where she could cry, Orpha
sat quietly down by her mother, having
first installed old Chloe in a rocking
chair beside her, and remained for few
minutes silent.
81 have something to tell you," she
said, (which will comfort you. You
and Chloe know, mother, that have
never wasted time except when you
thought / was doing so in the old musty
Office. I was not doing so even there
For five, years / have been. studying
medicine and anatomy. attended lee
lures the winters was in Boston and
studied very hard, and after another
term can get diploma. There are
many cases Of disease in which l know
can be skillful and make my life valua-
bic in saving others. have not dared
to speak of this lest Pauline should for
bid my going to Cousin Helen's this
winter. Helen knows our circumstances,
and advised me to do this, and gave me
new books; and while you have all been
laughing at me, have been preparing
for life.
Nov, if You will all keep easy, Twill
promise to take good care of you"
"Why don't you 60 and tell Pauline
this, and comfort herp" said the old
lady.
because she won't be comforted to-
day. We must let her sleep over this
misfortune, and tomorrow we will talk
with her." said Orpha.
$50 den dats what yer been doin' of
in de Office, maulin' dat dead mans
skeleting about, to see how we's made,
ha? Well, well I allus said yer was q
wonderful chifei When yer set up doc