The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-09-24

away. The worst of it was that he did
not conine his depredations to my own
domain, but sometimes made raids upon
our neighbors, so that I was several
times under the necessity of restoring
stolen articles.
All this time I had been very busy
getting things into running gear, when
one fine day l saw Lagniappe trot into
the yard with something in his mouth,
which he secreted under the front steps.
l followed him, and discovered the
object to be thin blue and gold volume
of poems: The puppy having been dis
missed with a cuff on the ears, l looked
at the fly-leaf and saw written there:
Same Page. The Oaks"
Under this q masculine hand had ap-
pended the word, "Sweet Anne Page"
"a compliment snubbed by the severe
marginal note, "Stuff and nonsense"
Then l remembered that my father
had given me a letter of introduction to
a Colonel Page-no doubt this young
lady's papa. I pictured her tall and
slim and fair, with a face like white
rose, and an air Of gentle and gracious
dignity.
l intended returning the book imme-
mediately, but each day something pre-
vented me from doing 50, until in the
meantime I became quite familiar with
its contents. Here and there found
word or a line UNDERSIGNED, and these /
read with redoubled interest.
At last l found leisure afternoon.
Lagniappe showed an inclination to
follow me, but sternly ordered him to
stay at home. Seemingly he bowed to
fate, for he fingered beside the hedge,
shifting at the leaves, and giving pass
ing tweak to the turkeys tail-almost
humming a tune, in fact, the better to
express carelessness and good con-
science. So left him.
On my way toward Colonel Pages
plantation took cutoff through the
fields, but l soon discovered that it had
led me to s. side-gate. However, went
in, and followed the bridle-path until
the sound of voices told me I was near
the house; SO I checked my horse be-
hind a clump of japonicas in order to
reconnoiter. Peering through the
branches, l could see jutting out from
the side of the mansion a little portico,
on which silvery-haired old lady was
standing, with young girl beside her:
Such a girl! What gypsy she was!
Heavy masses of dark hair, a pome-
granate bloom on her checks, and the
widest, brightest, sauciest, most laugh
ing eyes-but I will not enlarge, as the
preachers say. Before them stood an
elderly negro in a defiant attitude.
"Abram," the old lady was saying,
II really can not stand this any longer.
Three times in one week you have come
home in a state of intoxication."
"Now, ole mistis, jes you shet up,"
was Abrams astounding rejoinder. "It's
Missy Anne what I'm addressin'."
"Well, hurry up, and say what you
have to say" retorted the young lady.
"Now, Missy Anne, doesn't l always
drive you out nice, an 60 whar you
sends me? An you know you dem min
sendin' pore old niger out any time
o. night, no matter ct it's rainin' rattle
snakes-no, nor scarpenters, neider,
An when takes you out in de c'r'age,
an you whistles an sings an behaves
like q young lady didn'toughter act, does
I ever make any 'jections wild you?"
No, Abram; should hope you know
your place better,'' said the girl, sup
pressing giggle, with severity.
swell, denim conclusive tone
"what fault has you got to find O. me
name o. gracious!"
"Oh, go along, Abram," said tn
elder lady. "You are incorrigible. Onl.
don't let me see you again in such
condition"
mo, mistis; I won't, mistis. But yo'
doesn't pear to member dat | can
take q teaspoontul o. any.hin' though
its maxim me right down sick.''
And he departed, shaking his hea'
over her lack Of charity.
Feeling something Of sneak,
thought it high time to emerge. l re
ceiyed q cordial reception from Mrs
Page and her pretty grandchild, WHOM
she had never allowed to feel the loss Q
a mother. The Colonel was q tall, sol
derry man, who told me looked Xix
my grandfather, and insisted upon re
hearsing pages of my family history
while was longing to talk to "swee
Anne" He might have been talkin
still had not the patter Of feet made j,
self audible, and who should come gay
" into the room but Lagniappe! NAL
ing straight for Anne, he jumped int
her lap. That was the first thing tina
1 puppy ever did that gave me . respet
"Oh, law! oh, gracious!" Ami
cried, jumping up and splitting him Q
the floor.
| "Please excuse the little wretch"
/ said, when had thrust him out forcibll
"And have another apology to max
for him" added, producing the 70
ume Of poems.
"My book! Why, gran'ma, 70
know I have been wondering where
has gone. Doyou suppose he stole
Tout Of the summer-house, Mr.. Can
pion?"
elm afraid he did" said /. "H
name by rights should be Barabbas.
! !" What : dear, cunning thing |
must be!'' she cried. "Give him
me-, won't you, pleases"
"No, Annie, not another dog sha
come into this house," the Colonel G.
swered, in an aggravated tone. "Ol
can't move ct present without tumbliI
over ono or two. That great brute Of
, St. Bernard takes pleasure In maxim
himself look like . door-mat, becau
he knows I an near-sighted. !"
"Oh, but this IL such 3 smart, int
testing puppy" urged Anne, giving
y 4 ~