The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08

AoW uOlnS sO,' SAID Mr.. Goodwin prave)v
put away the money, but could not hell
Ieellng little disturbed at the grave, earn
est look John Goodwin gave me. But. then
why feel disturbed: Here was a packaoe a
Jour thousand dollars, a good sum-but ha(
! not been custodian to five times that sun
ana no harm resulted 'front.':
- In two weeks we shall leave the farm
an9 move into our new house,, said ouy
1ather. ut is ready now; but new house!
are always damp, and We shall he safer in il
TWO weeks hence than now. And, Mr.. Good.
win, while speaking Of money, Ihaye bough
asmall safe for the new house. lam no.
AFRAID to risk my money out here without ,
sa1e, put in town you are not all of you SC
honest as We are in the country"
~ am really glad you have done it." he
said' and then added, "chiehy for Miss Fan.
Pooh! she don't feel any weight of re.
sponsibiiity. In fact. | rather believe she il
rather proud of playing banker. Is it moi
so, Fan"
Twas scarcely proud of the responsibility
OUT was certainly not afraid Of any risk
ran, and l said so.
were not banker,' said John Goodwin. in
that same grave way, unusual with him.
linen rhe girl came to call us to dinner.
remembered afteward that she suddenly
darted back out Of the room when she saw a
gentleman there. was little amused at
it, and thought it bit Of ludicrous n,odesty
on the part OF Sarah which her ordinary de-
meanOr did not quite warrant.
Then we went into the dininy-room. Sarah
had disappeared with sudden toothache,
leaving Mary, the cook, to wait upon the tn
BILE. But there was nothing strange in that
except the audiences 0f the attack.
Before John Goodwin went away there
was more sharp banter between him and sis
ter Kate, which we all enjoyed. But ut
length the conversation drifted into another
channel, and John Goodwin told us a little
OF himself and his career which was new to
lis. lie had at one time been prosecuting
attorney In Chicago. While performing the
duties OF that Office he had broken up and
sent to State.pris0n i gang Of burglars
which had been terror to all honest citi-
zens. The wife OF the leader of the gang,
under pretense OF seeking his services to-
ward effecting her husbands release, tried
to assassinate him in his own office.
"When even the women tried to kill me, "
said he, smiling as though it was only a
triae, thought would contine myself to
ordinary practice and let some other ambiti-
Gus young lawyer take the fame and consc-
quences Of the public Office"
"lo9 take it tightly" said father, "and
so much the better" Mr.. Goodwin had risen
now to 90. "When we are settled in town
We shall expect you to be more friendly and
visit us often"
Then We all went out on the veranda,
where the good-bys were said. John Good
win mounted his horse and rode away. As
we turned to 90 in, happened to look up at
the window OF my own room, and was not a
little surprised at seeing through the light
curtains the face Of Sarah, evidently watch
ing the retreating form Of John Goodwin.
But what was she doing i'll my room:
AS we crossed the halt Sarah came down
the stairs with her face tied up and smelling
powerfully Of camphor.
You were engaged, Miss Fanny, and !
didn't like to trouble you, but took the
liberty to use your camphor bottle for my
TOOTH"
That explained her going to my room, and
was, OF course, satisfactory. Her toothache
soon disappeared, and the whole matter was
forgotten.
ought to have mentioned before that sis
ter Kate and we're joint mistresses Of fa-
TIERS house. Our dear mother died when
| was only nine years old and Kate seven.
Since that time we had learned to forget that
first bitter sorrow, and our father had I'm.
selti>hly refrained from second marriage.
kate is not pretty, although she is saucy
she may marry; but Fan (myself) Is too
plain, quiet and old-fashioned to get mar.
ried. There is no occasion for me to ever
think OF marrying again, since am certain
Of always having good housekeeper."
This was 4 frequent speech Of our fathers
"a little tautalizing, aud possibly true; but
all of us hoped otherwise. For there is nc
girl or woman, however plain and unattrac.
tive she may be, but desires the honest, true
love OF some worthy man; and hopes on to
the end that she will receive it. 1t is not a
thing to be ashamed Oft is nature.
In due time we left the old house on the
farm for the new one in the city, taking with
lis our servant-girls, Mary, the cook, and
Sarah, the houSe-girl.
When ones whole life has been passed on
a farm, any change seems great one that
alters life so as to leave out the simplicity
and natlralness of the farm. Yet doubt ii
there be equal and constant happiness else.
where as there is in rural life.
The transition from an old house to a new
one requires good deal Of perplexing toll.
The proper adaptation of the household
tation, deep thought, and additional toll. A
removal into new house must be 4 sort Of
domestic calamity. Yet when fairly domi.
ciled beneath Il new roof. it is very pleasant
to receive and entertain the friends who tes,
tify their respect for you by visiting.
John Goodwin was now frequent yisitO,
ut our house. Father said he came to see
Kate. She said he came to see me. What.
ever may have really thought, said that
his visits seemed to be only friendly ones to
the family.
One thing was certain, John Goodwin's
visits were very pleasant; and no one was
more welcome than he was. may say that
much with prOpriety.
No sooner were we settled in the new
house than father was seized with one OF
his periodical cattle-buying fits. We begged
OF him to rest little and enjoy his ease, but
in vain. In Illinois this desire to trade in
cattle becomes, like intemperance or the
opium habit, mania.
Being custodian or banker for the money
used in this cattle trade, l found the new
safe mentioned before thing of great con-
yeNieHce.
Since this safe was destined to act part
not expected OF it, a description of its loca-
ton will serve to make more clear what is
to follow.
In the sitting room. up stairs, was large
but narrow closet. This safe was placed at
the further end of the closet. Being Of the
same width rs the closet, some woodwork,
added after the safe was in place, fastened
it securely in its position. 1t could only be
moved by tearing away the woodwork the
whole length OF the closet.
We found life now quite different from
what it had been on the farm. Less Of care
and more Of dress, and regard for the re.
quirements Of society.
We made some very pleasant new &C.
quaintances; and, since we did not lose any
old friends by being little greater distance
from them, the removal was gain Of some
thing.
So the daysand weeks rolled by until the
holidays were at hand. The parties and 80.
ciai gatherings OF the country were simple
affairs, with 80 little Of formality or ceremony
that stranger might almost call them rude.
\ IL 4.