St. Landry democrat., 1881-08-27
BEFORE A FALL,

BEFORE A FALL.
One Saturday evening | sat upon the
doorstep waiting for John and Jennie.
we had been to choir-meetings togeth
'er all summer long-Jennie was such
good friends with me, and John was
such good friends with Jennie She
lived just over the hill from our house,
and John lived just beyond that. She
waited till he came for her, and | wait
ed for them both. [ should not have
thought of starting without them, and l
sat quietly, not noticing the flight of
time. l was thinking what lovely
evening it was, and that mother S
china asters were coming into bloom
and the crab-apples were ripening, and
that always thought crab-apple jelly
the prettiest mother ever made. Twas
as peaceful as the old cat that came and
'curled up beside me, and had no more
thought than she of its being late
But suddenly | heard Jennie voice
calling ME; it sounded so sharp, out OF
the quiet, that | was really startled.
She had paused at the gate and was
saying: Come, Phpber' l knew in a
minute from her tone that something
had worried her. [ was wondering
what it might be as rose and went
down the path, and suppose went
little slowly.
Hurry, Phnber' she cried; .:don't
you know we are latep'
But, instead of hurrying, L stopped
short, for suddenly saw that John was
not with her.
s.Whara'S Jobn o., ocl-oG
81 don't know" she answered,
shortly Don't stand staring, Phoebe!
| tell you we're late
Now some people are afraid Of Jen-
ME when she speaks that way, with her
cheeks red and her eyes swapping. But
L am not; it only makes me little
cooler than | was before. | Just stood
still. She shan't drive me if I do love
her.
''Suppose we are late?" [ said; 81
think we might wait a little for him,
just for once.''
"You can do it, them" said she, and
walked straight on.
| looked up the road and reflected
John was not in sight Ii anything had
happened to detain him it was Jennie's
company he would be sorry to miss, so
my waiting could do him no good. l
might as well go with Jennie. 1 ran
and caught her before she had gone
far. / suppose it Modified her to have
made me run. for she laughed a little
as | came up. "You didn't wait as
long as did'' she said.
Then you did wait awhile?'
why, of course. Didn't tell you
it was late?'
"Wel, you needn't have got mad
about it, Jennien'
Il didn't said she;-s. or at least | |
was only mad at myself for waiting.
There is no reason why we should ever
wait for John or expect him to come
with us every night just because he
lives next door. He's never said a
word about always escorting u.s.. He's
Just let it be matter OF course, and
/ m not going to have it SO any longer
He might want to go home with some
of the other girls some time, and then
Just think how ridiculous we should be,
sitting waiting for him. I'll never do
it again. Next week I mean to start
real early, and you may wait for him if
you like. I'll not expose myself to
being sighted again. | don't doubt
he's gone the other way, by East Side,
tonight" .a
Now Jessie Sears lived on East Side.
John was the only fellow in the village
whom she could not possibly induce to
iirt with her, and it seemed as if for
hat reason he was the one she most
wanted to make an impression upon.
He said nothing about it and kept out ,
If her way, but everybody knew-ex-
;ept Jennie who might have known if
he pleased-that he disliked her. So
when Jennie made that insinuation l
bought it was my turn to be angry. l
aced about upon her with the facts. Il I
"Jennie Morris" said /, you know 5
ust as well as 1 do that you're the only (
.irl in this town John ever cares to go {
nywhere with. l don't see how you I
an be SO mean as to talk about him in .
hat way?' II