The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-05-05
HOW DOLLIE SAVEDHER FATHERS s
MONEY,

She had been called that every since
she came "a round-faced, rosy checked,
bright-eyed little thing-into a family
of great, rough, tender hearted, ador-
ing boys, and she had been treated by
them as doll up to her sixteenth wear.
Tom, Dick and Harry had gone to
market, which was trip of two DAYS;
Jack and Joe had gone to assist a
neighboring farmer in press of work.
and at nine O'Clock in the forenoon Dol
lies good father, Mr. Durand, said:
'Dollie, Ned and are going to the
village to do some trading at the store.
Shan't be back until after dinner, so
have an early supper, smoking hot, for
us, for We'll be hungry as sharks.''
i" Yes, father,'' said Dollie, bringing
out twelve dozen of eggs in basket;
for she knew her fathers ways-he al
ways loaded up the wagon with country
produce, eggs, dried apples, potatoes
and other vegetables, which he ex-
changed at the store for sugar, tea,
cloth, farming implements, etc
I" shan't take a cent with me, for
fear shall be over-persuaded to buy
those pesky cattle of Jim Green's,''
said the farmer, coming in for his coat.
g know he's lynn in wait for me; he
mostly is market days. l don't want
'em and l won't have 'em if they be
cheap! But you know there's money
in the house, Dollie. There's three
hundred dollars Mr. Kent gave me for
the south meadow lot | sold him YES
terday in the desk, and there it must
stay safe until 90 to Peterborough to
the bank. So don't entertain no stran-
gers or suspicious-lookin' people while
I'm gone.n
"No, father.''
Pll leave Bose at home, and I'll be
home long before dark"
So when he had drawn two pals of
water, and Ned had hlled up the wood
box for Dollie, they drove off, a little
pig, tied in the bottom of the wagon,
squealing Justify. Dollie liked the horses
and cattle, the hens and chickens and
pigeons, but she didn't like the pigs. so
she didn't feel badly at all that this one
was going off to be stuffed and roasted
for somebody's dinner. She had a
baking to do and picilili to make. and
set busily about her task.
"
and sudden, unpleasant feeling of be-
ing unprotected in that lonely place
for the farmhouse was half mile from
any other-Dollie came back into the
kitchen.
When she had taken solitary lunch
of bread and milk at the kitchen table,
she made nice tea-cake for the even
ing meal and then set about making her
fathers favorite relish, piciliii.
1t was five O'Clock when Dollie had
finished this last task and carried the
jars down cellar. When she came up
man had entered the open kitchen-door
and was seated before the stove.
He was ough-looking customer and
Dollie was frightened; but she did not
show it.
"Whom do you wish to see?' she
asked.
I'D like something to eat, if you
please" answered the man in what was
evidently feigned voice.
But in spite of that and the muller
about his face, Dollie knew him. 1t was
Jim Green, the cattle-dealer, and he
had a very bad reputation. She had
never seen him but once before in her
life, but she remembered his leer and
hooked nose. She had had him point
ed out to her in the village, but she did
not think he had ever seen ner. What
did he want here when her father was
away?
With no idea that this was the object
of his errand, Dollie. however, cut one
of the pumpkin-pies and gave him a
i
to eat as well as he could, without too
freely revealing his face. Dollie hoped
when he had finished it he would 60
away, but he did not. Instead of that
he got up, walked into the sitting-room