The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-10-08
HETTY.

wish the hoarse dog ut No. 0 were a bet.
ter sleeper.
lie always seems TO have something on his
mind. lie Is not content to keep Il there
eisher, but must forever be taking the moon
--when there l. one-into his confidence.
lie II dog who has Keen sense Of his
own responsibilities, too. and feels called
upon to bark at every boy who whistles ~ he
passes, and at every dog who peeps In
through the various gaps In the wooden
palings Of his home.
So he does great deal Of barking. take II
altogether, and Is looked upon BY the inhab.
itsnts Of Paradise Place In general rs a safe
and sure protection against burglars and all
eyil.dOers.
Still. when working hard at "copy." for
Which ! know the printers devil will be
bowling ut my gates In the morning, I am
sorry the hoarse dog Is OF such conscien.
tious disposition.
Yes, even Paradise Place has i,s pleasures.
A to the stories write-why. they are full
OF lords and ladies, and everything Il on the
most gen,cel scale Imaginable. I take In a
fashion paper to study the dress Of the up.
per circles, though on ,his point am forced
10 admit that the artist who "does" the II.
Illustrations IL q trial to me, and often aston.
ishes me with the look Of my own creations
On paper.
lam strangely, marve'ously alone In the
world.
The old homestead. father, mother, big
brother, blue.eyed sisicr-all are gone.
But that Is not the story am going TO tell
you now.
SufYicc for you TO know that am lonely
woman, gray haired, ssd.eyed; almost pen.
niless, save for what q busy pen can earn;
Inclined TO be querulous with the hoarse dog
at No. q, but vet ready to bask In . ray OF
sunshine, thankful for the lark's song and
the scent Of the mignonette; thankful that
there h work TO be done, and money 10 be
earned thereby, sufficient for my simple
wants.
1t seems very small story I have to tell,
but yet II had keen interest for me ut the
time II happened. and often look back up.
on It. have often wondered had the
courage TO do as did. but have never re.
pented OF what did.
Well, just as the spring was passing into
summer; just "A the fresh green leaves OF
the trees In the Peoples Park, that Law with.
In stones throw OF Paradise Place, were
beginning 70 get bit dusty, and the prim.
roses and viOlets we're going out Of season.
pretty sight caught my eye one morning
and kept me at work longer than II ought TO
have done,
II Was woman's face, framed In On open
windOw-the very one where the mignOnette
box stood, and whence came the whiil of the
many .blOssOmed flowers In summer.
just now nothing was visible In this long
green box except vast crown OF tiny two.
leayed plants, that might have been baby
cabbages, or cress, or Anything-if one hadn't
known they were mignonette.
The upper half Of the curtain was shaded
by . shabby sort Of green blind; the lower
open, framing, - have said before, q
'woman's face.
The profile was toward me 6rst. Rattle,
large and massive In outline, but wonder.
fully MAdOnna.like, with sleek brown hall
drawn simply back and folded round !
comb.
We had pretty face or two in Paradis,
Place. but daintiaesy and neatness were no
qualities common among us. But thi
woman was exquisitcly neat, and coult
zee the little snOw.white collar round be-
throat.
Presently, still lettering ct m, window
che turned and saw her full face.
A broad. noble brow, disguised BY no dis
figuring fringe or tousls Of hair Of any kind
ambient eyes, clear and steadfast, and tn
very sweetest smile I had ever seen before Q
have ever seen since.
How did know thisl
Why, because che looked across, - did
and smiled ut me.
Ibegan TO weave . romance In my owl
mind round that MadOnna.ia woman
The Countess was safely on the matrimonial
shore after her struggles through he wa, er
ofA6licti0u, 20 could afford to be idle BIZ
II kept waiting for ''copy" the printer
devil was apt to scandalize the eig6borhoo
(which, though poor, was cminently respect
able) BY singing low songs and whistliny 1
"a impudent and distrscting manner, hang
ing himself on the area rails In oh imp0ssibl
attitudes the while; but to-day bic buudl
: of manuscripts was ready long before b
appeared-a state Of affairs that I am pei
1ectly sure disappointed him extremely q
'eurtaillng bis opportunities Of harryinG q
world Of Paradise Place.
There was no moro "oopy" due Tor nearl
aweek 70 come.
Iwould be Idle for while; would stro
tato that park Of which we were oil % prout
OF ON Q seat under tree, and watch th
shabby children turning summersaults %
standing on their heads In the grass; tai
. glance at the rhododendrons beginning
break Out, into blaze Of color; watch q
.lsburnum shaking its golden locks out In ID
soft. warm wind; mediate on future did
eulties into which 10 lead sristOcfatie feel
future depths OF unspeakable bliss upo
which to let the curtain drop.
would weave N intricate and excitiu
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