St. Landry democrat., 1882-01-14
81 was under t ledge, an already nay

81 was under t ledge, an already nay |
bonds on projectin' bit. ......
Med, Ned cries Charlie, Iproom-
ised moother to bring thee safe whoam
Still. tried to lift oop my bonds,
an war just goin, to let my feet SWING
loose, laughin too at thout o givln slke |
a good cake to poor Charlie.
=. His white yoonm face war turned
doom upo' me; his lips pressed toight,
his eyes wide strained and pitiful, his
body shivern' an swayin'.
81 promised mother he said
then shut his eyes, unclnched his
hands fro t rock above. an Charlie
went -
Den had been edging more and more
forward on his chair, and now he rose to
his full height, his arms outstretched,
the freight cleaning on his face, set i'll
horror; the mouth all white and dry,
the eyelids red, his hair dishevelled.
He made great plunging gesture with
both hands, then, in Stjtled scream, he
said:
"Charlie went sheer doom t face O t
clf!''
Den covered his face with his strong
RIGHT arm and shuddereu slowly back
into the chair
We all sat perfectly silent, glasses I'M
tasted, every cigar gone out
After little Den looked up. No one
asked a question or made a movement.
In hopeless but gentle tone he went on.
''T fsherfolk saw from above what
had happened. They picked me oop, Il
LATHE heap at foot O cliff, but quote I'M
hurt. Then they laid Charities beauti
full yoong body straight in t boat.
Frank and Jamie held their faces COW
cred; t fishermen trembled a. they
neared our door and shrunk AVA from
mothers eyes. One strong fellow
groaned aloud at t shrek wi which she
lifted t loifeless face of her boy. 50.
81 war t only one as could tell her
hoo it happened "Iwar takkin him
my cake, mother" said I. Il couldha
COON oopto him, fora mun-owar's nun
can climb anywhere, but Charlie cried
oot {. promised mother and let
himself drop. ..a.-t..,.,-
L can feel moo t grasp and clasp
moother give me. I can feel her soft
hair against my cheek; her head buried
in my neck as she wept DOT: 'Oh, my
poor LATHE lad, thee doant know, thee
doant know. - " #at'
| Jamie began wi: Charlie died to
| save'-- H.f'
&c. Doantee!' cried motherwi' a great
sob, | could feel t. spasm O pain that
wrung her heart, feel hoo it shook her
whole frame. .Doantee tell him, doant.
8. She never told me, God bless her" -
Deniston went ,on. Growing older
| came to understand t truth. and one
tonne asked mother if 'tWere as
thout. @a. "# -.'tE- t5a. "
: "She gave me the same clasp as on
that day when Charles face lay so
white an so beautiful before us, and
cried out with tears ''My poor LATHE
lad, thee deaden't know.
"It's long ago sim said Deniston,
"long ago !; but t sorrow o'wt will
bide forever" Then he slowly rose,
quietly reached for his hat, softly spoke,
GOOD neeght, lads" and went towards
the door. vs..
We woke as from stupor of grief.
"Stay, Deniston," said the chairman Of
the committee, pointing to the cup
this is for you.''
81 doon't understand ee,' answered
Deniston.
"You have told the best story" ex.
} planned, rendering the prize.
: "Noa, lads, noa. l tax no coop fol
tellin' ABBOTT Charlie. Thot war no tale
that only COON from t heart DOT. Stay
J I'll take flower, though, to lay or
Charles grave. I've fancy always te
bring him some sike token from abrood.'
: He took two rosebuds from the cur
and carefully laid them between the
leaves of his pocket-book.
"When do you sail?'' somebody asked
J Den was passing out, but paused !:
/ moment to answer. "Aboot t bacl
) end O. next week." sE
Strange-but none OF US laughed no;
| at the quaint expression M Y. World
~