St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-11-18

brothers, who delighted in joking her
about an expected lover who never
came. 'Jennie's beau was sort of
mythical scape-goat in the family to
whom all imaginable, absurd blunders
and mlshapS We're attributed.
SO now she made some laughing re-
Spouse, and when her brother marshaled
his team, consisting of alternate yokeS
OF red and white steers, two yokes of
each, she took her place upon a bundle
Of straw in the center of the huge sled
There, sis,' said William, taking his
seat upon the neap of the sled and
brandishing his long whip, ''you look
like the genius of Thanksgiving going
round on a tour of inspection among
the brick ovens. and your team is III
most as tancilul as the reindeers of St.
Nicholas"
1t grew more and more fanciful
momentarily, for it soon began to rain,
and rs the fine pelting drops froze as
they fell, the whole turnout was trans
formed into an exhibition of ice newly
frozen for the occasion from the Arctic
region. After having been round the
square and picked up all the Draper
blood in the township they retraced
their steps, stopping at nearly every
house for a merry interchange of greet
ings, Just to break the gloom that the
storm had cast over every thing
William said. But at every house it was
noticeable that he threw out few sug-
gestive words to the boys that set them
thinking there was no fun quite so de-
sirable for Thanksgiving day as breaking
steers. ."r
The merriment Of the morning was
kept up through the day by the Young
people, while Mother Draper and Aunt
Catherine moved mysteriously about
and compared notes over dripping
pans, sauce-pans and pipkins~ in the
kitchen.
Dinner was to be early, so that the
two Draper boys who were employed
upon the railroad that cut in twain the
broad acres of their fathers farm could
be back at the station at train time in
the afternoon. ..
Aunt GATHERINGS lovely daughters
helped their pretty cousin Jenny to set
the table, of course, and they managed
slyly to have one plate and one chair
too many, and by great deal OF ma
nGuvring in seating the company, this
plate and chair were left beside Jennie
for the long-expected beau.
''He hasn't come yet, and that ism
the worst of it hope he never will,''
said Farmer Draper, looking affection
ately across the table at his daughter as
he bowed his head to ask the blessing
IS believe he is coming now, uncle; [
really do" exclaimed Louise the mo-
ment the good farmer had re-opened his
eyes, and sure enough, as they looked
out the window they saw a stoutly-built
young man bravely breasting the storm,
yet showing certain WEAKNESS as he
walked along the slippery way.
The weather had changed again by
this time, and the air was full of great
feathery flakes, as if all the feathers of
all the fowls that graced that days din
ner in N ew England had been cast to
the four winds.
''He is coming in!'' "No, he is going
by!' Eyes, he has decided to call!'' as
the young man, who was evidently a
stranger. looked again at the polished
windows that even on the outside gave
a hint of warmth and good cheer within.
"Bow-wow-wow!' barked Pinchers,
the house-dog, in adecidedly equivocal
welcome, especially when taking into
consideration his huge proportions and
savage air, and the stranger was turning
away as the piazza door opened and
John had called OUT ....... ... -.
: Down. Pinchers, down? Come in,
come in, sir, out of the STORM" &".
II tanks yer, said the stranger, giving
his hat and coat shake, thus diyesting
them of their burden of snow, and fol-
lowing John directly into the dining
ROOM, and, with a graceful bow to the
company, seating himself by the fire.
..'' We were expecting you," said
John. We have the table set for you
as you may see. Sitright up
. Yes, yes assented Farmer Draper;
"sit right up, you are cold and tired,
OF course, but that ish' t the worst Of it,
you must be hungry, too. You can get
warm and rested and filled at the table"
4 Louise, to carry on the joke, and to
treat Jennie's long-expected beau with
due cordially, pushed back the vacant
chair, and Jennie. not to be out-done,
glanced up and seeing a comely, neatly
dressed young man at her elbow, gave
him one Of her sweet smiles. motioned
him to the seat beside her and passed his
plate to her father to be helped. !
The stranger evidently understood
very little of all the merry talk going
On around the board, but he sat down
IN the profered chair. bowed his head
for moment as if invoking a silent
and then proceeded with his
meal. r.: 49, ..,t5a.,..t
You hat large family he said pres
emily to the farmer, carefully studying
MS words, land you hat much meat
ooking around with evident astonish-
nent at the grooming table, for Mother |
Draper and Aunt Catherine held to the
L 4 n Il Ell