The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1882-12-16

He INK upon the bench beside TIE table
While this scene was transpring inside
tho "Eest, there stood outside, ut the en-
franco, young Irish girl, with II basket of
ipples hanging on her arm. That is, the
PASSING pedestrian would have supposed Lec
OF Irish parcn'age.
One foot rested on tie low stone step, the
other on the walk
But the girl was not Irish, nor yet ped
lar.
Cecil Clayton had waited chance to slip
away from her friend Clara unobserved
at twilight, while Clara was engaged with
tne servants, the opportunity offered. Has,
tlly arraylnS herself in an old calico dress
and straw bonnet, she brought her front
halr down over her forehead and bound the
back into knot, tucking it in under tho
bonnet.
This formed complete disguise.
She then quietly let herself out the hall
door. and went to a grocer's two blocks dis
tant. Here she bought d quantity of apples.
eye needn't moind sendin' thin, sir she
said, IN answer to the clerks inquiry, with
brogue which would have done credit to
an actress. My misthress bid me buy the
dacintest basket yez had, and fetch thin
home myself"
Not much time was lost in selecting the
darkest-colored, most damaged one among
the lot.
''Ill take this, because it's well-saysoned
and sthrong. My misthress doesn't care for
beauty so much as durability" with mar-
velous twist of the last word
The clerk, true to the tradesman's instinct,
raised no objection to the ''greeny" buying
this almost unsalable article, into which
the apples were dumped, and Cecil to ward
Off suspicion, made as if to return the way
she had come. But, turning the next cor
, ner, she hailed a passing car, going in the
direction of the ferry.
Knowing comparatively little Of the city,
she had not dreamed of Water Street being
what she found it. Rough, Clark had said
| it was; more properly he might have said
vile, she thought, when, after some diff
| Guilty. she came to the number whence the
superscription on the letter directed her
| Twilight had now given way to darkness,
! and she blamed herself for coming without
| aprotector. yet that was precaution the fear
OF having her secret known would not allow.
: Still she would not have gone back had she
=, known the extent of the danger into which
she was SO recklessly running.
! On the doorstep shes hesitated but a mo-
| ment, then pushed open the door and en-
| tered, singing bar Of an Irish melody.
! "Hallo!" cried Jack. attracted by the
strains; IAN apple Biddy! Kinder lasa, get
!: tin roundr'
! "Good voice" commented the Spider
! Tom Black did not STIR sitting with head
/ bowed on the table.
George Newton, on low stool near him,
nursed his SORROWS and bemoaned his fate.
+; In her circuit, Cecil Clayton lastly came
to these discontented, miserable men. She
determined to act out her assumed charac-
| fer i,yht and we'd
for courage.
Gentlemen, how are yez7' she said, stop
ping in front OF Jack. '.Will any of yez
have an apple? Rale Spitzenbergs; wan
cint apiece. Yez couldn't have anything
betther. They're healthy-as healthy as
cows milk-'pOn my sowl, its truth I'm
tellin' vez." She held one under George
Newton's nose. BUY some, sir, from a
poor girrul wild sixteen brothers and twelve
uucles to snppoort!'
Gipsy Jack set up howl.
''Sixteen brothers and twelve uncles? Ha!
hal ha! That's good!'
The Spider INDUCED in siekly grin.
Cecil flung down the basket, and placed
her arms akimbo, copying picture of
s.Brilget Enraged" which hung in one of
the servants rooms at home.
is it laughin' at me ye are? Bad lick to
yez. l can whip the crowd, if 1 am only
Molly McGinness"
George Newton, irritated looked mp.
''We don't want any of your trash!
Stop your mouth
Oh, the sorro~ful feeling it gave her to
see him there!
"Ah, ye ovid costermoneer" she rotorted.
moving on. Who'll buy an applo?'
sIIere" said Jack, II will, my pretty ono.
YSu re- n Sinrer. 0lut VOu!"
IL am"
.Then give US ditty."
Not widout pay, mond."
. Correct! Let's have tune"
''ro PLACE yez, I'll thry."
Calling up all her courage, Cecil sang,
with wonderful steadiness, the old Irish
ballad, Beautiful Girl of Kildare"
The perfect melody hushed the noisy con-
versation, aud set the half-drunken crowd
all agape.
Tom Black moved his head and looked up
in the midst Of It, then sunk back again.
Loud-wild applause followed the song,
and the poor girl was obliged to repeat it
Jack was entzanced.
"Bootiful, by jimminy" he CALCULATED;
"you're a fine gal-pooty as pictur.
Guess I'll try kiss"
She could not fly. The door was some
distance away.
She did not cry out, but doubled her little
! fist and brandished it.
'Ye'll thry phat?- like the weight OF
my four fingers and thumb, wild a muscle in
the bargain! I'm in for a shindy! Hur-
roo," And she edged toward the door.
"But, faith, if I can't fight my own battles,
I'll call Mr. Joseph Smith to help :ne!'
The Spider hobbled to his feet with an
oath.
..Joe Smith" he snarled, Lis green eyes
e.arns. What do you know OF him''
Heavens! is this creature her, she
Thought.
But perhaps there was no reason for fear.
| She draw ON Clark s note