The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-05-12

wears difference between her and her
lover. It was not only the Saturdays
bread and pie that she carried now and
deposited on David's little kitchen table.
but openly and boldly, not caring who
should see her. many . warm dinner.
Every day, after her own Homework
was done, David's house was set to
rights. He should have all the comforts
he needed in his last years, she deter
mined. That they were his last years
was evident. He coughed, and now
walked so slowly from feebleness and
weakness that it was q matter Of doubt
to observers whether he could reach
Maria Brewster's before Monday eve
ming.
One Sunday night he staid little
longer than usual-the clock struck ten
before he started. Then he rose, and
said, as he had done every Sunday eve
ming for so many years: s'Well, Maria.
guess it's about time for me to be-
She helped him on with his coat, and
tied on his tippet. Contrary to his usual
habit he stood in the door, and hesitated
minute, there seemed to be something
he wanted to say.
eMaria."
"Well, DavidP'
sTm gittin' to be an old man, you
know, an I've allus been slow-goin';
couldn't seem to help it. There has been
q good many things ! haven got around
to.'' The old cracked voice quavered
painfully.
Eyes, l know, David. all aboutit; you
couldn't help it. Iwouldn't worry bit
about it if were YOU"
/" You don't lay up anything agin me.
Maria?''
/" No, David"
Good-night, Maria
Goodnight, David. Twill fetch you
over some boiled dinner tomorrow"
She held the lamp at the door till the
patient, tottering old figure was out OF
sight. She had TO wipe the tears from
her spectacles in order to see to read her
Bible when she went in.
Next morning she was hurrying up
her house-work to 60 over to Dsvid' s.
somehow she felt little anxious about
him this morning-when there came a
loud knock at her door. When she
opened it boy stood there. painting for
breath; he was David's next neighbor'
son..
mr.. Emmons is sick. - he said. IAN
wants you. / was goin' for milk when
he raped on the window. Father an
mothers in thar an the doctor. Mother
said. tell you to hurry"
The news had spread rapidly; people
knew what it meant when they saw
Maria hurrying down the street without
her bonnet, her gray hair flying. One
woman cried when she saw her. Poor
thingr' she sobbed. "poor thing!'
Acrowd was around David's cottage
when Maria reached it. She went
straight in through the kitchen to his
little bedroom and up to his side. The
doctor was in the room and several
neighbors. When he saw Maria, poor
old David held out his hand to her and
smiled feebly. Then he looked implor-
ingly at the doctor, then at the others in
the room. The doctor understood and
said word to them and they fled ST.
lently out. Then he turned to Maria.
ssBe quick" he whispered.
She leaned over him. ssDear David,
she said, her wrinkled face quivering,
her gray hair straying over her cheeks
He looked up at her with strange
wonder in his glazing eyes. "Maria'
"a thin, husky voice, that was more like
a wind through dry corn stalks, said
maria, rm-dyin' AMI alters meant
to-have asked you-to-marry me. -
Nary E. Wilkins, tn Harper's Bazaar.