St. Landry democrat., 1883-11-24

sons had full measure OF pride, and
called on none for assistance. Bessie
considered herself fortunate to obtain
sewing and fancy work from several la
dies, and, as she said, her work re-
ceived good prices. But there was SO
much needed, though she trimmed her
little household strictly to the needful;
and so many bills caused by that long
illness, that, strive bravely as she
would, a weary look had crept into her
soft brown eyes. and lines of care were
gathering round the sweet mouth, that
yet had always hopeful words for the
invalid.
q must pay one of those bills. :" said
Bessie, as she passed along the busy
street. II think Mr.. Morris will wait
awhile, but / am not SO sure of White
q Co. Twelve dollars out Of my TWEEN
ty go to the grocers; they have waited
SO long on us. shall have to see what
/ can get on my watch. -
She pressed her hand upon it as she
thought of the wedding day when Wal
ter gave it to her. The post-office had
to be passed ere the pawnbroker's- shop
was reached. Almost mechanically she
stepped in and inquired for letters.
One was handed her. Bessie almost
shrank from the sight of the. blue BUSH
ness-looking envelope. Oh, surely it
was not another dun! It was addressed
to s.Walter r. Allison
"But win open it. He must not
be so troubled again to-day" said the
true wife, as her trembling fingers
slowly tore aside the envelope
Was she mistaken? Surely it was a
check on 49, Bank, and for three
hundred dollars. Three hundred dol
lars! How it would tighten their bur-
dens, how it already lightened the poor
little wife's heart! Bessie wondered
how she transacted her business with
Mrs. Wilton; how she could listen and
answer intelligibly as to box-plaiting
and tailor finish, or decide between the
merits of plush bands OF satin pipings.
when she was so eager to rush home
and tell Walter of the good news. And
once or twice she was obliged to look
again at the check to convince herself
it was not fairy gold.'' But before
she had reached their door she was
calm enough to enter quietly as usual.
She went up to Walters chair, kissed
him, and put the envelope in his hands.
He opened it, looked at the check, then
at his wife, and said:
g You are right, my Bessie. Yet
have I not seen the righteous forsaken,
nor his seed begging bread. I feel as
if this must be for Ethel and you; I do
not deserve it.
From sister Catherine, too,'' he
added, pointing to the postmark which
Bessie, in her excitement, had not no.
ticed.
-
Such warm, coy room as it was!
The autumn sunshine came in through
the east and south windows, dancing
over the soft, gay carpet, as if to test
its brightness with the glowing flame in
the great old-fashioned Franklin stove.
Perhaps the chairs and tables stood a
trihe primly in their places, but not a
speck or spot was to be found on their
polished surfaces; and you might have
turned every picture on the wall, and
searched in every corner, but neither
dust nor cobweb would have met your
eye. A pleasant, sunny
room was Mrs. Catherine Allison's sit
ting-room. But that small, old lady,
who lay on the sofa in the Warmest
corner Of the room, had little of sun
shine about her. A fretful experience
shone in her sharp, dark eyes, and the
lines about her thin lips were not pleas
ant. The other lady, also elderly, who
sat opposite Mrs. Allison, seemed more
in keeping with the surroundings.
Peace was written all over the fair,
placid face, in the kindly eyes, the firm,
sweet mouth, the faded, wrinkled hands,
now knitting with the unhurried grace
which belongs only to the aged. Mrs.
Eunice Foster seemed an impersonation
Of the calm autumn day without.
"It's three weeks to Thanksg .ving,n
her seam needle.
Mrs. Foster made this brief remark
in half apologize tone, as if she rath-
er expected to be contradicted. or called
to account in some way for her state
ment; for Mrs. Allison was in the habit
Of differing from other people at first,
she was of their opinion or not.
But at present she was too much oecu-
pied with her own grievances to dissent
rs she usually did.
"Well, must say dom tfeel special
" thankful said Mrs. Allison, drawing
5he afghan over her knees. '.I've just |
had one. trouble after another all this
year. There was that cheating tenant |
IN the upper place; and then me laid
Hat O. my back in the very hottest
If the summer; and what with the
brought and poor season the crops are
j failure. Now, here / am with a
,prained ankle, and nobody knows when
can put foot to the ground If I ever
IAN : and all my business, and the whole /
place, going to rack for need of some
,ne to look after things And Mrs.
Allison drew a long sigh of self-pity, and |