St. Landry democrat., 1884-10-25
ave had a loss, MIR. Goldchest. /"

rusty hat of his humble dependent;
there was q fugitive fear that there
might be something Catching from
Mr.. Cattley's close proximity, and he
stepped with aIacrity into his carriage
and drew up his window sharply. He
did not re ward Jacob on that OCCASION;
he gave no thought to the arrears which
might have accumulated during Jacobs
absence from his duties; and the old
man walked home very thougntfully,
and with downcast expression of
countena,lce. On his way home he
encountered Polly Baxter, who also was
disposed to take him for ghost, and
nearly dropped her basket into the Lon
don mud at the first sight of him.
"Why, lor, sir! Who'd have thought
of it? she exclaimed.
Thought of what?'' he asked, q
little curiously.
'.Of your being alive, and moving
about like this I'm so glad
''Glad, are you? What are you glad
for?' he inquired sharply.
''Glad to see an old customer turn
up" was the truthful reply.
':Ah! Just so" Jacob.
''And not that exactly, mind YOU
added Polly, ''but because you are here,
you know. That's it. Where have you
been. sir? Ill?'
This was Mr.. Goldchest's inquiry
also, utInot conveyed with so much in
terest. Anc his answer was the same
as before,
1--WE had loss.
'tNot-not money?'
''I've lost my daughter; all had in
the world to me; all / cared for, child.
Good day." he said, with an excite
ment for which Polly was wholly I'M
prepared.
Eyes; put here; hold hardn ~ she cried,
inelegantly. 'Ain'tyou agoing to have
any flowers to-
The old man hurried away from her,
darted across the road under horses
heads and omnibus wheels, with almost
the alacrity of youth, and il was not till
he was upon Blackfriars Bridge that he
had recovered his composure, and quite
finished with ragged pocket handker-
chief, which was evidently segment
of his winter wrapper, being OF the
same striking pattern and color. When
he had crossed the bridge and South
wark street, and was turning into ona
of the little crowded thoroughfares on
the right of the Blackfriars Road, lead
ing to the salubrious quarters of GRAY
ell Lane and parts adjacent, he was as
tonished and discounted again to find
Polly Baxter at his elbow, exceedingly
red in the face and short of breath.
"Well, you can jest walk, old gentle
man. and no mistake" she said
What do you want with me?n he
asked, testify now. What what is
itp'
II only want to say I'm sorry like"
she blurted forth. Il didn't think, all
at once, about the flowers, and that you
wanted them for her, of course, who's
gone now, and who was fond of flowers.
| see; / see. You won't mind what |
said; will you, nowP''
Jacob Cattley stared at her; but he
croaked forth very hoarsely:
''No.n
.I'll never Ak you again; I'll never
look your way again; but take this,
please, for this once; won't your
And Polly held out his usual-sized
bunch Of flowers, at which the old man
shrank back as though il had been
pistol leveIed at him.
at ISM for the money! said Polly,
excited now herself. II don't want.
any money. Ketch old. Please do
Jest to make believe you're taking them
to her the same as ever, sir. =
The old man stretched out trem-
bling hand toward the flowers at this
and Polly thrust them into
his grasp and fairly ran away across
the bridge again, leaving him looking
after her open-mouthed, and with some
salt tears Drumming over his blinking
eyelids and making their way down the
deep burrows in his cheeks.
On the Monday Jacob passed her as
usual on his homeward route, and with
his old patronizing bow, and with a
steadier stare at her, too, as if no long
or afraid to face her. But Polly looked
the other way and would not see him
fell into the habit of hiding from him,
even and on the following Saturday
would also have eluded him, had he not
come up the reverse way OF the street,
and taken her unawares by flank
.'Lft me have good bunch to-day
> two-penny bunch" he said, in quite q
Ousiness-like manner.
Polly Baxter was surprised: but she
gave him the flowers he required. and
he popped the money into her basket.
ut you don't want them now; do
Tou?'' she murmured.
Eyes, of course do. That was
good thought of yours, child, last week.
And took the flowers to her. -
''Oh! I see!' calculated Polly.
'sAnd shall do so every week, MAX
ing believe, as you say, that she's watt
ing for them. It's not bad thought at
LII ,1Lha rnrtterad ssSha was so fond