The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-04-05

good-humored. In week or so sh,
got the mastery over him, and even be
gan to teach him something. OF tn,
father she saw nothing, but at nigh
she heard him pacing the room over
head with long and solemn strides.
Its his conscience, my DEAR" said
Mrs. Posset. HE says he is sure hi
wasn't all he should be to his poo1
Amanda, and that he broke her heart
He never even answered her back, anc
I've had him get up in the night and
60 everywhere to buy Strawberries
when they were not in season because
she was set on having 'em. She was q
Miss Penfeather, and the family de.
spises Mr.. Bellamy; but l never saw
such alteration, even when she gave
him a black eye with the busting
brush"
Linda grew curious to see this par
agon. One day she was gratihed. She
had left Master Tommy in the nursery
and gone down stairs to get tub Of
hot water for his bath; when she re-
turned he was gone. She hurried about
the house, and soon heard low groans
from the study on the second floor.
The door stood open; peeping in she
saw a tall man living on a sofa and
Master Tommy standing near by, pull
ing out his hair by handfulls. With
every tug the sufferer groaned, but
made no resistance,
's1ommy," called Linda, "Tommy,
come here. Really, sir, you ought not
to allow that"
Tommy obeyed and ran to her. The
martyr lifted up his head.
.'Don't disturb him" he said, mourn
fully. "Iwould deny nothing to her
child. i wish to do my duty by him at
least"
THAT is not the way to do it, SIR"
said Linda. "Absurd indulgence is in
furious to any child"
She led Tommy away.
: The next morning, as she was in
structing him in the alphabet, tan
gled head of black hair appeared at the
door; thin, tall figure followed, and
Mr.. Bellamy, with detected air and
tone. inquired:
''May / come imp"
Linda fastened to place chair, and
went on with her lesson.
The father eyed her with a wistful
look. 81
"You seem to manage him." he said.
II try to, SIR" said Linda.
HE has his sainted mothers faces
said Mr. Bellamy.
The child, with his blunt nose, and
rough, red cheeks. was not particularly
saint-like, but Linda, as in duty bound,
bowed gravely.
"lt comforts me to see him." said
Mr.. Bellamy. "May come often?"
"Ihis is Jour own house. SIR" said
Linda.
From that day Mr.. Bellamy sat in the
nursery great deal. In the evenings
he took Tommy to walk. At the end
OF that month he raised Linda's wages.
As the summer wore on, and the |
year OF his mourning glided by, he be-
slowed many condolences on his nursery |
yoverness. He remembered each cause |
Of complaint his late wife had had |
against him and desired Linda's opin-
on. Generally she found him not to |
blame. BY slow degrees he grew more
cheerful, and at last brought home q |
'op for Tommy and set it humming.
On the anniversary of his wife's death
he took Linda and Tommy to her grave
Ind wept there.
"a broken-hearted man is Mr.. Bel
amy" said Mrs. Posset. "But it seems
angular to me that he didn't ask me to
axe the child instead of YOU"
The week after Mrs. Penfeather and
me of Tommy's aunts came to make a
'isit. There was a good deal of whis-
'ering in the housekeeper's room; and
ne evening Mrs. Penfeather entered
he nursery with naughty air, and,
eating herself in rocking chair, ad-
ressed herself to Linda: i
II am the late Mrs. Bellamy's
nother, as / suppose you know, and l
ave come over to see how Tommy is
citing on. can't say I think he is
DING well at all. and believe can
nd better nurse-maid for him. So,
3 your month is up next Monday, I'll ,
az you now in place of warning, and ,
on can pack up at once"
Linda looked at the old lady quietly.
aused moment. said svery we'll" I
nd walked out of the room. Her little |
unk stood in the store-room; she
Dened it and began to take down her
w plain gowns. Suddenly Tommy's | &
'ice reached her, crying: II
where's my Linda?' and she heard s
e grandmother say: Ii
LINDA is going away. She's naugh- 2
Then she realized that she had come G
love Tommy, and tears fell fast up j.
the garments she was packing. il
.CryingP" said voice behind her. .
Why, Linda. what has happened?' a
I'm very foolish, that's all, Mr.. Bel n
my. 1t is only leaving Tommy, I" she p
severed, without looking around. liz
Leaving Tommy What do YOU "
camp cried MIR. Bellamy. w
He came into the store-room and a
'od near her, looking down at her. a
"Mrs. Pcnfeather has dismissed me-" a
e said. !,
..But I have not, =" said Mr.. Bellamy. K
be bent toward her; he looked at her a
master seldom looks at a servant. h
ddenly Linda understood all. "
''lt is right that I should 90" she W