St. Landry democrat., 1884-01-19

times called an instinct, had at last sue
ceeded in asserting itself, breaking
through his preoccupation and turnin 2
him in the direction of home.
The last thought in Richards mind
at the end of this eyentful Monday, like
the thought that had awakened with
him in the morning, was his patent ma
chine. He had involuntarily ran over
l. the events of the day, until reaching the
present moment he had said to himself
in u determined way: eyes, l will try
again.
For reasons of his own Richard was
! intending to call occasionally upon
Lucy and Rachel, but circumstances in
telposed. The same week that began
SO disastrously for him ended with an
additional misfortune. He lost his sit
uation as draughtsman. This was, in
a measure, his own fault--his invention
had taken his mind off his daily task
and caused him to spoila piece of work.
Although this was an Unusual occur
renee. yet it furnished an opportunity
for the superintendent, who disliked
Richard, to speak so harshly that he
was angered, and after some hard words
on both sides Richard quit work.
The result of the quarrel was that
Richard had to leave the village and
seek employment elsewhere. This he
obtained at a works five miles off; but
for all purposes of a social kind it
might as we'll have been fifty miles dis
tant from Lucy and Richard King.
Six months passed away, during
which time Richard had paid half
dozen visits to the King family. He
was cordially received; even j ohm King
treated him well, now that the young
inventor did not stand in the way of
his plan for Lucy And Dr. Stone had
now a sympathizing way with him that
ought to have enraged Richard, but for
some reason it did not; on the con-
trary he and the doctor were fast i'm.
proving in each others estimation
The reason for this commendable
philosophy came out upon his last Wis
it. Lucy and the doctor had gone to
the depot to meet her father, mother
and brother, leaving Rachel alone in
the house.
They must have had some mysterious
business to talk about, for they sat very
close to each other and spoke in low
tones, and whatever the subject was it
lasted till the arrival of the family.
After they were all seated Richard
to the right of John King and the
doctor to the left, the two sisters, Joe
and his mother in group aside--Rich-
ard gave a preliminary cough, which
was followed like an echo by one from
the doctor. Evidently something was
coming out, and it looked as if two cats
were in the same bag.
Mr.. King" began Richard.
''Ahi Mr.. King said the doctor,
and he sighed in the precise manner
that Joe had often mimicked.
Without attempting to sandwich the
two stories in the manner in which they
were told let it suffice to say that the
doctor and Lucy had come to an under
standing and Richard and Rachel had
come to a similar one.
No one was greatly surprised at these
announcements.
But evidently Richard had not alto
gether unburdened his mind, and after
clearing his throat in a yet more decided
manner he began again:
s'Mr. King, have something more to
say that I know you will now feel an in
terest IN.
There was a general movement of
attention, in which Rachel joined.
.'You remember that unfortunate In
vention of mine?" continued Richard.
Remember it! Was it not that I'M
fortunate invention that had brought
about the present altered condition of
affairs?
'.Oh, wen let t1at drop, Richard, =
said John King, soothingly.
Il hardly think that It would be GOOD
policy to let it drop now, persisted
Richard.
why notp''
Because I have given it six months
more of hard thought, and this very day
it has passed complete, thorough and
rigid test and was pronounced success
by certain moneyed men. We have APP
piled for an. act of incorporation;
capital. 100000, one-ffth Of the shares
being mine.
John King and DR. Stone opened
their mouths in most ungenteel man
ner; Joe said something about his be-
ing extraordinarily careful to keep it
quiet; Lucy turned white to the fps
and a hard look crept into her eyes,
Rachel looked so steadily at Richard
that he crossed over to her.
'tAnd you never told mel" was all she
said.
Why tell you, when | know that it
would make no difference? "-Jdmes Fl.
Mac Culloch, IN Philadelphia Times.
5 3