St. Landry democrat., 1884-03-01

| l.
mented lunatic? If Iwere still in the
full possession of my mind, why did not
my hair turn white? Twas nearly driven
to suicide. What could it meanp With.
out one voluntary step on my part / was
literally driven out of the city-talked
and smiled out of my own home
ut is past endurance, = said, through
my clenched teeth, 81 have still a
roof over my head and I will have nv
freedom will let my neighbors know
George, softly called Fanny through
the nursery door, 'did tell you that I
showed Mrs. Howe through the house
to-day, and she has as good as promised
to take it at your own terms for five
years.?'
I groaned soto voce, and I was GLAD
that Fanny could not see me at that mo-
ment
..Did you hear, dear?n she insisted.
eyes, but am too tired to discuss
anything tonight. Do get the lights
out as soon as possible. I am complete
ly worn out, | answered, fretfully, but
| with great sincerity.
.'Poor George!" sighed she. .'You
need the rest and quiet of the country as
much as l. :
So, scarcely knowing how, our pretty
house on Fourth street was let, fur
nished; and the first day of May found
the Warren family on wheels. The
purchase of the farm had been accepted
'tsight unseen" as old-fashioned boys
used to trade jack knives. If / had even
dreamed of occupying the house I should
have paid it visit, but nothing had
been farther from my mind, and [ nat
urally felt very anxious as we neaced
Peachville.
TWAS one of Fanny hobbies that our
boys should be removed from the town
and its vicious influences while they
were yet blissfully unconscious of evil.
Looking at our rev home from that
standpoint, it was certainly a success.
Our nearest neighbor was solitary old
man, as deaf as q post and at least
mile away. The village was twice that
distance, and the roads so heavy that
there was little danger of contaminat-
ing associations from that quarter. NV
heart was heavier than lead rs the
horses toiled through the sand between
the station and our home, making the
new carry all creak in every joint.
We found the house prettilv en-
powered in vines whose leaves
would no doubt appear in due
time. Tildy. our maid of all |
work, declared it was the dirtiest
house she sever set foot in, but Fanny
said that was what everybody thought
who was not used to moving into I
old houses. TWAS Fanny's nature to
make the best of things. and at the end I
of month she and Tidy had contrived
to make our cottage snug and home
like.
And I was not at all unhappy. In
deed, my own indifference caused me
the grayest foreboding at first. seemed
to be paralyzed. Perhaps my neighbors
had recognized my mental disorder,
and attributed our change of residence
to it. As time went on, however, re-
turned to my old self. The humdrum
life was forced to lead grew intolera-
Bile. The spell of longing for my old
naunts came upon me.
just about this time received a let
ter calling me to the city upon mat
ter Of business. Fanny made arrange
ments for me to go by an early train,
50 that | might return that same even
ing, for she was timid. and dreaded the
thought of my absence for single
night. Upon my arrival, however, I
found that I could not do this l,
therefore, telegraphed my wife to that
effect, and also that Miss Jones, whom
had invited to visit us, would go in
ny place. Fanny was fond of all
young ladies, and Miss Jones in par
ocular. So | fattered myself that
had made such satisfactory arrange
nent that / need be in no haste to re-
urn.
was hardly able to conceal the boy
sh delight with which | entered my
hub that evening. My friends were
glad to see me, in way; but I felt
hat they were less enthusiastic than
he circumstances demanded. They
greeted me with: ''WelI, Warren, you
,egin to look better" and g Glad to
zee that farming agrees with you,
1eorge, Z till felt like knocking every ;
nan down that ] met. The salad was ]
lat and the wines insipid. I thought .
# Fanny's dainty table with sigh. /
ven stole a glance at my watch to see
{ I could catch the train and get back
hat night The thought of my wife
nade me uneasy. She would be lonely, '
Q far from neighbors. She had owned I
o me that even in our pleasant home
n Fourth street, with Tidy in the f
ursery, she had sometimes been so L
erVous in the long nights when /
was away that the beating of her own a
cart sounded like knocking at the i
treet door Or when the little curly Q
og pricked up. his ears to listen she
AIRED not guess what he might hear.
that I had not thought Of a
ais before. There was q slow train t