St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-04-05

heard OF since he was at your house.
His mother SAYS he went over to eN-
plain and make up. and he never came
back-he. he. She thought maybe he'd
stepped over 10 his brothers, but he
hadn the, he, | reckon he's drowned
him self >
Il don't know why the whole town
should talk over my affairs and every
mediling old maid giggle about them:''
cried Cornelia.
Piety jumped to her feet. seized her
paraSol and turned towards the door.
.'Good afternoon. Miss Corneiia and
Mrs. Rashlei"h," she said. with a con-
tcmptuoGs courtesy. III remember
my manners. if other folks forget theirs.
Only there's other folks as likely to be
old maids as me, and fancy it's Mrs.
Spears affair now if anything has
happened TO her boy"
A"av flounced Miss Pratt.
"Iou've put picty in Il rage, Corne-
liza said Mrs. Rashleigh. That's u
pity: she has a long tongue"
But Cornclia was CRYING.
20. mother, dear she sobbed, lit
isn't true. is it? Orville did feel dread
fully Won't you see. mother?'
But at this moment Sally, the little
servant girl from Grandma Rashleigh's,
came flying into the room. without any
more warning than if she had been
| shot from gun.
''The old missus says you are to come
over at once, both you ladies' she
| cried, standing before Mrs. Rashleigh,
and repeating her lesson Ike a parrot.
There's something Of Importance, and
you re needed at wonst."
sect your bonnet, Corne!ia," said
her mother. "Ill Just put on this sun
hat. What is it, Sally; do you know"
Il know its something dreadful.
Missus is almost wild, and there's lots
of folks there. Something about Mr..
Spear"
| The two ladies said no more. They
hurried away together, and, entering
grandma's rarlor, found there assem-
| bled more of the members of the Spear
family. and friend or two besides.
Orville had, indeed. disappeared. He
| had never been home since his visit to
Cornelia, and now the alarmed rcla-
tiyes were anxious to get all the intor-
nation they could regarding the inter-
view between Orville and Cornelia.
81 had reason TO be angry, Mrs.
Spear" said Cornelia, proudly; .'good
reason, and l took oil my ring and gave
it back and went out of the room. That
is all know. don't know when he
went or where. IL thought he
wouldn't mind so much believed he
had stopped caring about me.
..He ought to now, at all events, !"
said grandma.
| ..My boy is dead, I'm sure. | shall
have the pond dragged" said Mrs.
Spear. amidst her tears. He left all
| his money at home Hewouldnt I have
gone travelling without a change Of
clothes. o, YOU wicked girl
Il hope" cried the eldest Miss Spear,
s.that he IL haunt you
Il could kill you, you hateful thing
cried the youngest Miss Spear.
Cornelia had kept up bravely until
| now: but when her two friends turned
| upon her thus. she gave a little scream
and fell over on the sofa. She was in
dead swoon, and the water they
sprinkled in her face did not bring
her to.
Grandma grew frightened.
Il hope it isn't an attack of heart
disease she said "Poor child! she
looks as if she were dead.
20, don't say that" cried the mother.
They gathered around Cornelia and
| did ali thev could for her. and soon she
recovered ard sat up, but all her pride
was gone.
O. dear! o, DEAR she sob5ed. Il
1 7 / haI
come to! o, Orvillc! Orville. what has
become of you':''
go. OH" moaned the mother,
go, OH" moaned the sisters.
! And Cornelia's head fell back again.
Emma. get the lavender out of the
china-closet, said grandma to her
daughter. ..Quick! It's on the corner
shelf
Mrs. Rashleigh rushed to the closet.
alt won't open," she cried wildly.
"It's a patent lock- said grand
ma; clocks rs it shuts. Here's the
key"
And Mrs. Rashleigh few back to
the door, opened it and uttered a
shrek.
There on the floor. huddled up nm
der the shelf, lay poor Orville Spear.
| lie was white and limp.
Cornelia sat and stared ut him in the
most awful way. She thought him dead.
but the more experienced ma.ron saw
that he was yet living.
Sally was sent post haste for the doc
tor: and there, in Mrs. Rashleigh 5
drawinr-room. he found Cornelia and
orvitle living quite unconscious. like
Romeo and ,futtct in the scene at the
tomb. and the rest of the party in a
state of bewilderment and terror past
description.
At last, however, both were conscious
and seated in arm chairs. regarded each
other. while the observers kept silence,
and Mr.. Oryille Spear uttered the first
words.
..Of all the confounded fools"
..Who. dear?" asked his mother.
.Me." said Orviile, regardless OF
| grammar. '.Who shut me ine"
..What were you in the closet for:?''
asked grandma, with guilty con-
science.
TO pick something up that rolled
there" said Orville.
1.-The ring?" asked Cornelia, frantic
callv.
.-Yes. the ring said Mr.. Spear.
More fool l! Some one banged the door
to. | shouted and howled and kicked,
and no one heard me-
80. oh. oh. OH shrieked Cornelia, 81
believe YOU hid there Just to kill me,
for no other purpose than out of re-
venge."
You banged the door on me- said
Mr. Spear. "A Jealous woman will do
anything"
Il banged the door, Orville"' said
old Mrs. RaShleigh. Il! You'd left