St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-07-19

taken into his mouth, and then laid the
slice down by his plate, q peculiar OK.
preston on his face.
II don't believe he likes it,"
thought. and I was feeling very much
puzzled, and little hurt, when, to my
amazement / saw him, after a hurried
glance around the table to see if he was
observed, transfer the slice of corn bread
to his coat-poeket.
At that moment mother. who had been
busy with the cofee-cups, looked up.
81 hope the corn-bread is to your
liking, Mr.. Styles, said she said, pleas
antly. "Do take another piece"
''Thank you, madam" said Mr..
Styles, and drawing the par toward him
he cut another slice even larger than
the first.
fully expected to see him eat this;
but he did not even taste it. and pres
emily it followed the first slice into that
convenient pocket. felt so sure the
bread was good that could only con-
clude that he was saving the two slices
to eat on the road to Morristown, or
that he intended it for some poor, starv-
inc child he might possibly meet. And
vet poor, starving children were not
common on our high road.
''Do take another slice of corn-breads
Mr.. Styles" said mother, noticing that
he had none on his plate. 81 am'so
glad you like it."
al have taken two slices already, you
know,' he answered. ':Don't urge me
to take any more, please. do not feel
as if could touch another morsel.
His horse was saddled and waiting
for him at the gate when we rose from
the table, and after thanking father and
mother for their hospitality, and regret
ting that he could not stay longer, he
mounted and rode away. hung over
the gate and watched him disappear
down the road in cloud of dust, and
then raA in to tell mother what had
seen. She was in the kitchen washing
up the pots and pans, and Joe was
standing in the doorway feeding Dash
and Hero with some scraps he had COLI
lected from the breakfast table.
~What appetites these hounds have!''
he said, as l entered. II have given
them that whole pan of corn-bread,
mother, and yet they are not satisfied
'sThey ought to have put their noses
in Mr. Styles's coat-pocket," cried.
''They would have found plenty to eat
there"
''What do you mean?'' asked mother,
turning around. Il don't believe you
know what you are saying, Jenny"
Eyes, | do" | answered, stoutly. 'T
was watching him all through break
fast, and he put both those slices of
corn-bread in his pocket when he
+ V,oboIIr vr7ap 1oOLyfuoe -
Are you sure of that, Jenny?" and
mother looked very stern.
eyes, am just rs sure as anything"
I returned. 81 guess he thought he
might be hungry on the read. .
Mother made no reply; but going in
to the dining-room lifted the pan of
corn bread from the table and looked
at it. A single glance was enough.
The pan fell with q! clatter among the
breakfast dishes, and mother sank into
chair as if utterly overcome.
'.Jenny!' she cried. sob, jenny
how did this happenP l told you so
particularly which pan to put on the
table. No wonder Mr.. Styles couldn't
eat this. y
.Why what's the matter with it?'' L
asked, feeling rather bewildered. 81
put on the pan that looked best, mann
ma. This had such beautiful rich
crust!"
II know it had! The chicken gravy
made it look rich. Jenny, Jenny, why
couldn't you nave minded me- THIS is
the corn-bread 1 mixed up for the dogs,
and [ put all the scraps had left into
it-that chicken gravy which was down
in the cellar whole week, some mush
LETT over from Wednesday, the scraps
of pork, and--and-dear knows what
else 1 knew the dogs would eat any
thing, and / merely put in the corn
meal and water to hold the mess to-
gether."
realized then what I had done, and
of course l burst into tears at once, and
throwing myself on the dining-room
sofa, cried until could cry no more.
Mother did not attempt to comfort me.
dom suppose she felt like administer
ing kisses and caresses Just then, and it
is probable that she thought | deserved
/ to suffer little. But when [ was quiet
again, she came in and sat down by me,
and told me that she had sent Joe off to
Morristown with a note to Mr.. Styles
| explaining the whole matter.
II have asked him to stop here on his
way home," she said, 'and shall then
make some more corn-bread. But this
time I shall put it on the table myself. u
My tears began to flow again imme-
diately. II never, never will change
the pans again, mamma. 1 sobbed.
! mo, I don't think you will,' said
mother. II am sure you have learned
8 lesson. And want you to remember
Jenny, thaE j. is good rule to aJaOays
/ do e1dctLy d<F4ow are told. "
j ! wasn't AAle to speak in reply; but I