The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-12-12

she had known what l had Just recov-
cred from, she wouldn't have come
within mile of the house. l didn't
wish her to know of it, because she
was naturally nervous. She couldn't
see my face in the dark, so everything
was all right.
/ started off with her, but when we
got to the gate she insisted on my 60
ing in to look at some photographs she
had just had taken,
1--WE got to get back right away" /
said.
but it is only half-past eight" she
persisted
Cant help it, replied; az am
not fixed up for calling, and 1 have
something to do at home"
At this moment she caught sight of
my face, which was the color of
boiled lobster, for we happened to
stand near lamp post.
'What makes your face so redP"
asked she.
is my face redp" 1 inquired as
though l thought it joke.
Certainly it is"
l still pretended to consider it a
jest, and asked:
Are you not color-blindP"
mo, / am not"
'Then must be sunburned."
cit is not the right shade for that,
she exclaimed, in manner that froze
me; "yours is deep scarlet hue, and l
don't see why you want to stand there
grinning like newly-appointed post
master, instead of telling me"
"Well, if you must know, l suppose
you must know; but this gorgeous tint
| am wearing at present and its cause
is profound family secret. However,
l will tell you all if you promise not to
divulge the great secret to a living
soul"
II will never tell" she promised.
'"Then," said, looking first in one
direction and then in another, to make
sure that we were not observed: ait is
the blush of modesty."
With this explanation precipitately
fled, and have not seen that girl since.
When L went back to business, they
were all glad to see me, until they
found out the nature of my malady.
Then they moved off, and gave me the
whole place.
'I'm so glad to see YOU" one man
would say, shaking hands: "what' s
been the matterP"
'Varioloid.
Then he would gasp, rush out to be
eauterized or disinfected.
"What allied yonPn asked an old
nervous member of the firm, laying
his arm on my shoulder in fatherly
WaV t'chills and feVerpi,
"No," l replied, it was a form of
smallpox, known as ="
"Get right away for vacation" he
broke in, as he yanked his arm off my
shoulder, and turned pale with fright
$50 right to the cashier, and draw
three weeks salary and start off.
So walked out of that place about
as happy as any one could be with a
three weeks leave of absence and a
cash capital of nine dollars. / shall
never forget what an object of envy l
was when left Every one that dared
to took me by the hand. and congratu-
lated me, and said that'they would try
the varioloid game themselves.
"When | returned, | concluded that
l had got about all the juice that it was
possible to get out of one fS of sick
ness, and made up my mind to accept
the situation and go to work.
A day or two after my return the
same member of the firm met me at the
office, and asked:
'How are you feeling now?"
First rate; never felt better"
"Oh, by the way" he went on, 81
suppose you burned up all your cloth
ing after your sicknessp"
''Didn't burn any," l replied, "the
clothes have on now hung over the
foot of the bed while l was sick. "
The old man held up his hands in
despair, turned paler than I had ever
seen him before, and said:
'Draw two weeks salary, go away
for that time and burn up all YOU
clothes"
| drew six dollars remained away
two weeks, and went back to business
in the same clothes, dyed.
That is the idyl of my varioloid, anG
l must admit that felt sad when a ply
sician told me l couldn't have it E
second time.-R. K. Munbitt7Sck, a.
Puck.