St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-10-24

leave it undone as he chose. Accord
ingly the New Yorker had given such
care to the animal which he rode as
served to smooth his coat, and had fed
him from the bin of oats which Erastus
had shown them, and then had returned
to the house. But seeing no oppor-
tunity of speaking to either of the
young ladies, they being busy with the
morning duties, he had remainedfor a
moment in the sitting-room and then
gone out to the vineyard, returning as
he saw the others coming toward the
house as if in anticipation of breakfast.
Each of the young men respectfully
bid the elder ones good morning, to
which John Parsons replied with q
hearty:
Good morning, boys, good morn
ing.''
Mr.: Jobbers "'oped he saw them
WE'LL
Being summoned to breakfast, they
entered the house and gathered about
the table.
Ensign and Annelsey, both of whom
were feeling little out of humor over
their recent tilt about the care of the
horses, had their good nature fully re-
stored in the presence of the young
ladies, who greeted them with smiles
and pleasant "good mornings"
Had there been no ladies present it is
possible that the meal of which they
were partaking might have had the
same effect. The most delicious coffee,
fresh laid eggs with ham; the lightest
of bread; the mealiest of potatoes, and
such fruit as California alone can pro
duce, went to make up repast which
only required the clear bracing air of
the climate to render it feast fit tor any
occasion and any company.
Mr.. Jobbers was profuse in his COM
pliments. He had dined with the
Honorable Mr.. So-and-so, and been
present at the public banquet of the
Lord Mayor of London, but he had
never eaten meal 'tmore satisfying
to the happetite than the one before
him; and he ended his remarks on that
subject, as he frequently did, with the
assertion that on his return to England
he should advise all the farmers whom
he saw to emigrate at once to Cali
fornia.
Breakfast over, Ensign went imme-
diately out and broughT around his own
horse and that of Mr.. Jobbers. An
nelsey fingered behind, anxious for a
few words with Lucy, and hoping that
Ensign would bring his animal with
the others. But in this he was disap-
pointed, as Ensign led cut two only;
and but that Erastus, not willing to ap-
pear lacking in courtesy TO their
guests, led out the remaining animal,
he would have found himself behind at
the starting.
Hitching the horses to the front gate
Ensign returned to the house to thank
the family for their hospitality. Annel-
sey attempted to prevent this by hasten
ing his own departure and that of Mr.,
Jobbers, but Ensign had too SDcIear a
perception of what was due their host
to leave without word of thanks for
Inequalities enjoyed, and left his COM
panions-Who were ignorant of the di-
rection to be taken-to await him at
the gate while he paid his respects to
the family.
He did not offer to pay, as Mr.. job
bers and Mr.. Annelsey had done, for he
knew the customs of the people and that
pay was neither expected nor desired;
for their kindness and gave expression
to desire to be of service to the family
in return-should opportunity offer.
Then, bidding all goodbye, he re-
Joined his companions, and together the
three resumed their journey.
rv ~37C--To