The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1885-10-30
THE LOST OPPORTUNITY.

"Well BaDette
"Madame Boulet asks for the loan of buck
OF Of COAL"
The lady glanced up impstiently. "Ho@ many
DOES this maker"
Seven, Miss Laura"
"And what reason does the Madame give
this time p
.The coal she ordered has not come"
"Ah!" with change from anger to sarcasm,
"Madame Boulet should also borrow new ex-
cuse"
The mulatto stood in silence awaiting an an
swer. Whether coal should or should not be
lent was evidently no concern OF hers, for her
face was as impressive and emotionless as the
door against which she lightly leaned. The
lady continued her writing for several minutes
at length she paused, and glancing up said,-
"You here yet, Babette? :"
"What answer shall l give, Miss Laura p
reminded the girl gently.
ooh, throw 1t over, suppose"
As the maid left the room by one door a
gentleman entered by another. The lady push
ed her writing materials to one side, and ex-
claimed
emile, what is to be done about this bor-
rowingi"
- w Qht WOulu you llh6 DOIiOWp "eU t"cfC'
he asked. with smile which disclosed his
perfect teeth. 81 haven't much, but any small
amount is at your SERVICE" and he made pre-
tence of diligently searching his pockets.
"Oh, Emile" she cried, petulantly, "you
know what mean; Madame Boulet has asked
tor another bucket of COAL"
"Madame Boulet knowsia 'nortber' when she
feels it," he said with shrug. "Her weather
wisdom is worthy of a more rigorous climate,
but it seems to disturb you, Laura"
"Disturb me l should think so! Why,
Emile. this Is growing into positive infection
Every time the mercury has dropped this win
ter she has borrowed a bucket or two OF coal
As for the other things I've lent, from rice fol-
her eumbo to oil for her salad, they are past
counting. Mt single article has been return
ed, nor ever will be know"
"Then you had better put it down in your
charity account, Laura, and waste no more
| thought on II"
"No," she answered holly. II am willing tc
give quite as much or more, / am sure, but
| don't like this wav of doing il"
"You want all your charities definitely &C.
credited to you in the great record, and things
lent might not be properly entered, is that it 2
|
| she said, ignoring his last remark.
"Let us wait for warm weather, dear, and
see il the matter of coal will not adjust itself,
he returned gravely, but with CLINT of fun in
| mis- black eyes.
"Emile, those people are wre;chedly poor
Babette says they buy their meat and wood
and bread by the nickle's worth, and there are
| seven OF them in the family including an ole
aunt. Now just look therei" She nodded il
the direction of Madame Boulet's back gallery
there in the sun. with knitted shawls wrapped
around their shapeIy shoulders, sat the five
Mademoi:elles Boulei.
| THAT is the way they spend their time FOL
hours every day." she continued. "Why don
| they fad employ ment and letter their condi
ton Z"
Her husbands face cleaned with smuse
menf.
81 should say the principal reason is because
they are Creole instead of Yankee. daresay
the idea has never entered the bead of one Of
them. They own that house with its accom-
panying mortgage; they have pittance be
sides, and they have the gracious southern sun
when the wind blows cold they hsve Kind
neigbbors with coal to lerd, what more need
| they
awelI Emile, won't go on this way, was
| not brought up with those idees-"
"No;" be said, with provoking rising IN
| fiecfiUn. 81 am not much of church man,
Laurs, but you must have often heard From
him that wouli borrow Of thee, turn not away
how reads II 2
She made no reply; and be continued;