St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-10-30

sumed his chair by the table, opened
his book at the card, and read on in ST.
lence fer an hour. Then he inserted
the card between the leaves where he
had left off, closed and put away his
| book and prepared for lecture. AS
Percy passed out into the little entry,
| Edward laughed, slipped the card a
few pages toward the front for the Sec
ond time, and was rewarded by his con-
federates' applauding smiles.
This went on for weeks. Edward s
amazement deepened, and Walter and
| Will looked at him, at each other, and
at Percy in plying incredulity. The
question began to assail them all as to
whether they had any right to continue
such farce. Finally, VIII broke the
spell by asking:
Percy, how do you like reading
anatofny?'
"It's very NICE drawled Percy; ''but
don't you think it's-a 1ectlc-mono!o-
aaous?"
AS the story-writers say. 1--WE draw
vail over the climax;' that is,
we would, if this were the end. But,
when the fit of hysterical laughter
greeting this speech had subsidized
boys do laugh Historically sometimes
Walter challenged the victim thus:
'I'll bet you don't know the name of
a single bone you've read aboutr'
I'm bet / dor declared Percy, vehe-
mently.
"Name it, them
''The-Peter-y- goid!" enunciated Per-
cy, decidedly, with the accent on the Y.
''The-what?" cried the mvstifed
''rhe-Peter-y-goid!' repeated Percy,
firmly.
What does he mean?" queried VIII,
turning to Edward.
"I'll show vou,' blurted out poor
Percy, his pink face growing positively
red, as he snatched the big book from
the table and tore it open. 'There!'
he exclaimed in triumph, as he pointed
to single word in italics.
'Pterygod. -
(Which, for the information Of I'M
learned readers, will state should be
pronounced terygoid, with the accent
on the ter. The name is applied to
part of one of the bones of the skulD.
Climax! This time we do "draw q
vail.''
Percy was, then, hopelessly stupid, a
natural-born ''luny." That fact had
been demonstration it was
quite allowable to make bis harmless
life just as miserable as possible. Recog-
nized sovereignty soon became actual,
and actual sovereignty was shared with
Edward by Walter and Will, for Percy
proved docile fag to all. He BACKED
boots and run errands to perfection.
True, all commands were disguised by
such sugar coatings as please" or
That's good fellow" but they were
none the less commands. Edward was
happy. The atmosphere suited him ex-
actly. He could live with real boys, and
at the same time receive the ministra-
tons which he had long been used to
from girls.
And what of these girls, his sisters,
all these months? Oh, they thought of
him often. The pretty keepsakes, the
atfectionate letters, passing from the old
farmhouse to the city, amply proved
that. But Edward took these testimo-
mails of his sisters regard just as he had |
taken all previous ones, as mere mat
ter of course. One evening letter |
came from Lucy, which was destined |
to make a sensation. 1t appeared that |
she was going to be married, and for |
love. She had imbibed some beautiful,
and, to her, new ideas, and had begun
to realize the true dignity of the human
soul. And kindly, sweetly, tenderly,
she endeavored to help her brother
toward somethiag of a similar realiza-
ion. 1t was just such a letter, from q
good woman, as any honorable man
ought to prize more than casket of
rare jewels.
Now, what do you suppose Edward
lid with that letter? Why he called
lis three chums around the table, and
when they were seated, proceeded de-
iberately to read it aloud to them. Not
not reverently, not hum
by, as though he were scarce worthy
If such disinterested affection-not gen.
,rously, as though his companions, like
himself, were boys who were away from
heir sisters, and needed all the help
hat a good woman could give
hem. Far from it. He read that
acred letter as though he we've
Getting some ridiculous travesty-
cad it as a good joke-and
voun'l up with laugh boisterously
oud, and the remark:
isis is getting sentimental; she must
lave been reading novels. Wonder if
he forgot to wash the dishes!''
Edward looked at Walter and Will and
aw upon their faces what he had ex-
'ected, smiles of approval. Of course,
hey would agree with their superior
riend. But nothing short of the super :
latural could have prepared him for
'ercy's aspect. 1t was terrible to behold.