The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-09-22
aid: OTIS a bad affair" and looked

down at his foot. Letting his eyes rest
upon that generous quantity moment
he added: at seems strange that it
could not be discovered definitely if his
death was accidental, or from premed=
itated robbery. 1t must have been
from robbery, though, It seems to me,
or else he had made some other dispo-
sition of the money"
ut was very sad,' said Mrs. Whit
ney, pursuing up her mouth little; ''his
wife, believe, was very nice per-
SOM" looking up interrogatively.
"Yes num-" said Jade, "there was
none tiner.n
"We LETT our home as soon as ar-
prised of the affair." Mrs, Whitney
went on, considering it our bounden
duty to assume the care of bringing up
the child. Doctor what was his name,
Joel?"
"Hornby,'' said Mfr. Whitney.
"Yes, Dr.. Horribly wrote us inform
ing us of the sudden dreadfdlhess of
the occurrence, saying he had guessed
our place Of living from some of Mr..
Earrings papers. l trust it will occa-
sion You no reluctance or unpleasant
ness to yield the child into our posses
sion"
The lady had certain stretchy
sickness OF tansHe that was quite
soothing to the ordinary ear, albeit her
words were not always we'll constructed
Or grammatical. But joel Whitney al
ways grew little FESTIVE under the
smooth and level line of their delivery.
He was eminently a business man, with
little care for affected elegancies of
dictien or surroundings, though a great
lover of comfortable clothing, fat food
and warm quarters. He was, however,
rather volulninous talker himself
upon occasion, though ne seldom. al
lowed himself to be betrayed into
such weakness. A certain hcmely
bluntness of address, mixed with
a not over-rsfned humor, seemed
his natural output of expression.
In all matters he liked supremacy to
come directly to the point. Circum-
locution of speech or ideas weafied
him; still his geed nature was we'll
nigh ,snfallible. Nothing seemingly
save dullncss in those with whom he
had to do ever lost him his good
humored balance. He disliked affec-
tatlon. and, perhaps, his knowledge of
Mrs. Whitney,s directness of language
IN the home circle, and rather indirect
largeness Of remark ca state occasions,
stirred his aistaste little. At any
rate, he tapped his foot softly and
looked out the window as she closed
the sentence. then said a little abrupt
ly and with a business-likc smile:
"of course, you old people don't
want to be bothered with the child.
We've got little chap at home that
will make him q good mate. Besides,
you couldn't give him such schooling
| here as he needs, of course"
"No,n said Jade, huskily, eve
couldn't do nothin' fur him; you can
have him." -
"Well, Mary, we may as well be 90
ing them" said Mr.. Whitney, making
a movement as if to rise.
Then old Nora went upstairs with
the child to make him ready, and pres
! emily came down with her lips working
and her eyes very red, and put the
child in Mrs. Whitney's lap. But he
refused to stay with her, and Joel
| Whitney, laying twenty-dollar gold
piece upon the old bureau, turned to
the child and took him in his strong
arms and tossed him up, and laughed,
and gurgled. and CLICKED, and carried
him out and put him in the carriage.
Then the old couple, seeming more
bent and old than ever, came out, with
Mrs. Whitney talking very rapidly, and
all shook hands at the gate. Mrs.
Whitney thanked old Jade and Nora
for their kindness to the child, and her
husband said: '.Much obliged! much
obliged! We viii take good care of
him!" from the carriage. Then John
Earring with his large eyes filled with
tears, looking back over Joel Whit
ney's shoulder, saw for the last time in
his life the tender-hearted old couple,
crying at the gate, as the carriage bore
him away across the autumn-goldened
world.