St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-01-02
CHAPTER XXI.
THE LOVERS MEETING.

THE LOVERS MEETING.
Although having said, in his letter to
Erastus, that he expected his wife and
daughter soon and must prepare Tor
their coming, John Parsons Aidnt
really look fox them yet for some
hours.
1t was fifteen miles to Phippsburg
over billy road. and it required the
whole of long day to make the trip.
dispose of the articles taken, and re.
turn; and it was DO. yet the middle OF
the afternoon when the letter was fin
ished. Yet John Parsons had no inten-
ton of tefling d falsehood. Liars and
towards We're his especial detcstation,
and this slip of his from the path OF
truthfulness, like ninc-tenths of the
white lies so common among all
classes. was the result of an inability
to readily command language in which
to express his thoughts.
He had given the ''hint" which was
the purpose of his writing, and could
think of no proper way i'll which to
close his letter and at the same time
tell Erastus not to mention, to Aucy or
to Mrs. Parsons, the fact Of his having
been written to. The whole affair was
intended to be a fine stroke of diplo-
macy by which the father hoped to re-
unite those whom he loved, end whom
he believed we've warmly attached to
each oshere without wounding the mod
esty and self-respect OF his daughter.
It was dusk when Mrs. Parsons aud
Lucy returned.
The husband and father met them at
the gate which opened into the incios.
Ure where the shanty stood, and kissed
as he helped them, dusty and tired, TO
descend from the wagon. Then he
handed out the bundles and packages
which they had purchased, after which
ht. cared for the horses while The wcmen
entered The house.
They found the fire burning brightly,
and the table set. The ink-spot on the
table cloth was not visible, for it had
been carefully covered with a broad
dish; and il Mrs. Parsons noticed il
when she removed the cloth and shook
out the crumbs that evening, she was
wise enough not to mention it, and in
the morning q clean one was substi-
tuted and the stained cloth thrown into
the wash.
Johnny was of course anxious to see
the various packages unwrapped, but
was persuaded to defer seeing all eN-
cept the articles purchased especially
for him, until they had eaten and cleared
off the table, when they would ali take
look at them.
AS the family sat at supper they
talked of the days journey, the prices
received for chickens and eggs and
vegetables, and what they had pur-
chased with the proceeds; of what those
who remained at home had done, and
| of what they would do with the money
to be obtained from the next bit Of
produce which they would have to
spare.
! Just as soon as possible we must
put up the addition to the house Of
which we have been talking said
Mrs. Parsons. 'It won't cost much,
and will add more to our comfort than
anything else we could get with that
amount of money
Ibid you ask the price of lumber at
the landing?'' asked her husband.
''Why, no; did not suppose we could
| guy IL now, auu 50 Niu uo1 tltnn w
ask"
well, l d'know; we've got 5 few
dollars laid up now, and by selln' the
calves we might scrape up enough to
buy the lumber and get it home before
the rains set in. The roads IL be too
bad for haulin' after that Ii we had
the lumber home, then we'd get the
nails and other things along as we wus
able, and I could do the work myself
during clear spell in the winter
But can we sell the calves for fair
price? Who is there to buy them?''
''Bob Meeker, over on t'othcr side O
the mountain bout four miles, said the
other day he'd buy 'em, an pay cash,
eff I'd bring 'em over any time within q
week. I guess we'd better let him
have 'em an git the lumber. It'll be
mighty unpleasant bein' cooped up here
all through the wet season agin', an' eff
we had the lumber I'd manage the rest
of it some way"
| fro BE Continued