St. Landry democrat., 1886-10-16

the snap had gone from her eyes TO hef
voice.
Somehow the load pressed heavier
than ever this morning. 1t might have
| been because it was early spring, and
the air was full of that indefnable sense
of expectancy, that vague hint of re-
juvenation that would touch every
thing except the banks fortunes. And,
perhaps, it was because the flour barrel
was empty, but, whatever the cause,
Mrs. banks turned from the doorway
thoroughly wretched.
Half an hour later Mr.. banks saun-
tered in with the water, the child fol-
lowing with string of two or three
fish.
Setting the pail down, he said in a
deprecating way: Il hev about c'nclud-
ed to take with Badgers Offer and go
up to Cooperville. -
She made no answer, and he contin-
ued: EFF any thin sh'd happen, l could
come home'
go, yesr' she answered, .'you could
come home easy enough.
The man WINGED, and his sallow face
redeemed.
II don s'pose I'm a master hand at
gettin' Twin, but tell We, Malviny,
fate is agin me. Just as | got a job
across the river that felon came on my
finger, and when | had chance on the
bridge, out of twenty men | was the
only one the derrick hit when it fell.
You d DIN t ought to be castin it up agin
me that he'd to come home; it's fate. "
Call it by what name you like" she
answered bitterly, ''it's made al old
woman of me before my time
He made no reply, but went out on
the door-stone, where the little girl
Joined him, and presently his wife heard
him say:
"Daody's goin' away. Is Capitola
sorry?'
"Real sorry!'' said the child; adding:
'What'll you bring me, daddys'
''How sh We like string of beads?'
he asked, after some deliberation.
blue beads?' cried the child, then
with the unconscious selfshness of
childhood will you 60 right OFF,
Apparently he was hurt, for his voice
quavered as he asked: (Which would
We rather hev-daddy or the beads?'
80, you!'' cried the child, throwing
her arms round his neck and pressing
her. little face to his So the hurt was
healed, and they chartered quietly to-
gether till supper time, at which meal
there appeared five black-eyed boys, the
pattern of their mother. People said
the banks blood had taken a turn in the
boys, for they were as keen, tough
limbed, energetic boys as could be found
in the county.
The following Monday Mr.. banks
started for Cooperville As he took up
his limp carpet-bag he sad, by way of
feeble joke: CAN'T ye sorry to see me
goin', Melviny?"
She looked at him moment, then
ssid, coldly: you'll be back soon
enough
He Strengthened himself and said,
with an air of decision quite unlike him
self. You'll not see me again until
my work is finished;' and so departed,
followed only bv Capitola, who went to
the road with him, and called after him |
not to forget the beads.
Mrs. banks from her washtub watched !
him going slowly up the muddy road,
and as she looked her heart relented a
liiuC ~" I'll u Ii lil-tIit Wt1h, hillu- (
hearted, exasperating little man. Has
tily taking her hands from the suds she
took bottle from the kitchen shelf and
went to the door.
Johnny she called to the tangle of
Boys before the door, your pas forgot
lis liniment. Run after him with it,
or he'll be sure to get lame back
With parting thrust toward his
'rothers the boy snatched the bottle and
ped away like young athlete, chin up
md elbows back, as he had seen pict-
Tres of runners. When he overlook his
ather and delivered his message the
after seemed really touched. Though
Indifferent, apparently, whether his
louse fell to pieces or not, he was home
lick outside his own gate, and now was
.oing away sore-hearted at the evident
Willingness Of his family to part with
i'm. The unexpected attention quite
him, and he looked round for
omething to return in acknowledge
nent, bat the fields were bare
Suddenly he spied by the roadside
ONE pussy willows with their silvery,
uzzy buds, and cutting off branch
ave it to the boy saying: ''Give that to
our ma and tell her she s the best wom-
n in Melgs County"
'Law::' said Mrs. banks when the
oy burst in with his branch and mes
age; ''your pas getting silly in his old
ge. l don't want such truck in the
ouse." But after the boy had gone
he put it carefully in water and set it ;
n the kitchen shelf, and several times |
he looked up at it with look on her
ice which Mr.. banks would scarcely /
ave recognized. !
That gentleman's absence made very ,
tile difference with his family, except /
\ Canitola He wife sonldod a littla ;