The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-09-08
70 said. Then without waiting for her

reply, went on: 1--WE been often
thinking since the little chap came,
that may be it was ma we'll to rear him
in the country here. The air is good
and wholesome, but the lad will be
needin' schooling by and by, an I
couldna bear to see the town chaps
90 above him. Besides, I havna lived
these years beside the river here and
not learned that it is lonesome for
thee, lass"
ooh, indeed, John, I have been hap
pier than [ can ever tell, said the
wife, looking fondly at the two upon
the grass. ''And since baby came l
have never known lonely hour"
"Well, sometimes / think it were
better for TIL both i the end to live by
some greater town." said he. ''When
/ brought thee here, lass, tn cheeks
were redder and tn fingers not SO slim.
More stir is what tn needs and folk tn
more like thee. -
"Oh, think it is not that, John; ]
will get strong again, " she answered.
''Nay, lass, some minds need more
than thct they love for food" said
Earling. eth wilma be strong al
ways on love. New faces and new
words are good medicine. / ha' seen
it, lass, til mothers cares mind me o
gnats tibet always keep singin' about
tn heart, and never give DER plagu-
ing it little TIL wouldna let great
strong loon like me live long, know,
then why should tn not make thee
slender, lass?"
"That's the lot of motherhood, you
know, DEAR" said the wife. ''1t is a
sweet trouble, and one grows better
bearing it.
81 know" said Earling, cit is
Natures way, and there's no. better
way than Natures, / suppose. But
tn man Gamma see well who Gamma see
its hard way. It's we'll tibet Coda.
mighty put love in it. Many's tn
man as goes lightly about his business
which is full o changin' talk and
faces, as leaves tn lass at home year
by year WI tn gnats about her heart
an tn BARNS tuggin' at her, and
thinks her days all simmer an sun
shine, when he were run daft as e
| hare wi half her cares. +"
"My life has never been like that
John,' said she. "You have been sc
good I could not be unhappy. Before
baby came, when you were away, il
sometimes seemed little lonely, but
not now"
Then Hettie calling down from the
porch, that tea was waiting, they went
in; the wife leaning on her husbands
arm and laughing up at the babe, rid
ing the fathers shoulder with chubby
fists clinging in his hair. After they
were seated, the wife, pouring the tea,
said: "What can 1vyl want with our
place, John?'
'Ivyl is bit greedy said Earling,
his face darkening little. "He can
stand more than one cage # he hasna
bird to feed. He matched my price,
but l wouldna close with him, lass.
without tn will"
They considered the proposition from
many points that night, and on the
morrow John Earring rode away to-
ward the town resolved to take Ivyl at
his word. In the afternoon he came
home, bringing the instrument of writ
ing, which, upon the payment of Ger.
tain sum, should transfer his estate to
Ivyl Snaer. It bore John Earring S
signature, and when the wife had
tremblingly appended hers. the deed
was perfect.
That evening after they hao
supped, the husband put on his great
coat, for all day long a. dull scud had
been drifting and banking about the
sky, and, saying that he had agreed to
deliver the deed at Ivyl's house and re-
ceive the money that evening, went out
to get his horse in readiness. When he
came back the child was sleeping, and
the mother, throwing wrap about her
shapely shoulders, went slowly down
ward with her husband to the gate:
Very fair looked the great valley spread
out before them, with its long shadows
and sheets of light from the sunset.
Old Jade and Absalom were driving
the cattle barnward from the lowland
meadows, the cow-bells beating softly,
and the whole landscape seeming man.
tied with sort of rosy film, divided by
the white and silent river. They paused
at the gate a moment, looking out over
the quiet scene. Very still was the
wife, and the strong man looking down
where her pale cheek rested against
his arm, saw that her eyes were filled
with tears.
"Why, lass. he said, II didna think
thee loved the old place sou
But the wife only closed her eyes for
answer, the bright tears falling down
upon his arm.
':Dunnot care, lass! dunnot carer'
said he, with misty eyes. 1--WE are go
ing to some finer spot where thee shall
see fair faces, an hear music, an get
tn roses back again"
Then he kissed her, and the wife,
putting her arms about his neck, held
him little with her heart against his
breast. Then she kissed him and let
him 60 with fearful smile, saying:
"Do not stay late, John" And stand
ing at the gate she watched him ride
swiftly up the shadowy lane, and when
he swept around the bend above the
meadows, she saw him turn and wave
his hand, and still she watched him
where the long road Strengthened, and
where it entered the far off wood she
saw him turn and wave his hand again,
and pass away into the shadows. With
a little SILVER the slender woman
turned and went feebly up the path
among the apple-trees, and entered
the house. Some indefinable pre-
monition seemed to possess the air.
and she sat beside the sleeping child a