The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-10-29
THE OLD SLEIGH.
d" Elizabeth W
"Coming."

|
"Coming"
"There, mother, old Speckle has
returned thanks at laSt," holding
up "A plump white egg that would
do credit to the queen OF any poul-
try yard.
"Well, | alters said that hen was
thankful for past mereies, though
your father would laugh every
time | sand SO. Liddy Stephens
has just been here; she wanted to
see you, but you was gone so long
that l thought yOu must be down TO
Miss PeunelPs."
Eyes, met her as she came
through the yard"
"She didn't tell you the news,
did she ~
"She told me Will Marston re.
turned from California"
at does beat all bout that boy
seems Jest like the piece o poetry
YOU read sometimes about the tel
Ter that went off aud stayed so
many years and then come back
aud took his mother out OF tue
poorhonSe-only IFS the father this
time. "Tbe very worst of the dea-
cons SIX it called him, and that's
Jest what Will WAS then. | never
believed he had anything to do
with that sCrape down to the wi
Iagt. Liddy Says he's terribly rich,
and Is going TO take care of his
father; the deacon must he glad,
for | guess he's stayed with Caleb
most as long as he can comfortably.
They say he's going 10 marry Sam
MIXERS darter Ruth. You see,
when Bob Miller went out there for
his health Will found HIM out and
done liltle kiudneSSes for him, aud
when he was too sick to write home
Will wrote for him. Part o. the
time Sam was sick hisSeIf, so Ruth
answered the letters aud be fell in
love with her in that way. There
didn't anybcdy bat the deacon and
the Miller's know he was coming.
Sam drove down to the depot and
carried him up to Caieb'S. Guess
they were surprised to see him.
There was no knowing how long
Mrs. Allen would have gone on, her
tongue keeping time wit the click
clack of her needles, had not Mr..
Aliens step sounded on the walk.
Elizabeth never talked much, and
the mother did not mind her silence
tonight. A slight quiver about
the sensitive mouth alone told how
keeuly the words we're felt, and the
sigh Of relief which escaped at the
welcome sound of her fathers voice
was lost in the noise made as be
entered, stamping the SNOW trom
his boots.
"Why father, does it snowl
ben so busy talking, hain't thought
to look out of the window for some
time"
"Yes, it's begun to come down
right smart; shouldn't wonder If it
was good sleighing by tomorrow"
"YOu don't think it's gong to be
a lOng storm y
Mrs. Aliens face bad an anxious
expression as she asked the ques-
tion, for long storm meant days
of exile for her.
"No, l sh'll be surprised if il
don't clear up by Tomorrow noon,
SO Elizabeth and can take ride
to the village; that'll be a treat,
won't it, darterr Aud the smile !
that lighted up bis daughters face
pleased him better than any answer
could have done.
"Guess I'll get the old sleigh out.
Ben Smart's been down 10 the city
aud be says he saw lots just like it.
It's FIVE years since sent jim TO
the village for the new one, and it's
never been out since. Pm glad it's
come into fashion again, Tor | never
been out since. I'm glad it's come
into fashion again, for l never en-.
ioyed myself complete in the new
one-always felt little above my
station Aud farmer Aliens laugh /
rang through the old sittiug-rOOm
at the fitnes of bis remark.
"Well, 'Llzabeth, you get supper
on the table, aud III tell father the
news while be warns his feet. He's
been down TO the wood lot all the
afternoon, aud hain't heard nothing
of the stIauge things that has been
happening up her,"
Having arranged things to her
satisfaction, the stockings Mrs. Al
len had dropped on the entrance Of
hor hnehand continued To gnow m.