The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-07-03
avoided looking at the captivating face

4
be paid. The ten thousand you Saved
for me will just cover it. viii you do
it for me?"
Eyes, Miss Ford. 1t is fortunate,
however, that 1 changed the invest
ment. By the new arrangement it has
doubled. You can pay this bill and
retain the same amount"
II can? How nice! l thought
would have to go out as nurse-maid or
something. Mr.. Barker, when is
your client coming, who owns the
housep l feel as if were an intruder,
somehow"
you are not. The favor is to him.
l have his word for it,
She still fingered. "Mr. Barker, you
have been so Kind and good. l wish l
could do something for you. If / can
ever, will you let mep'
"Yes, Miss Ford"
Effie left the Office with queer dis
satisfied feeling at her heart. Down
the browsing street, filled with lazy
shadows, she strolled. As she turned
a corner she collided with a rakish-
looking youth. He recovered himself
with an apology. There was such a
frank look in his bright. blue eyes,
that Fife took to him at once. He &C
companied her as far as the gate,
opened it, and, with bow, turned
toward the open plaza. ''What very,
very nice, accommodating boy" was
Effie's mental comment.
She met the every nice boy fire.
quently after this. He was eighteen,
and quite idle. He obtained conven-
tional ntroduction-Bert Gwynne was
his name-and he constituted himself
Elites veritable double. On the street.
at church, Mr.. Bert Gwynne was al
ways present, and he assumed the atti-
tude with such an of-course-it-is-agree-
able-to-you air, that Fife became in
censed, and determined to give him a
piece of her mind.
One day he commenced to poke fun
at "old Gabe Barker" Then the
dynamite exploded.
He's not DID," she flashed.
'Forty if he's an hour" insisted the
provoking.
IL say he is not" declared the frank
little lady ''Any how he's not pre-
suming boy;" great acrimony in the last
words.
He'll make you marry him after .
while; now you see. He bought up ev-
cry one of those notes." cried the badly
conducted.
what notesp Tell mer' Effie was
aflame.
"Your fathers. Who do you sup
pose paid the debts? Why, Gabe Bark
err, out of his own pocket. This very
house is HIS" continued he.
"You are wicked person, and don't
believe one word you say" burst out
Efie.
ut isn't such mighty thing after
all. I'd do ever so much more, Effie,
if you'd let me. But you called me
presuming, and it made me angry"
$50 you are. hate you, and I'm
going this minute to Mr.. Barker" She
flung on her hat.
II wouldn't. Let it alone. He's
well able to do it if he wishes" Bert
thought he had never seen Fife so de-
sirable, as with that angry pout and
the infinite air of scorn with which she
regarded him.
"Mr Barker, is it so? Tell me. I
will knows" with tear-fushed face she
raided in on him. ''They say that papa
died-insolvent, and-and you bought
up his no-otes, and-tell mel" she i'm
plored passionately.
"Effie, don't! you will be i'll. Who
told you such cruel thingsp" He shut
fed his papers in agitation.
"Bert Gwynne. He says it is the talk
of the place, and"
Heayens What has she almost said:
"He'll make you marry him after a
while" He marry her! such an insig-
nificant nobody.
''Eflie, listen; / am not going to deny
what 1 have DONE"
"Then you didI oh!' She went
down by the stiff old clients chair in
a heap, and hid her face in her hands.
"Child, what could 1 do? The cred
itors threatened. There was nothing
to pay them, and you looked so little
and helpless. Besides, it is only dis
charging an old obligation. Your
father was very kind to me when was
q pun idu. CilCs uou NC duSIy.
(Sob. sob from the rounds of the
chair.
'.Is the house yours tooP''
by heavens, Effie, if you ask me any
thing more I'll deny every thing" des-
perately.
us it. sayP" tempestuously.
"Yes."
Gabrielle Barker was as abashed as If
he had been confronted with selling il
legal whisky.
''Do you hold those notes?'
(''Confound thatmeddlesome Gwynne
boy; I'll thrash him to morrow, if l
live). Yes, Fife, but they are yours.
l have left them to you in my will.
Here they are," laying bundle in her
lap.
Take them away. will not have
Them" she said excitedly. "Unless-
Mr.. Barker-you tellm how-I-can-