The Opelousas courier., 1886-11-06
tossed her black curls, and went her own

WVy =. .sE#zs
So one June they were married, an
went to housekeeping in d little house Q
the bank of the Ohio; and Malvina, !
the strength of her youth and love, fel
able to move mountains, but she fou,'
the g%ravitation of inherited shiftlesnes
too much for her.
He had done well for a time, The Lit
tie cottage was neatly fixed up, ant
when, a year after, the first baby came
the young father, with his own hands
fashioned for it a cradle that was tn
wonder and envy OF the neighborhood
But heredity was too strong for him, and
cupants, its first coat of paint was neve
renewed. Mrs. banks had never heare
of Sisyphus. If she had she would hav'
found her task very much like his, witt
the exception that hers was infinitely
harder and more hopeless.
What was it2 Mental, or moral, OF
physical weakness, or all threea Or al
evil fate, that whatever he turned his
hand to Immediately failed9 Even his
name seemed an unkind fling of fortune.
His mother having attended, shortly be-
fore his birth, the performance of some
strolling actors, was S much impressed
that the name of Brutus Cassius was
waiting for him when he arrived upon
the stage where he was to play SO insig-
n~iicant a part. 1t was seldom, how
ever, that he had the benefit of his full
name, for the community in which he
grew up delighted in authorizations. But
even their rough familiarity hesitated to
call a man Brute" to his face, SO he was
dubbed "Cash, a perpetual satire upon
him who rarely had any cash in pocket.
Against all these odds Mrs. banks had
fought a good fight; but in the struggle
her straight back had been bent, and
the snap had gone from her eyes to her
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 indefinable sense Of
expectancy, that vague hint of rejuvena-
ton that would touch everything ex-
cept the banks fortunes. And perhaps
it was because the flour barrel was emp
ty; but, whatever the cause. Mrs. banks
turned from the doorway thoroughly
wretched.
Half an hour later Mr.. banks aun
tered in with the water, the child fol-
lowed with a string of two or three
fish.
Setting the pail down, he said a de-
precating way: II hev about c'ncluded
to take with Badgers offer, and go up
to Cooperville."
come home"
80, yes!" she answvsed, 'tyou could
come home easy enough"
The nan WINGED, and his sallow face
Redeemed.
II don't s'pose Pm a master hand at
gettin' a livin', but | tell We, MalvinA
fate is agin me. Just as I got a job
across the river that felon come on my
and when / had a chance on the
bridge, out of twenty men I was the only
one the derrick hit when it fell. You
didn't ought to be castin' it up agin me
I he'd to come home; it's fate"
s'Call it BY what name you like she
answered, bitterly, tit's made an old
of me before my time"
He made no reply, but went out onthe
%doorstone, where the little girl joined
him, and presently his wife heard him
say:
"Daddy's goin' away. Is Capitola
"Real sorry" said the child; adding,
"Whatdl you bring me, daddy"
"How sh'd ye like a string Of beads?"
ne asked, after some elaboration.
"Blue beads?" cried the child, then
with the unconscious selfishness of child
hood-"will you go right Off"
Apparently he was hurt, for his voice
quavered as he asked: (Which would
ye rather hev-daddy or the beads2'
"0h, you'll" 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-
till supper time, at which meal
appeared five black eyed boys, the
of their mother. People said the
banks blood had taken a turn in the
boys, for they were as keen, tough
Iimbed, energetic boys as could be found
the county.
The following Monday MFR. banks
started for CoopervilIe. AS he took up
lis limp carpet-hag he said, by way of
feeble joke: ssAin't We sorry to see me
goin', Malvinya'
She looked at him a moment, then
aid coldly: aYoull be back soon
,noughi'
He Strengthened himself and said, with
N air Of decision quite unlike himself
~ 0r7llt mot caa r,o a1,oSn .r1tsI - y, ~yap1r
finished and so departed, followed
,nly by Capitola, who went to the road
With him, and called after him not to
the beads.
Mrs. banks from her washtub watched
lin going slowly up the muddy road,
md as she looked her heart relented a
rifle toward him-the weak, kind
hearted, exasperating little man. Hast
II taking her hands. from the suds she
ook a bottle from the kitchen shelf and
vent to the door.
.tJohnnyl' she called to the tangle of
,oys before the door, .syour pas forgot
rs liniment. Run after him with it, for
Lelt be sure to get q lame back.
With q parting thrust toward his
'rothers the boy snatched the bottle and
ped away like Q young athlete, chin up
nd elbows back, as he had seen pictures
+ runners.
When he overlook his father and de-
lvered his message the latter seemed
cally touched. Though Indifferent, APP
arentiy, whether his house fell to pieces
+ not, he was homesick outside his own
ate, and now was going away sore
earted at the evident willingness of his
amily to part with him. The unexpect-
d attention quite overcame him, and he
,oked round for something to return in /,
acknowledgement, but the fields were