St. Landry democrat., 1888-08-25

~
feriority to the inhabitants of Bluff
City, against which ne struggled will
backwoods bravado, lent additional
| awkwardness to his. demeanor.
The hotel clerk, with his hair plas
tered low on his forehead, and a chea1
pin glittering on his bright blue tie
seemed consequential parsonage. YET
the Palace Hotel was far from palatial
with its two low stories of wood, it.
| wh1tewashed interior, its meager air O.
| busting Importance, its seedy boarders
and stray travellers. Only the added
dignity of the county court in session
| swelled all activity to an unaccustomeC
degree, and impressed the country visi
tors who lounged about the attractive
resorts of Bluff City with sense of its
metropolitan grandeur.
Right smart O. folks hyer in the1
| city ter-day?" ventured Hy Todbeater
to the overpowering clerk.
"Full to the roof" he responded,
loftily, his thoughts limited to the pros
|
Mr.. Todbeater?"
"Naw," replied the settler, shamb-
ling across the room. thought hev
he'd ez well ez not, too. Duck Haw-
kin's sheep they've been runnin' in my
pastur' half ther time lately, an I'd a
sued i'm fur it sure eff it hadn't ben fur
Pameay bein' so sot agin it. Pamely
haint no erpinion O ther law, she haint,
| lowed Their want no reason why l
shouldn't hev case in court ez we'll ez
some other fellers ez hezn't no more
proputty'n | hev. / guy it up, though;
ne use tryin' ter fightDuck Hawkins N
Famely ct Their same time"
'tHullo, Jim CarrollIn cried the clerk.
Familiarity.
A young man of easy appearance en-
tered the room, and at once greeted Hy
Iodbeater as an acquaintance. He
was well-dressed and even attractive,
if one avoided docking into his eyes.
He drew the settler along hurriedly
toward one Of the row of wagons en-
circling the square, and then told him
to stop a moment before the most pre-
tentious store. He came out with a
large package in his hand, and took a
seat beside the settler.
''Drive on!'' he said, hilariously.
you're rich man, Hy Todbeater!'
II allow it'll be all right eff Pamely
dom" reluctantly hesitated the other.
sob, I'll see to that!' said the young
man, with great confidence. 1--WE got
something here that'll make it all right.
It's birthday present, you know. She
told me that it was to-day, and I had
this all ready
Hy's jaw dropped in establishments;
it was a new idea to him. He CLICKED
to the old sorrel, and slapped the lines
lazily, evidently overcome with the en-
deavor to grasp all the new ideas which
had recently been thrust into his unac-
customed brain.
Granddaddy sat beaming over a dish
of hot porridge.
eyer er master-hand ct porridge, |
thet's what We be, Pamely," chuckled
the old man. 'Ther' can't no gal beat |
my gran 'darter, eff I do say it, nary |
time!"
Pamely turned toward Jim Carroll,
who entered the open door without the
formality of knock A blush covered
her cheeks, but her smile vanished
while she sat out chair for the guest.
"You see / haven't forgotten your
he exclaimed, gaily, holding
'ut the package significantly.
Pamely slowly reached out her hand
Q receive the proffered gift, her heart
titled with one great throb of Joyous
urprise.
open 1T" cried the young man, i'm
'atiently.
Her fingers seemed unable to loosen
he cord. He snatched it from her to
ear off the wrappings, and held up and
lowed to trail ON the well-scrubbed
DOR the brilliant folds of a new merino
ress.
Her dark blue eyes grew round and
lack with establishment and admira-
on. She glanced down at her faded i,
alico skirt, and the contrast seemed
20 great. Never in her life had she
assessed such beautiful gown Then .
ne lifted her face to look straight into ,
1e heavily lidded eyes of Jim Carroll. ,
sudden change came over her; she {
frank back awkwardly. !
Il reckon don't want no new dress '
st now, Mr.. Carroll. Yer kin give it a
r some one in Bluff City ez needs it. !"
She turned hastily and entered the G
her room, closed the door, and left the !.
,ung man, suffering the humiliation of y
,feat.
1t was late in the evening when Jim r
arrol left Fly Todbeater leaning c
sainst the rails of the zig-zag fence be- :.
ind the barn. h
Have it all ready" he repeated, as d
turned away, ''I'll bring the captain t.
It in the morning" b
"Ya'as," drawled the settler, II reck- o
/ it'll be right ef Pamely''-he skunk h
ound the barn in the path leading to
9 spring without completing his sem d
nee. !,
ghe edge of the woods was full of Il
lex shadows when Pamely fastened
,np tho co,oo ,,a+L A.,