The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-11-24
Blossoms Changed His Life.


How i pity the people in the city! To
think anyone should live in a city from
choice!"
Il wouldn't damp your enthusiasm,
Kate, but, after all, man does not see
much Of the country; he is only like
chicken which comes home to loost,
and everyone does not delight in c.tch-
ing the train twice each day. can't
say I'm quite reconciled to it myself.
But / must be off Goodbye, both of
you" and giving his young vile and
little dau yhter parting kiss, Mr..
Travis ran for the train, whose warning
shrek could be heard in the distance.
Kate Travis fingered on the porch.
1t was her first experience of a whole
year in the country, aud every day
brought new delights. She had dis
covered ''pussy-willows" down by the
brook, and had learned how warmly
Dame Nature blankets the tender grape
vine leaves. She had found the shy
violets' and anemones' favorite hiding
places and decked her little home with
laurel, and revelled in the delights of
lettuce and raddishes of her Gown rails
ing" This particular May morning
was day in which the mere fact that
one was alive was o Joy, and as the
young wife looked at the feecy clouds,
the hillsides bright with rye, aad the
orchard one mass OF lovely blossoms,
she sighed FOR very excess of happiness.
81 wish l had given Frank bra2ch
of apple blossoms-they would have
frightened up that dreary office,"
thought Mrs. Travis. She, like the
rest of US, often had these after-im-
pulses. but somehow this one would not
be shaken of. Kate Travis wa not
superstitious woman, yet such a tura-
ing desire to send her husband some Of
the bright, delicate blossoms grew upon
her that she feared to resist it. Just
before the starting Of the next train,
happy thought struck her, and, don mag
her garden nat, having hastily gathered
three or four beautiful sprays of the
blossoms, she hurried 20 the train. Yes,
Jack Dorset was thcr,--he took the
later train quito often, Kate thought,
regretiully, for she knew by many little
signs that Jack was not quite so atten-
tive to business, not quite so true and
naaly as he had been.
jack, on his side, watched the bright,
eager face as it came near. ''That Travis
is lucky fellow" he thought "After
all, what fool fellow is to waste time
or money on cards and theatresw
ooh, Jackw exclaimed Kate, breath
lessly-'I beg your pardon, Mr.. Dor
set Could you drop into my husbands
Office ard give him these blossomsl
This branch is for you"
Jack had only tine to sicz, the flow
ers and cali out his thanks for his share
before he was whigled away in that re-
lentless fatc-thc train.
There were two reasons why Jack
Dorset had taken this later trai1,
though even to himself he ackn owl
edged but one--that, as business was
slack, it was just as we'll to sleep lit
tic later this spriag weather. Bat hid
den far gu: of sight was ancthe. reason
and Jack had net been well seated when
that reason became apparent.
Hello. Though: you'd be on this
train. Come along in the smoker;
we're just making up hand"
"No, thank YOU" said Jack, with a
decision that surprised himself quite as
much as his comrade.
why, what's ur9 Turned rusty:
Come, you'll have your revenge on
me today. / shouldn't wonder if you
won enou- h TO have Lark tonight"
The perfume from the apple blossoms
had given Jack a wonderful pleasure,
not unmixed with bitterness, and when
his comradc leaned over to whisper the
last sentence confd.ntia!ly. the odor OF
stale tobacco aad liquor seemed u
bearable. Jack tairly blushcd with
manly shame.
'tNo, nor he said; 'Tll have none
Of that sort of thing this morning."
and, with sudden realization of his own
helplessness and this bad fellows power
over him, Jack deliberately walked over