St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-04-07

VOkeu ne Will De.
He'll pass it somehow" said the
policeman, as he walked away, promis-
ing to report the case.
But Mrs. Christy,, as she remembered
that the overcoat that had been stolen
was worth forty dollars, and the plated
spoons at least ten dollars, found it
necessary to 60 to her own room and
have a good cry. 1t was not SO much
the value of the lost articles as the feel
ing that it was her fault, and that her
husband might possibly be SO far left
to himself as to tell her so. At all
events, she would lose a little of that
fine character for good sense with
which, to her great satisfaction, he had
endowed her. s5 ia
The day did not pass very pleasant
ly. Callers came and she could not
help telling her story, but it was Joke
to the best-intentioned among them;
and, as the dinner hour approached.
she felt very much indeed like running
away. ..,.ss .,
However, of course, she was obliged
to stay. Her daughters were paying a
visit to some cousins, and there was no
one else to preside at table. Besides,
she could only have put off the evil
moment. She went up stairs and got
out some spoons she kept in reserve,
and waited for the impending moment
She hoped that her husband would, at
least, be in good humor, and not
when things went wrong with him-a
little cross. 49,
Mr.. Christy, however, returned that
evening in high good humor. More
over, he had an overcoat upon his
arm. Could it be that he had come
back for. it, after all, and that the theft
had been limited to the spoons and the
counterfeit bank note?
II thought you went without your
coat" she said, with little rejoiceful
leap Of the heart, as she seemed to rec
ognize the garment by it's form and
color.
But Mr.. Christy laughed.
80 I did," he said. $50 did. No,
this is new coat. bought it for Will
liam. My son William is as tall as l
am, and nearly as stout, and this fits
me snugly- snugly. I came across it
in queer way. 1t is quite bargain.
You see, it looks entirely new.'
Eyes, it certainly does,'' said Mrs.
Christy,. ''and exactly like yours, too,
dear. Aren't you jesting?'
= mo, no, no, said her spouse. "You
know, I only bought mine a week ago.
/ presume it is the newest style, and
William has none yet. He means to
get cheaper one. So to-day, while I
was in the office, in walked an old
mana venerable old gentleman.
"'Sir,' says he, 4 am a man who
does not find himself getting on well
and am forced to try going about
among the, gentlemen. I am tailor.
/ have made an expensive. overcoat for
a gentleman. Fifty dollars was the price,
and he did not pay me. So when he
had it on his back one day said: .'Sir,
pay me. y And he said. .sYou may
wait until am ready" This is your
honest Christian against poor jew
Eyes, yes. said ], but under
stand he had not true Christian princi-
pies, my good friend So Il ga .a e
: Every well, I believe not said my
old man. But when this happened I
exercised my cunning. Isaid to him:
Very well, sir. will wait. But I
see there is button loose. will fas-
ten it for you. have silk and needle
here tfatf
All, said he, Just like you to leave
it that way;s and off comes the coat.
"'You shall get it again next day af-
ter never, said /. So away walked.
would sell it for thirty dollars, which
is very cheap,
II looked at the coat, which he un-
folded from a paper,
Guess it viii ft.my SON, said [
I'll try it on and we'll see.'
$50 it did 6
Said |, now, you see, do this to
make up to you, as far as can, for the
other fellows rascality.'
"'You are an honest gentleman, said
he, and I will repay you by q great
bargain. / must sell my solid silver
spoons, meant to melt them. not to ex-
pose my poverty, but you shall have
the dozen for ten dollars. 81. i
s.Well, of course. I jumped at that
Mr.. Christy here laid the spoons on
the table, and | took out little fifty
dollar bill ~
4 Forty, said /, but he had some.
thing else.
my wife is trying to sell her shawl,
he said.
.Well, ] looked at the shawl he shook
out 4
.tYou shall have it for five dol
lars, as q sample Of my generosity. The
said. 4 ...s..s
"Wul, Iknew you'd like it, my dear.
It looks like one used to admire you
il when courted you-red ceenter,
cashmere border and Mr.. Chhsty
shook out the folds--the old sEtwl
Mrs. Christy H.. exclaged fs the
vases that morning. she kney that at
once. She could nd SSstake 1T. But
Is she looked at her fssb 5eaming
ind twinkling with god humor, she
4 y Il 4 II