St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-09-01

the chores while I am getting it" and
she kissed the baby through the thick
vail which was tied over his chubby
face to his great discontinue, but he
was a philosophical child and seldom
mourned over events which seemed to
have no remedy.
''What shall we do, Arthur?' said
Dolly. after the last tucking had been
done, and the horses had started off on
brisk trot. Il am going to get up
royal supper for them, but there is fully
four hours before it will be time to COM
mence.
'sIm going to put a box on my old
sled, and fix it up for Willy" replied
Arthur, ''he thinks it is such a treat to
bring corn-cobs from the barn, and he Il
feel like man if he can bring box
full at once
THAT will be ever so nice" replied
the sister, encouragingly, land he can
draw baby in it too, on warm days. |
believe Ill make Susy one of those
pretty Gretchen aprons, out of my old
nuSllI Shlil W LlCll llttlulllt Ii ollo't 81
nicely in the fall; it's too short for me,
and I'm sure mother won't care. Susy
is so fond of tidy aprons" and she ran
away to get the garment with happy
smile upon her bright face.
This was a loving family, and they
delighted in little sacrifices and sur
prises for each other
An hours drive brought the trav elers
to Aunt Katy's door, where they were
| warmly welcomed, and the day was
spent in social pleasure and the after
noon shopping.
.Dolly's hood, a lovely heecy affair,
adorned with bright rose-colored rib
bons, and Arthur's warm mittens were
stored away in the satchel, along with
one or two little surprises which the
warm heart of the mother had sug-
gested.
dolly is such a good child" she
said heartily.
''And Arthur such little man." re-
piled Aunt Katy, warmly. She had no
! children of her own, and had adopted
| her sisters as substitutes in her atfec-
| lions.
A warm, light snow had been falling
since noon, and the children were an
ticipating the ride home on the new
hobs with great delight.
| '.No, | think we had better not stay
for supper" said Mr.. Graham, in reply
to Aunt Katy's invitation; lit is going
! to be dark early tonight, and there is
that two miles of open prairie before
we get home. Besides, the grille will be
| disappointed if we slight the hot supper
she will have waiting for u.s." Dolly
was his particular pride, and the pet
name 'girlie" fingered lovingly on his
lips as he spoke of her.
Then l will not urge you," replied
Aunt Katy, going for the wraps apd the
hot bricks which she had been heating
in the oven.
The hobs glided swiftly through the
snow for the first mile of the way, and
all were merry and snug as ''bugs in 6
rug" when an alarming change took
place in the atmosphere.
The sky darkened, an ominous calm
prevailed for a few minutes, during
which the horses pricked up their ears,
as if seeming impending danger.
The snow, which had feen halling in
large feathery flakes, turned to sharp
sleet, and a binding, roaring wind
filled the air with dense cloud o.
snow, intensely cold and biting. AL
this had taken place so suddenly, thai
it seemed like miracle to the family
who had never before experienced {
Western "blizzard."
Had we better turn back?" said the
mother, anxiously.
| She was not dressed for such weather
and the piercing wind chilled bel
through and through.
''Oh no." replied the father, with thu
cheerfulness of ignorance, ''such sud
den squall can not last long"
The horses plunged resolutely for
ward, they were young and full-blood
ed, and the keen sleet urged them OF
like the smart of a whip.
"Steady, steady, Gypsy" said Mr.
Graham, encouragingly, as the of
horse forged ahead of his companion
with a vina that threatened to break tn
tongue. ......
The storm increased, and the chill
dren began to cry with the cold; tn
mother pressed the baby closer to he
chilled breast, as she strove with
sinking heart to comfort Willy AM
Susy, and draw the robe closer abou
them.
1t was impossible now to see ahead
and Mr.. Graham was obliged to trust t
the instinct of the horses to keep tn
road.
Observation-Disclosures