The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-12-08
ONLY A DEAF WOMAN.

The train stopped at Blue Station on
tine this Wednesday afternoon. 1t was
not q particularly punctual train,
neither did it especially matter whether
| il was or not, as Blue Station was one
Of those '1odges in the vast wilderness
where time wa, not reckoned according
10 the Wall street standard and where
people took things easy.
The stage for Hemlock Hill was
Waiting there-a clumsy conglomeration
Of nu;ty leather, faded paint, and an
Gent wood, drawn by two sleepy
horses, and driven By a Jehu so old
that one iustinctively wondered how he
ever got up and down from his aerial
perch on tho box seat MI. Richmond
and his friend Col. Jones took their
seats, packed their valises snugly under
their feet, and fastened their natty silk
umbrellas in the rack overhead. There
vas only one other passenger woman
in brown waterproof cloak and o
green veil, with lidded market basket
in her lap and tremendous car trum-
pet in her hand.
"Only deaf woman" said Colonel
Jones, glarcing toward her.
~ see," observed Mr.. Richmond.
I'VE need put n o particular restraint on
our conversation"
"Are We all ready, driverl" shouted
Colonel Jones, who was unused to the
lsisurely methods of life in place like
Blue Station. The driver appeared to
rouse himself from sort of doz..
II be if you be!' said he. "Git up
Kate! Look out, thar, you Sorrelr
And away they rolled.
Yes" said Colonel Jones, rubbing
bis neatly gloved hands, sit will be
genuine surprise. Aud l meant it to
be. want tosee for myself how things
ne."
"Certainly," said Mr.. Richmond,
lurching from one end of the seat to the
other, as the wheels took big stone GA
their way.
'The lad is over head and ears in
love-" said Colonel Jones.
"Young men will be FOOLS" observed
Mr. Richmond, cynically.
"But q school teacher; a district
school tcachcr!" sighed the colonel, wha
vas tall and portly a1d cleau-shaven,
With very black eyebrows n | Nair just
sSheI with silver 49,
"a good M my nice girls take to that
busi2ess," remarked Mr.. Richmond.
Mr.. Richmond was a gaunt gentlema,,
with hollow eyes, a parchment-colorel
kin, and general dyspoptic air.
ut isn't that desplse tho trade"
nid Col. Jones. "You know that as
we'll as do, Richmond. If the girl Is
good and pretty I'd as soon she should
esa school teacher as anything else.
But l want my boy to have real homo.
IKE home. My wife gave me one, and l
s0emnly believe it was the making Of
me. Aud Victor's wife must be no nero
book naohin or wearcr of fine clothes.
II she can't sew, and sweep and cook
mes no fit mate for my son. Well, you
see, / have been studying the mater
over
Il sec, said Mr.. Richmond, holding
s ss'p;rstsly o. e Tue .:s:seE star sss,e
Seae, as the driver guided the
wheels over a succession of stumps on
'ae side of the road. -. So
Igiye them no time for prepare.
wv said the Colonel, ehuckling. "
atop down upon Mis-. Allen like VOL
On the fold. Ises Just exactly wh'e she
Is! l judge fos myself. IwOulSa't give
'fg for all the Latin and gt.itar music
and ehiu. painting ir RE world If
woman can't make loaf of light,
sweet bread and cooi- steak. Eh!
an sure l beg g thousand pardo1s
@i@T, "as a,sudA;n swing o: 'he coacl