St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-07-14


Wilson, plaintively, cts just as l told
you; that boy has a vile disposition.
I'm sure he doesn't get it from me-.
NO thought Aunt Ellen to herself,
sarcastically, II don't believe he does
get it from you: for you surely have
lost none of yours" This is what she
thought, but aloud she said-nothing.
What are you thinking about,
Cousin Ellen?" asked Mrs. Wilson,
after awhile, uneasy and uncomfort-
able in the broken silence.
But before she had time to reply,
james drove up with a hearty Come
on, Cousin Ellen. Get on your buds
and drive to town with me-"
Off she went, glad of the respite, and
through the long lanes and by the
green fields her perturbed spirit found
rest.
The disconnected look had not worn
off Mrs. Wilson's face when they re-
turned. She opened her lips for some
remark, but her husband anticipated
her with:
'Nife, you haven't got that place
fixed in my coat yet. | saw it hang
ing in the closet. I'll be bound you'll
forget it. | want it Sunday, too
Mrs Wilson was too much amazed
to reply, and her husband went off to
the barn for once, without some fretful
last word flung after him.
There isn't enough sugar in my
coffee, Maria" said he, as he sat at
supper. 1t is very strange that | can't
have my coffee right! There, now, it's
too sweet! [ knew it would be so. y
Mrs. Wilson again had nothing to say,
and Stephen stared at his father in
open-m outhed establishment.
Mrs. Wilson began to be anxious.
Surely james was going to be sick, she
thought. Never, IN all the years of
their life had she seen him like this.
While poor Stephen thought TO him
self, that if father was going to be like
that, too, the sooner he left for more
comfortable quarters the better.
Where are my slipperss Maria?'
asked Mr.. Wilson, in the same fretful
tone.
'In the closet"
"Well, should think you might get
them for me when you know how dog
tired | am .....
Here they are, James," answered
Mrs. Wilson, meekly, thoroughly sub
dued by her fear of James prospective
| illness.
"Those are my best ones, bring me
my old ones; since I've come to think
of it, I'll take my best ones,' he called
after her, just as she had successfully
made the change and was returning
with the old ones.
| After a weary evening, in which Mr..
Wilson spent in fretting; Mrs. Wilson,
, in subdued silence: Stephen, in setting
! out under the trees in the dark,
| whistling to himself in detected man
ner and wondering what was to be the
outcome of it all; and Cousin Ellen, in
! serenely knitting, while she put in a
! word here and there, not seeming to
| notice Mr.. Wilson's ill-humor. After
three or four hours of this discomfort,
the family finally found themselves
| preparing for bed.
Tap, tap, tap, came softly at mid
night on Cousin Ellen's door, accom-
ponied by whispered cousin Ellen,
| may I come IMP"
A cordial permission granted, the
poor woman entered and flung herself
| on Cousin Ellen's bed, bursting into a
! flood Of tears.
ssWhat shall I do! What shall do"
she sobbed.
what is the matter, Maria?" asked
Cousin Ellen, with as much sblicitude
as she could command for the occa-
| sion.
30, Ellen, / think James is losing
his mind. He has just dropped asleep,
| and I slipped away to talk to you about
it."
Nonsense! losing his mind! Where
do you see any evidence of that9n
Didn't you hear the way he talked
tonight"
'tWhy, yes, of course | did. But
| what of that? He seemed to me very
sane. What did he say that especially
indicated insanity?'
'Why, he found fault So"
'.Well, is that an evidence of i'm
sanity2"
II should think SO. He is usually SO
easy, and don't mind any thing"
| Il think you're mistaken there. I
| think he minds plenty of things, but
don't choose to say so. Do you think
that every time you express disap-
prevail of any thing you are given evil
dences of insanityp''
sWhy, no! of course not. But then,
| I'm differently constituted. I feel
things SO, and / can't help saying So
II Cousin Ellen had spoken, she
would have been SO rude as to say
| ''Bosh'' But she held her peace few
moments.
ssSee here, Maria she said, ST have
but little patience with the people who
fatter themselves that they cant help
| speaking when things are unpleasant
| to them. Let me tell you that James
knows when things are uncomfortable
Il l.