The Opelousas courier., 1889-08-17

inquired.
Certainly, an he denies the &C
count"
'Does he deny any indebtednessP"
"Oh no, but says it's not so much.
But I'm determined he shall pay it all.
He's been tryin' to make my boy the
scapegoat for the neighborhood, an
he'd better look out. He's got little
himsel, an he should ma throw
stones !"
'.WhY, MI. Mcdonald" said I, II
have always thought that you and Mr.
Ordway were on the best of terms.
I've often heard him speak very highly
of you. Will it be wise to let this
little school matter disturb your friend
liness?"
''Oh, it isn't jest the school matter;
it's been a pilin' up for a good spell.
This school affair has jest showed me
what he is. He's awfully set in his
way, an because he's got a bit learnin'
more than the rest of us, an has pros
pered in this worlds goods, he wants
to manage the rest of us. Must needs
build q new school-house in spite of
us, must pit the the new bridge where
he said; but I'll have done wi him"
Does your wife know of the cool
ness between you and Mr.. Ordway?
Or are your wives on good terms not
withstanding?"
"Oh~hless your life! Ny wife
thinks the sun rises an sets in Mis-
tress Ordway, an | suppose nothing
less than a cyclone would disturb
their relations. Nevertheless, when
I'm done with the Ordways, my fam
ily's done with 'em. I'm free to ac-
knowledge, though, tLet Mistress
Ordway's a fine woman. I'm sartain
sure that our Maggie wouldn't be
Twin to-day if it had no been for her.
She came right in when we thought
she'd die of scarlet fever, when help
o sympathy could no be had for love
nor money. My wife down sick, an
us a thinkin' that our n girl was
slippin' away from us; an Mistress
Ordway came right in, an nursed her
back to life, an Maggie loves her now
next her mother. But" Strengthening
up. I'm done wi them!"
just then there Tas a rap at the
Office door, and when | went to open
it, who should stand there but Ordway
himself.
We shook hatds heartily, as we al
ways did, and though the neighbors
spoke to each other, it was manifestly
a forced courtesy and Mcdonald took
his hat, saying he would call again.
/ followed him to the door, and told
him / had business in his neighbor-
hood the next week, and would come
to his house on Wednesday morning.
1t was a happy thought, almost an in
spiration, that prompted the measure,
but he assented readily, only saying as
he turned to go that he would pay me
ten pounds when the case was settled
either way.
When / had .alosed the door On my
new client | ASKED Mr.. Ordway if he
had been up to the house, or would he
goP That I should 60 with him and
get some dinner, and give Nellie and
the kid a chance to see him. He
laughsngly interrupted me by saying
he came on business. but as Mcdonald
had forestalled hiPrhe had as well go
home.
why, Uncle Ordway," said /, ''are
you going to law?n
I'm obliged to-" he answered.
Acknowledge now, wasn't Mcdonald
wanting your services in a prosecu-
tion against mePn
.Just So" said I, Though we came
to no definite understanding, and YOU
can at least state -four case" o
well, / wanted to secure you to de-
fend me, but as hOis ahead of me, I'll
go down and speab, to Jones about it,
and go home"
.'Oh, come now. / don't like Jones!
I'd hate awfully to be beaten by him,
even if you did win. Sit down, and
let's talk it over" q
well, Bailey, you know I'd rather
have you, but I'm SUI McDona5l can't
succeed in any fair way, though | may
owe him something, | can't be right
positive. We've neighbored for a
long time. I've kept account Of every
II ing. except once or twice in Ease of
sieSness. We've just kind of snapped
goosL turns, and I never dreamed of
being drawn into q lawsuit. 1t hurts
me. Ms just all raked up because we
had to deal with that wild Scotch lad
Archie of his. Little scalawag! Did
you ever think, Bailey, about that
Scriptur1 One sinner d%estroyeth
much Pood?' Here's Arch Mcdonald.
nothiT much one way nor another,
only that he's full of animal spirits,
an no liking for books, a clip off the
old block, and he's like to SET the
whole neighborhood by the cars"
"Are the other McDonalds hard to
deal WITH" | inquired.
mo, there are only Ned and little
Maggie, incest kind of q little girl. My
wife loves her nearly as we'll as she
does her own girls. And rs for Ned
we'll, to be confidential with you, | ex-
pect to have Ned Mcdonald for a SON
in-law some day. aud he's a good boy
in all respects. Takes after his mother,
though
why, this does put q serious face
on the whole business" said |.
..Of course it does" said my old
friend. 'tI'm troubled about it, and