The Opelousas courier., 1889-08-17

DIS lll-GSLuptE. we IL ubNO d uuoVlCt Ill
l had better go and see Jones"
l had been formulating a plan Of
which l had thought when Mcdonald
was leaving, SO l said: "Mr. Ordway,
let me tell you what we'll do. I'm
coming down to your house early
Wednesday morning. Do you and
Aunt Ruth be ready, and go with me
over to Macs. Wen 90 to dinner.
You can put up with his GOODNESS for
one day, at least. Bring your accounts
thong, and your own and your wife's
memories, and we shall see how we
shall prosper in the character of peace
makers"
"Tll do it," said he, slapping his
knee. lille can't prosecute till you
get ready, and may be So" and his
eyes twinkled, ,utitffeyy be so we can
arbitrator
1t was growing late, and he took his
leave without coming down to the
house, much to Nellie's regret, when |
told her of his visit. On Monday l
sent a note to Mcdonald. telling him
to ask Ordway to come over On
Wednesday, and between us | fancied
we could bring him to terms; at any
rate, hat would give us a good hold on
him, whether he came or not.
On Wednesday morning | went down
on the early train, and walked on to
the home of the McDonalds. [ had
never met any of the family but the
father, and | was not surprised to find
the mother fully up to the description
given me by Ordway, a refined, hand
some, though faded woman. | couldn't
but think as / contrasted the couple,
as they were making me welcome in
their old-country fashion, that she had
carried the heaviest part of their
mutual life burdens, and was fainting
by the way, while he way yet fresh and
vigorous.
He informed me that he had sent
Ned over to the Ordways, requesting
his presence, and then introduced Ned,
a fine, scholarly-looking fellow\Sof
twenty or thereabouts, with fathers
physique and mothers features, and
our acquaintance was scarcely formed
before he excused himself courteously,
and went out to welcome the neigh
bors; a welcome indeed from himself
and mother; but there was not much
welcome in Auld Sandie's curt saluta-
ton, though the old fellow did In
bend a little when he greeted Mis-
tress Ordway."
= With no pretense of sociability, I
proceeded to business in a very law
yer-like manner. l displayed no
friendship to the Ordways, but played
the disinterested lega! adviser to the
best of my ability.
Mcdonald suggested that we men 60
to the front room; but as a part of my
plan depended on the women, | pro-
tested against leaving them, and had
my way.
Mr.. Mcdonald placed his chair at
n end of the table, and drew out a
drawer, from which he took a big ac-
count book. | seated myself about
midway of the side of the table, and
Mr. Ordway brought his account book
to the lower end.
Ordway began by saying: BY
your request, neighbor, I've brought
my book, though | can't say it has
been very correctly kept. If Mr..
Bailey says how much l w you I'll
pay it. but no more" y
l wished he had said nothing, for
Auld Sandy put on his most belffereRt
air, and said, dogmatically: IF snail
trust friend Bailey to determine how
much you owe" 4
/ set about with : pretence of sys-
tenn, but in r~ealitysFery informally. to
get to the bottom Of their differences.
[ took paper and patiently set down
debit and credit, as they each came
to it.
After we had gone through the ac-
counts of two or three years we came
to a credit on McDonald's book OF a
weeks work by a Swedish man in
corn-gathering, Of which Ordway's
book showed no record.
The two men looked puzzled a bit,
and finally Mr.. Ordway turned to his
wife and said. Ruth, did we evgr
have a Swedish man hiredP" why,
of course, James; don't you mind you
sent him-Olaf we called him-to
work a week in Mr.. Macs corn, and
he made us all laugh SO when he came
home saying he hadn't .spik n word
all week. because they couldn't under
stand him? You remember it, Mrs.
Mcdonald, don't youp"
Certainly" said Mrs. Mcdonald.
II remember you were down with
rheumatism. though, Alec, and knew
nothing about it. Ned made that en-
try in the book: is it not his writingp"
Its not mine.n said Mcdonald,
shortly, his Scotch sense of justice as
sorting itself, though as yet without
voice.
"Oh, yes, / do remember about
Olaf . said Ordway, ''but ] never put
that down; / never yet made a charge
against q neighbor who was fiat on his
back and helpless"
.sOh, but right is right said Nc
Donald. put it down. Bailey"
mo, you won't, Bailey" said Ord
way. II never meant to make a charge,
and / won't now
well, not to be too long with my
story. we went on through the books.