The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-11-29

1--WE don't cat In the kitchen since
Dear had his stroke apologizcd the old
wife. her mind half lingering with her
dishes on the range. Its handler for
him TO have the table here. III bring
them right in. and yolll sit by and take
supper with u.s."
mo. thanks" The stranger took a
paper from his breast pocket and I'M
folded IL. My business is brief.
came TO hand this docrmcnt, copied from
one retain. to Mr.. John Thomas"
III it's a note or decd" said the wife.
III read 1t TO him. Dear can't hold
any thing in his hands now"
She took her spcctaclcs from . work.
basket, and coughcd and reached for the
paper.
The young man put IL behind him
with flashing action OF the muscles
surprising to himself. The freight
made her mild spcctaclcs glare.
This Is business matter" he apol-
ogized. blushing. The old man sat like
a sphinx, and left his innocent and
tender guardian 70 encounter his fate.
well, maybe you would rather read
II would. II he must have it read to
him."
Are you a lawycr?r she inquired,
timidly.
II am. Perhaps forgot to mention
that my name is Eugene Laplace."
''Seems 10 me have heard the name
somewhere
| Your husband has. II is name he
knew we'll twenty years ago in the West.
My father was his partner"
| There, now. Dear" cried the lovely
old woman. Company has been sent 10
Us for this Thanksgiving. ! knew we
wouldn't have to sit down TO our turkey
by ourselves. IL we are lone couple.
You'll take supper. OF course. And
where Is your horse:"
| II walked here from the hotel in your
little town" explained the young man.
1T isn't far"
| Dear won't have the son of his old
partner stop at any tavern" she rcmon-
stratcd. I'VE can send the hired man
for your things. and you'll stay right
whore you are. Beds amt so scarce in
this house that friends child can't sit
down AMI stay"
| The young man folded his paper and
put it back in his pocket.
| II will call again." he said. in blum
dering manner unusual TO him, and his
anxious hostess. seeing that he desired
70 get out. indicated the front entrance,
and. mindful Of dignity. conducted him
herself into the chill hall. She shut the
sitting-room door and leaned against a
panel her figure collapsing downward.
A fan-light. shaded by green paper,
threw ghost-lines on her face in the
dark. Upstairs the wind had found
some crack through which it uttered a
rnournful cry.
Laplace stood still, feeling that he
could not open the front door and escape.
leaving this sweet old woman sobbing.
II don't often break down So" she
said. clearing her face with her apron.
1T was thinking how different you see
Dear from the way your father saw him.
He was such fine figure, and so re-
spected. They made him Justice OF the
peace, and he could have been elected
county recorder-and there he has to sit
before folks now like dummy. o my
Dear-m poor old Dear!"
Don't cry said Laplace, hoarsely.
from his throat MY mother used to
cry like that. after my father died"
us she living?~
mo. She, also, died when was
child"
'You would be such comfort to her.
Our boy would have been man grown.
and how could depend on him now. I
thought that was trouble-to have his
little face nailed up from my sight. But
when Dear was struck down and made a
living corpsc"-she covered her face
with her hands and shook.
II didn't come out here to take on, and
my vittles on the stove and Dear needing
me. came out to urge you'll take your
dinner here tomorrow. You know Dear
can't speak. have to be nice for him.
lie can't invite his friends, no matter
how much he wants them. We would
take II so kind"
III can" promised the young man,
desperately. II will come"
Dear will enjoy 1t so much. He used
70 be the prettiest talker! lie could
- = -" w" - ahf btFA} III q toulEDNtTSi.
always have this to comfort me--therc
never was man Of more upright char
acter than he was before the affliction.
He lived without blcmish."
But you will spoil him with indul-
gence row." said the lawyer, trying to
smile.
Her sincere and anxious face received
the suggestion.
Yes, he's husband and baby both to
me now. II he was Of a size to bundle
up and carry around 1t would case my
feelings. What was the paper you
wanted read TO him? II you leave it
with me can read IL when I'm reading
him an evening chapter"
IL can wait--it doesn't matter" said
Laplace, opening the front door.
"Therc's some promise Of snow to-
night"
Yes. and you better turn your collar
up around your ears. Come early to-
morrow. We can't get out n the preach
ing
Perplexity decpened in the young |
mans face as he trudgcd into the town.
and continued to deepen after he had |
shut himself in his chamber OF the rural |