The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-01-22

near the rattle Of dishes in the kitchen,
out no sound of Sphinxy's voice.
Mr.. Sewall asked after awhile how far
It was to the railroad station.
sits a matter of seven miles," said
Mrs. Shelby. ''Be you going right
back to Cincinnati with your balloon?"
81 think l shall. It's badly out of
gear" said Mr., Sewell. 81 shall know
how to arrange it in better shape next
time.
'And you think you must be leaving
US right off? That's too bad" said Mr..
Shelby. "Well, if you must go, I'll
d.tve you over to town in time for you to
take the eight o'clock train this even
ing for Cincinnatah.
81 shall be very much obliged to you,"
said Mr.. Sewall, ''and if could offer
Don't mention it. Proud to have
come to visit us. Drop in
on us whenever you feel like dropping"
returned cordial Mr.. Shelby, laughing
at his own wit, land next time you
drop, we'll have a feather-bed out in the
cornfield all ready for you, eh, mother?"
Sphinxy came out on the piazza.
'Paw," said she, "the cats fell down
the MINDLESS into the we'll, the buckets
off and the cats squalling."
Mr.. Shelby disappeared in great ex-
element, followed by Mrs. Shelby.
Sphinxy turned to Mr.. Sewall, looked at
him with frank smile, then ran out to
the well to aid in rescuing the cat,
whose accident she had announced with
much calmness as she had announced
dinner, in the usual and unexpected
presence of balloon and balloonist.
Mr.. Sewall had smiled in return.
Her look had expressed the most in
tense admiration. 1t was evident that
the descent of the balloon and the ap-
pearance of the young stranger at din
ier had touched Sphinxy's Imagination.
Mr.. Shelby was clambering down the
stones within the well-shaft when his
visitor reached the curb. 1t was a
perilous descent, and still more slip
perry ascent after he had sent the
drenched cat up in the rescued bucket.
At six o'clock Mr.. Shelby brought a
rickety old buggy and lean horse to
the front gate, called ''Hello the houseH'
and announced his readiness to take a
passenger to town.
Mr.. Sewall, who had spent most of the
afternoon in sound sleep on the lounge
in Mrs. Shelby's best parlor, making up
for sleep lost while in the clouds, came
out refreshed and ready to go. They
were to drive to the cornfield fence and
take up the broken balloon. Mrs. Shelby
shook hands heartily, and stood on the
piazza smiling and speeding the part
ing guest.
Sphinxy came around the corner Of
the house, and walked across the grs.>
to Mr.. Sewall. Halfway down the
front yard, midway between her father
at the gate and her mother on the steps,
she stopped beside him.
She had left off her sunbonnet and
he saw bright, girlish face She held
out small parcel.
"You might need it. Don't open Il
till you get to town." said she, blush
ing with timidity. Then before he
could thank her or say goodbye she had
put the parcel into his hands and had
run away. Her pink frock whisked
out of sight around the corner of the
house directly.
"What did Sphinxy present yor
with?" asked Mr.. Shelby, as his guest
got into the buggy beside him, looking
at the parcel with much curiosity.
''She said I'm not to open it till we
get to the town." replied Mr.. Sewall
SIT was very kind of her, I'm sure
whatever it is.
"Sphinxys girl of few words. Neve
spoke to you at all till you was leaving
did she?" said Mr.. Shelby, touching thu
lean horse with his hickory switch.
mot once" answered Mr.. Sewall.
At the railway station in the village
he opened the parcel containing
Sphinxy's gift. 1t was a little old fadet
red silk purse, netted in an old-fash
toned form, and cleaning through it Mr.
Sewall could see two gold pieces.
"Why, this is very kind of you
daughter!" he exclaimed, astonished
shut really 1 can't accept her money
The purse looks like keepsake,
treasure of her own, too!'
SIT is. 1t belonged to her grand
mother, who left it to her when sh
died, with them two five dollars" sal
Mr.. Shelby, in low tones of much sym
pathy and tenderness. ''Sphinxy think
the world and all of that money.
reckon she thought, being as you'd com
by balloon, going home by train wit
car fares to pay and so on might come
little awkward to you"
'.But you will take it back to her, an
explain that have more than enoug
to pay my fair to Cincinnati, won't you?
said Mr.. Sewall. ''And tell her ho'
much thank her. She is very good an
thoughtful"
"Sphinxy is a good girl" said he
father, land she's one that's wonderful
set in her own way, two. l don't think,
he added, thoughtfully shaking hi
head, 81 don't think she would, to say
really stand it if I should take tn
purse back to her. No." he said, wit
determination, 81 can't take it back t
Sphinxy, Mr.. Sewall. She'd take on an
cry if should do such thing. I kno,
just how that girl thinks, though sh
never says much.
"She always feels as though nothing
too good for any body that comes to Sc
US, and when any body comes, SO to sd,
right out of the sky, her granny's pre-
ent's got to go, or Sphinxy wouldn't /