The Opelousas courier., 1890-11-29
was to come boldly forward and drive
him away, as if he merely happened to

was to come boldly forward and drive
him away, as if he merely happened to
come along just then.
jamie was ready when | called for
her, and we started away, both feeling
very awkward and embarrassed at the
novelty of our position, for jamie had
never before had an escort, and it was
the first time a lady had ever taken my
arm. 1t was but a short distance to
Farmer Trufant's house, and we were
soon at the gate. My hand was on the
latch when old lobe came bounding
around a corner, barking furiously and
making straight for the gate.
On he came, but Frank did not ap-
pear. l drew back trembling while
jamie chung to me. It seemed to me
that / could have faced a bear or a
panther more easily than | could face
that bowling, hideous, ~open-mouthed
dog as he came on in the moonlight,
snarling and growing.
Still Frank did not appear, and, I'M
mindful Of my duty to jamie, unmind-
full Of every thing but my W cowardly
fears, / suddenly mounted the fence
and swung myself up among the
branches OF a tall maple-tree that stood
by the gate. Then Frank suddenly APP
peared.
Get outr he cried, opening the gate
and giving lobe a kick that sent him
bowling away. Then, to my amaze
ment, he gallantly offered to Miss jamie
his arm, which she instantly accepted,
and they walked into the house, leav-
ing me up in the tree.
| was about to descend and follow
them when old lobe, attracted by a
slight noise I made, again appeared,
barking as loud as before, and in my
terror ! clambered back int my perch.
lobe growled under the tree for
awhile, and then, to my dismay, lay
down by the gate. glared up at me and
barked as if he had .'treed' game
which he certainly had done. | could
not, / dared not, descend while he lay
there, and he showed no disposition to
go away. Others came to the party,
but lobe did not mind them. He vas
too much occupied with the game he
had already freed.
Time passed. From my perch in the
leafess tree / could look into the
large, old farm .'living-room, the win
dow-shades of which were not lowered.
and see the merry-makers, every of
whom | knew, engaging in a game of
.~'weevily wheat jamie and Frank TAX
ing the lead. Then I saw them ''wading
the swamp together, after which jamie
''kept post-offce,n and had letters for
no one but Frank.
While they were measuring tape
together-it was now almost time for
the party to come to an end-a rabbit
darted lightly out from a coverof brush
neal by and ran across the road. Tobc
saw it and wildly gave chase W the
snow. This gave me a chance Of
escape, and / hastily descended and a
home. OF course I could not go to the
party at such an hour. How chagrined
and angry / was! My emotions could
not have found vent in words.
/ pretended to be sound asleep when
Frank came in an hour later. but / was
really wide awake, and when he lay
down by my side. chuckling and gig
Cling, he gave me a nudge and asked:
Hi, Silet are you awaken
t'Oh, you'll find out whether / am or
not, if you say much TO mel / said,
Grossly. Il suppose you think you're
very smart, but before I'd do any thing
as mean as you've done, I'd, I'd
.Climb a tree, eh2n said Frank, with
a chuckle. well. now. wasn't it a
good joke, SileP jamie and / laughed
about it all the way home.n
And they laugh about it yet every
time / go to visit them, for jamie has
been my sister-in-law for fifteen years.
Youths Companion.