The Opelousas courier., 1891-10-10
TAKEN UPON TRIAL.
By HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

BIZ HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
sit is true as taxes" said Deacon
Prout.
"What's as true as taxes?" asked Ezra
Elton, who lived on the farm across the
creek.
"Why, that one-half the world is
bound nilly-Willy to bear the burdens of
the other halfis sighed the deacon.
Ezra shifted his tobacco from one side
of his face to the other.
"Wal, as a gin'ral thing" said he, 81
calculate you're right. But I don't see
how it fits your particular CASE
"Don't ye2n The deacon gave a sig
n~iicant sniff. There have I lived a
bachelor life all my days, because I was
partial to peace and quietness, and didn't
want no extra care nor trouble, and Jest
when ! want to be peaceablest there
comes n otthese new-fangled telegraph
dispatches from York city that my broth
er John and bis wife are both dead, and
that my three nieces would take it very
kind if they could come out here and
i've with me.
"P'raps they've got means to live on. ,,
ttNo, they hain't,n said the deacon.
ssNot a red cent?
"Wal, 1 swami calculated Mr.. Elton.
ttJest what ! think myself, z said the
deacon, ruefully.
Saint goin' to consent, be yea"
The deacon established himself more
firmly on the old stone wall which inter-
posed between the highway and d patch
Of spring woods, oil gay with dogWood
blossoms and fresh young leaves.
ttWell, yes, I be and / amt. Sounds
like parallels, donSt it2 But I'm talkin'
sober sense. I've writ to the lawyer
that's windin' up brother Johns affairs,
and told him to send the girls ON. I
writ that I'd take 'em for a months
visit, and at the end d that time I'd de-
eide which Of the three to keep. The
other two must scratch for themselves.
Amt no sense in my supporting three
grown women in idleness. I can make
one useful in keepin' house for me. But
/ don't see my way clear to supportin'
the three of en-
tsAn' what be you goin' to do with
Jemima WilIett2n asked Elton.
stShe's goin' to the new factory to
work. Her brother is cutter there, and
he's told her of a vacancy in the ironiu'
room"
HGals is a nuisance observed Ezra,
trimming off a fresh piece of tobacco
with his pocket knife.
Sd guess you're about right said the
deacon.
And while Deacon Prout, in the bland
sunshine of the Ohio spring, was lament
ing his evil fate. .Brother johns three
daughters down IN New York were
harping on the same string.
The country sighed Mamie Prout.
aAnd 1 always hated the countryn
tsAn old bachelor, too" said Isabel.
Papa Away called him an Original
| detest originals, don't YOUR
Hester screwed her bonny pink and
white face into d dimpled knot.
@It will be- grand joke said she.
81 can get no end Of material for the
novel I'm gong to write. | shall make
a speciality of Western dialect.
I suppose we must go, : said isabel.
And Mamie dolorously remarked that
.stbey did not scenic nave much choice
left.
ssH dear papa had only lived to see
that last investment through, y said He's
ter, 1--WE should have been heifessesIn
Isabel shook her smooth, silky head.
Papa vas always building castles in
the airi7 sighed she.
Deacon Prout received the three girls
with stiff ciyilitv, told them that they
were welcome, and put each oil them iii
charge Of some ono particular depart.
ment Of Buckeye Farm.
Isabel was to be ~housekeeper, Hester
dairymaid, and Mamie to take charge Of
the poultry.
.sBut, uncle protested Isabel. "
don't know anything about poultry rals-
ing nor cooking nor butter Haaklng'
i want to know said the deacon,
what sort 3 waE hsv ye been brurg
upas
xIf you have q piano, suggested Nan
ME. q have particularly studied Chopin
and schunsann.
can sketch quite accurately An
nature, remarked Isabel.
And / said Hester ~yaliantiY, shave
had q poem ocoepted By the Aboriginal
Magazine.
Deacon Prort rolled his cold graT eyes
from one I'd another of the speakers.
sAll that ain nothin practical said
he. sI haint 10 use here fol music, nor
picters, nor poetry