The Opelousas courier., 1891-07-04

1 interrupted, 81 fear I must plead
guilty" Mother looked surprised, and
Mr.. Mason and myself joined in explain
ing the incident Of the morning.
Johnny looked the stranger over upon
being introduced and grinned his ad-
miration and approval. Later we all sat
down to tea. Mr.. Mason was most intel
ligen5 and agreeable, and ali, what a
heavenly change for a girl who had not
seen a good-looking young man for
months! And.what Il treat his refined
and cultured manner and language to
mother and myself, after so many weeks
of Sims do'eful dialect.
The days just flew by, and we were all
sorry when his work was done, and he
had no further excuse for staying. How
ever, he was stationed at the village, and
it was an easy matter for him to drive
out and see us, which he did once or twice
a week. During Mr.. Mason's stay Slim
had called but once or twice. He was
not favorably Impressed with our visitor
for some reason, and during his visits
he sat with such a look of injured limo
cence upon his bilious countenance that
it was a relief when he took his depart
ure.
One blessed day, when Mr.. Mason had
called at my ~schoolhouse just before
closing hours, and we had started home
ward IN the sweet summer evening, and
he had told me the old, old story that is
ever new, and l had said the old and
ever new eyes" and the earth was moth
ing but a garden of strawberries and
roses, and we had finally reached home
because we just simply couldn't walk
any slower-wc found Slim seated in his
usual place, looking as though the last
feather had been added to his burden,
n%ervously twisting and twirling his hat,
while mother sat near, looking very en-
barrassed and uncomfortable. That u
coming was a joyful relief to her | saw
at a glance, and with the same glance
read the whole story. Mother had
been asked,to share Sims Government
land, garden truck ana all, and she had
again cast him down into the nethermost
depths of despair by firmly, but kindly,
refusing the offer.
Poor Slim. He looked Simmer than
ever that night as we watched him go
over the hill to his lonely habitation.
Then Mr.. Mason told mother our story
and gained her consent. Johnny volun-
tered his opinions, and characteristic
congratulations; then the usual amount
of happy talk followed, and for a time
Slim was forgotten. But after a while
our minds went back 10 him.
~ really felt sorry for the simpleton."
mother said; ssbut | couldn't help it,
could II"
81 don't see how you could, unless
you were to marry him." said Mr.. Ma
son, laughing. Poor fellow, I am sure
| feel sorry for him. and his arms stole
around me in the dark.
Slim visisted us no more after that
night. My marriage with Mr.. Mason
was appointed for the first of September.
My school had closed, and J. was very
busy and very happy, and so absorbed
were both mother and myself that our
neighbor was, for a time. forgotten. But
n day, when W. we're bosn enjoying a
ride with Mr.. Mason. we %bethought our
selves of neglect, and concluded it
would be neighborly to call and invite
Slim to the wedding.
Accordingly we drove to his house,
which, in reality was one of the best resi-
dences in the country, and we're much
surprised to see two children playing in
the yard.
We alighted, and went to the door
where Slim himself-gay and smiling as
though he and Fate had kissed and made
up-met US, and ushered us, with great
hospitality, into his domicile. We en-
tered the comfortable living-room, and
found a round faced, jolly looking
woman, with another fodder clinging to
her skirts, whom Slim, proudly, and
with an evident enjoyment OF the situa-
ton. introduced as his wife.
You could have swept us all out of
existence with a feather.
Mother and | recognized the woman as
a widow with several children, who had
been living on a claim in a distant neigh.
borhood. Slim had evidently gathered
her brood and all to his arms, and, ino
thanks to us, had a wife. He looked
very proud and exultant, laughed and
talked in a way which showed that his
one remaining lung was still doing good
duty, and accepted our invitations for
himself and wife with a very benign and
understanding air. Weddings were
nothing to him, for he had got the start
after a]l-Yn1Eae Rl13r