The Opelousas courier., 1892-02-06
TON AND. ELIZA,

oval, there's Elizym said Toms
Uncle Amos, looking pleased. Didn't
know she'd go hum
Tom-Thomas Gordon Lawson, as his
calling-cards read-had his tyout-rod on
one shoulder and his wicker basket, with a
fair catch in it, strapped ON the other.
He had overtasen his Uncle Amos
coming home with a newly acquired
calf, and had mounted to his lumber
wagon, whistling in high spirits, for the
remainder of the "trip home.
He was always in good spirits during
his visits to Weston. 1t did a fellow
any amount of good to have a rest from
the city and the Office once in awhile.
And the Weston trout streams were
fire, and Aunt Lorinda' a cooking delight
full, and she and Uncle Amos the best of
kind-hearted, h~ospitab.e. jolly folks.
Tom whistled II Fear No Foe,"
blithely.
He paused, however, to inspect Eliza.
She was in a field close besids the road,
and she was applying herself wholly to
the task of catching a colt-the friskiest
specimen of a colt, and the most con
trary.
Eliza ran, and jumped when expe,
dent; she chased him, she drove him
with uplifted, threatening hands, she
strove to corner him.
"A huge masculine straw hat hid her
face and head, ard q checked apron
duttered wildly as she went. And Tom
laughed.
She turned on the instant, and faced
the road and the wagon squarely. A
flush rose slowly in her face, and her
eyes focused Tom Tor the traction OF 9
minute.
1t was a stong face, a welI-modeled
face. with that rarity a straight nose, and
an oval shape and round, white chin
they were sweet eyes, deep blue in color
and keen in expression.
Then Eliza turned slowly to the object
of her pursuit. But it was as though the
colt understood matters, and was 10th to
make her the subject of further ridicule.
He stood moderately still, and she took
him by his tangled forelock, rubbed his
nose, and led him away toward the big
farm buildings and picturesque white
house at a little distance.
Tom had grown far redder than she
he was scarlet. He stared after her,
motionless and unhappy.
ttDo you think she heard me Taught"
he stammered, hopelesslv.
.sDid you laffan Uncle Amos had
been absorbed in Elias chase, purely.
.sshe did look kind D. funny running
down that little %critter. / knew she'd
get him. Master hand, Etizy ISL
she is as pretty as-she's q beauty
Tom cried, his eyes fastened to her les.
sening form.
IL was tall and strong and graceful.
nElizy2 Oh, yes! They do call Eliz.
the han'somest girl in Lester County,
Uncle Amos admitted.
stEl;za who7o
.tTiliotson. san'l Tillotson's one o
the best-off men round here, owns tn
mos prop Iy, guess.
rs she-can she-does she Away
catch the coltsi' said Tom, falteringly.
Not that he cared to know that, bu
be wanted 10 talk about her, to dwell
upon her, to extract information concern
inz her.
What a facet
aWaI, I don know as that's Elizyt
speciality said Uncle Amos, with hi
rolling laugh. .Elizys handy at anT
thing under the sun. She's q worker
Elizy IS; amt none o yer setting. round
good. for-nothing nj She's Away
a-doIng.9
You don tsuppose she was offended
at ny laughing at her2s Tom yentured
desperately.
sN'y, the land / shouldn't thinl
u. Sho. guess NOT said Uncle Amos
who knew little of the intricacies of thI
feminine heart.
But his nephew, who knew more
looked gluonT.
He bad bis trout for supper, beside
warm biscuits and Clipped potatoes AM
canned pluRns and cakes but he did no
eat his customary hearty amount.
He wsnt and smoked on the porch
md looked through the trees over 81 th
Tillotsons
WHY haven't + see Miss Tillotso'
| when Ire been here in Weston beforel'
he demanded Of Uncle Amos, with an in
jured aocena, When be joined him wit
his pie.
sMe5be vou have. and forget her,
Uncle Amos suggested with sixty-year
old innocence. Tom smiled at the i'm
possible notl - but she's en- off +
school & lof, Elizy has-to the bit
academx oTeT g Eastpors- heerd sh
vas going to g q teaehing oTer tner