The Opelousas courier., 1892-08-27

~@@ SdHeu Slowly dDOut
@3gM~ She drew in deer
breaths of the crisp morning air, and
noted with a keen, silent, still sort OF
pleasure the signs of approaching spring.
At her feet and about her little tufts and
patches of dead grass peeped up here
and there above the partially melted
snow, like dingy GASES in a desert OF
glittering white.
Edna was a gay, spirited girl, but at
times, in solitude, her love Of nature
threw a glow of sombre enthusiasm over
her face in place of the usual levity.
Turning her eyes once more toward the
road she beheld the brightness of the
sunlit road, clou1ed and obscured by the
gloomy. shade of a slow-moving funeral
procession.
Only an instant before the bounding
blood in her veins, the breath of spring
in the air had suggested naught but life.
Now, with a shiver, its complement,
death, threw a shadow upon her heart.
Edna closed her eyes, pressed her hand
over them and leaned in a subdued atti-
tude with her face on her horses neck.
~"Life-Deathl Life-Deathl
Such is the burden of human BREATH"
came in the deep bass of a manly voice,
SO near her that she started violently and
opened her eyes. Quick as a fash the
softened look vanished from her face,
giving way to an angry petulance.
"Why can I never be alone for an in
slant but what you must come to annoy
meq" she exclaimed.
stLadylike, as usual" returned the
man, whose tall, stately figure and strong
though not handsome face should have
elected a kinder or at least more re-
spectful greeting. 81 happened to be
driving along on my way to visit a pa
tient. The case is not a very urgent
one, 50 you need not look as though you
would soon get rid of me. You see /
fell n with the end OF the funeral, and,
although we doctors are supposed to oc-
casion many, still I had no fancy for tag
ging along at the end OF this. Seeing
you wrapped in a lofty reyerie I left my
buggy on the road, quietly walked here,
read your thoughts and supplemented
them with a strain or the same subject
"You are a wicked wizard! How
dare you say what I wa thinking of"
she snapped.
Apparently needless of her anger, he
smiled in calm superiority and answered.
ssThat only adds another to the list
of sweet names that, ont OF the fulness Of
your amiability, you have be5towed on
Wicked wizard, that is not so
bad-tW. W. 1t reminds me OF an
inscription on an old tombstone
Here lies w. W,
Who will never mor z trouble you, trouble
yo'LD
II wish you would follow his exam
pie then" said she, spitefully.
81 could not lie,a he retorted: II
am not built that way. am constructed
with tlmbers of truth, joists of candor,
boards of honesty, screws of integrity
and nails Of common sense
'iSpate me-" she cried satirically,
'sfrom further eulogium of the great Il
am,'n and, scorning his proffered aid,
sprang to her horse, settled herself
HIM, her glanced at the doctor
.defantly, as, with a somewhat scandal
lied expression, he said:
81 see you have adopted the divided
"Yes,n she ausw cred, s.and a much
more safe and comfortable way /, find
his of riding. You, of all people, who
to study health, should be the
frst to admire this improved method.
You know full well that riding sideways
twists the body, contracts the ribs on
one side, and is wholly injurious. But
mol don t admit iti You are too strait
laced and narrow-minded. The only
broad thine about you is your shoulders
she added s~neeringly.
81 confess to being narrow-minded
to esteem propriety and to adj
nire a wolnanly m rather than a
.omboy."
"You would make an excellent prim
I'D maid, Or a very proper grandmother.
Pity you miss your vocation by being a
nan. Farewell, / am off for a sail on
he bay" she cried pertly. Then,
touching her horse and waving her hand
The dashed off.
He stood a few minutes watching the
lying figure and murmured:
pretty, willful child. That fond
lunt has spoiled her. Still she has q
warm little heart under all her imperti-
How sweet and good her face
before she knew / was here.
petted, sue resents the slightest
tone of authority I use, and accordingly
letests me. But ! think / will make my
Wild bird love mi yet,n he Continued,
his rather thin lips with the ex-
preston of a man who never admits to
MS vocabulary the word fail. "Her
Tery warmth and eagerness to sting me
hows some feeling, which is far better
han q cool indifference.
Meanwhile, as he slowly retraced his
TO the buggy, Edna cantered up
he avenue to her home, jumped from
Ter horse and darted into the house,
llmost running against a mild-eyed, silk
elderly lady, who greeted her
With:
.sWhy, my pct, how flushed you lookl
las anything gone Wrong9
tsThat horrid DR.. Grahamf' cried the
apetuous girl. the always rubs me
Il wrong way and rouses my temper.
one, aunty, throwing her arms around
e neck and drawing her 20 8 lounge,
come, coax, pet and talk nice TO me.
ell me how GOOD | am aud everything
vest. ! need it badly, for that old
ar has done nothing but scold and lind
with me. He thinks himself 60
'srfuily superior and me simply 4 silly,