The Opelousas courier., 1892-01-16

49, eE
find a wife.
Heart-whole, fancy free, he mlngles
with the guests who gather at Mrs.
Markham's, his %aunt's; escorts his pretty
cousin Mabel to opera, theatre, concert
dances gracefully with one belle, takes
| another out to supper. makes himself
agreeable with a third on d slelghing
party, escorts a fourth for o promenade,
and so on-sixth, seventh. eighth, num-
bers indefinite, coming under his care
pro tenn, but not one stirring his heart
as Bab's cordial greeting did when ne
returned from college.
Babi There is scarcely q frolic of his
lonely childhood that is not associated
with Bah. How many tine3 has her
mother called him in from SNOWFALL
lighting or coasting ~frolic, 10 eat crisp,
hot douahnuts or gingerbread How
many cardy-pulls has he had with Bah at
one end OF the sweet, sticky mass and
himself at the other!
Bah is not his ideal. That was tall.
stately, brunettei Bah is short, merry,
browL-eyed and with hair of FURNISHED
bronze that Malcolm irreverently calls
red! Aud then, although there is no
foolish pride about Malcolm, he has GER
tainly moved in more cultivated and re-
lined social circles than Barbara ever
saw. He wonders how Bah would look
in clouds of tulle, her round white arms
c:rcled with bracelets, her glorious hair
starred with gems, and mentally decides
that she would look tsiolly!'
A letter from home reached him III
the middle OF November.
sDgAR Mr.. MALCOLM: l thinkI ought to
write you about your pa. He won't COM
plain. and he amt to say sick, but hs's PIN
ing, and very weak. Barbara Croft is here
every day, reads to him, sings for him, plays
chess and brings him all sorts of good things
she cooks to please his appetite. She's
the best girl in the world think,
but she amt like you pas oWa. He fretS
for yoa, though he won't say SO, AMI think,
Mr.. Malcolm, if you'll e1cuss the liberty OF
my saying SO, the time is coming when you
will be glad if you coma home to cheer him.
Your obedient servant,
'MARY CLARKE"
aAIy dear old dad!" thought Nal.
colin, tearing down stairs with the letter
in his hand. "He is sick! I was afraid
he was last summer, and here I've been
fooling away for months while he has
been fretting for mel"
His renorse was deeper than his neg
lect warranted, but he loved his father,
the ever indulgept friend Of his life, his
one tie in the dear old home. Aud so,
making graceful apologies to his aunt,
he started at once for Deerfeld.
Mr.. Hoyt was in the library when he
drove up to the door, and through the
window Malcolm could rec the ruddy
light from the CRATE, the deep arm chair,
the figure of his father reclining there.
But, pausing on the porch. he saw more.
He saw that the dear face was hollow
eyed, haggard, fearfully changed. He
saw a trim little figure bending lovingly
vver the sick man. coaxlng him TO eat
the dainty luncheon on the table beside
him. Aud he saw Bah more than once
draw back to hide quivering lips aud
eyes filed with tears.
ssHow good she is" Malcolm thought,
.sto leave her bright home, to comfort s
lonely old man." And he stepped soft
", not to disturb the pretty scene, and
went to the back door to send Mrs.
Clarke to give notice of his arrival.
He was disappointed wien he went IN
to find his father alone, bat he forgot all
else in his sorrow ut finding such a
change in him.
aWhy have YOU not sent for me be-
fore2' he asked, reproachfully.
II knew you were enjoying your
visit, my dear boy. Your letters were
like CLEANS of sunshine; Bah read them
owe and over to me, but | would not.le let
any n write bat myself, for fear of
troubling YOU"
ssButyou were lonely?"
Eyes, very lonely, though Barbaraa
has been very kind. She is the gentlest
of nurses, the most patient of com.
panions," then, a little wlstfu!ly "Havo
you no news for ME, Malcolm?"
ssNone, but what | have written!"
81 so wish to see you settled in your
home, before-I mean, soon.n
.tMarriedi But If / fail to find my
ideal?n
aAh, we all fail in that"
tsBut father, you would not have me
u1arry without love2a
ttNeverl1
81 saw nobody / loved in New
York.
.ssut, nearer homea'
ssYour ten is ready, Mr.. Malcolm
said AIRS. Clarke at the door, aud NAL
colin obeyed the
The subject wa not renewed as father
and son sat far into the night conversing.
There were many matters needing super
vision, and again Malcolm reproached
himself that all the care of the estate
had fallen upon his fathers feeble
lands while he was pleasure-seeking
ssButI will never leave him again.
he said to himself as he assisted his faith
err to his bedroom.
A whole week passed busily, and there
came a few days of warm weather, such
as November finds often in her drearY
weeks. Barbara was III the garden,
walking up and down, thinking.
OF what2 Of Mrs. Clarke's announce.
ment a whole week before that had sent
her skurrying home like a frightened
rabbit. Was Malcolm so cngrossei with
his idea that he had not ever one hour
for his old playmate2 It hurt her to
think 90, md she missed, too, the daily
care she had voluntarily assumed during
his absence.
II do believe lam bluei'' she thought,
pettishly. aIhat will happea next29