St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-08-20
The old man sat in the sunshine, smOk.

on the porch, swinging one slim, lll-snoo
foot as she looked hard at her ancestor.
II wish you'd get off that rail an set
down on the bench like Christian" alb
ruptiy spoke Mr.. Gordon.
7'Why2" demanded Jacquelina.
"You'll break it down"
Jacouelina broke into short laugh.
'I'm not so very heavy" said she.
tP'raps not but that rail is a hundred
years old, crisply spoke the old man. -,
"And if I did break it | could mend
it !" rebelliously added the girl.
In answer to this Grandfather Gordon
only uttered an inarticulate grunt.
Jacauelina, however, transferred herself
to the narrow wooden bench below, a
seat which she found not near so com
Portable as the perch.
Grandfather Gordon looked at the
river meadows, where the men were
blowing, and pondered on the crops.
II don't know where to CO." Jacque-
lima presently observed, in rather a
lachrymose tone.
"Go where | did when [ was your
age" sharply spoke the old man.
"Where was that -
"To work. Do suthin. Earn your
own livin',n answered Grandfather Cor
don, with an explosive puff of smoke
between every sentence. 81 earned NINE
when was your age, and now t I'm old,
l don't calculate to keep free hotel for
| my relations"
'"But, grandfather" protested JAG
ouelina, chow is woman to earn her
! living2"
"Lots o'ways," he CURLY answered.
"I'm sure l could keep house for you
better that old Betsey Poole"
I'm suited with Betsey."
"And, after all, I'm your grandchlld. "
"Your father married to suit himself, "
said old Grandfather Gordon, vindictive-
" crushing stray spider with his foot.
II dunno's I'm bound to put myself out
to suit his darter."
"Well," said Jacquelina, with long
sigh, II dare say can find something to 90
in Waxenville might turn factory girl,
or take book agency, or even go out to
service"
To all of which remarks Grandfather
Gorden returned no reply whatsoever.
"Anyhow," said Jacquelina, spurred
to sudden desperation, II suppose l can
stay here toni ght at least2"
"I-suppose-so," unwillingly &C
auiesced the old man. ''The stage don't
leave till tomorrow at six o'clock, an
spose it's too fur fer you to walk to
Bakers station"
"What's that tall red brick building
off by the mountain side9' Jacquelina
suddenly asked.
County JAIL" he answered, as briefly.
And then he rose and went sulkily into
the house.
"Betsey," he said to his crooked old
factotum in the neglected kitchen, ''that
grill have to stay all night. Make up a
bed for her in the north chamber"
Ruff leaks" Betsey laconically an
swered.
'Well, then, in the little corner room. y
"That there windy amt been fixed since
last September, Equinoctial bowed ii
out"
northeast room, then, with the
Chinese pagody wall paper"
"Why, that's the room where the
ghost walks squeaked Betsey.
| Grandfather Gordon uttered mutf1ed
exclamation which savored somewhat OF
profanity.
''There amt no ghost" said he, AN
if there was, Jacquelina don't know moth
in about it. Fix it up for one night
That'll be all"
"There amt nothin' for supper" OBJ
served Betsey, who was of parsimonious
nature, except just huff cold pork an
greens for you. I was goin' to make
out on mush an milk"
"Mush an milks good enough fer
Silas' darter, guess responded the old
man.
And he went back to the porch and
the pipe without further parley.
Jacquelina's place, however, was empty.
The brown, clear eyes, the tawny red
dish braids, the CHEEKY, laughing
mouth were gone.
Jacquelina, restless with the unrest Of
youth, had started on a journey of in
spection down in the old orchard, where
the gnarled trees were garlanded in pink
bloom, and a host of tall red lilies
swayed to and fro in the May wind.
Next she peeped into the huddle OF
barns and stables, under the hill, patted
the shaggy pony and fed a big-eyed cali
with withered yellow carrot which she
picked out of bin.
"IfIwere farmer, said JacQuelina, 81
wouldn't let things 60 to wrack and ruiz
like this
With business-like intentness, she
reached down huge old-fashioned pts
toll from it's rusty hooks on the inside OF
the barn door.
"Trigger bent" she said, to herself.
Barrel all denied in, but [ think il
could be fixed Anyhow, the charg,
ought to be drawn"
Jacquelinas father had been a gun
smith, and she had acquired somewhat Of
his 81 kill in the craft. She eyed the
ancient weapon with scornful amuse
ment.
"You couldn't fire it off if you were tc
try" thought she.
And suddenly Strengthening up he1
slim form, she held the pistol belliger
emily at arms length.
'Don't fire! For heavens sake, DOM
| fre!'
There was rustling in mass of dried
cornstalks in the corner of the barn.
A hollow-eyed man, dressed in rags
that were tied loosely about him witt
strings, crept out almost at her very
feet. The pistol dropped to Jacquelina's
side.
"Why, who are you?" she cried.
4 |,
hoarsely. 'I've been day and nigh
without food. Who am II Turn the
barrel of that pistol the other way, anc