The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-11-12

as ''Mr. Everett, of the South African
Review" / waited to hear no more.
/ leaped to my feet, overturning the
footstool and the dog with dreadful
racket; the smile and the chocolate
froze on my lips; my heart jumped into
mp throat. and thumped there so ia st
could scarcely breathe.
had contributed regularly for some
time TO the South African Review"
and my correspondence with the editor
had grown very friendly, indeed, but
never, never, in my widest imaginings
had foreseen such catastrophe, Nell
suggested afterward, as this.
L cast glance of frenzied, but speech
less, appeal at Nell. She nodded, pale
as ghost. She had heard, too.
''Cl'ar up" she whispered, briefly.
and then she began to laugh, noiseless-
ly and HISTORICALLY. 1 thought this
downright mean of her. but l didn't
have time to demonstrate. l heard
Tom tell our guest in a very loud tone
for our benefit-that he would show
him in just as soon as he had finished a
little matter then claiming his attention
in the shop. This was to give us time,
God bless him! And we improved it.
The way VIC did set chairs to their
right-abouts and jam things into those
bureau drawers! Nell got hold of the
muslin and struggled to get it into the
trunk, but there was too much of it.
''Put it behind the trunk" gasped,
and, as she obeyed. added: There's
one consolation. He can't hear us, be-
cause he's as deaf as anything; he told
me himself"
"Well, that is bliss" responded Nell,
lapsing into slang in her agitation.
We had barely begun to get things to
rights. it seemed, however, when we
heard them coming. and with hopeless
glances into the mirror we sank into
our chairs.
Tom pushed aside the portiere and
walked in, followed by a tall and fine
looking gentleman. With terrible
"Boo-woo-woo!'' in the voice of lion.
jeff leaped from his own individual
corner and made a rush at our guest,
and as the latter was just in the act of
taking step, the dog, more astonished
than any of us, went straight between
the South African ankles and found
cred against the wall. AS the gentle
man recovered his equilibrium and his
self-possession, Tom lamely introduced
him.
''Speak louder, Tom," said /, conceal
ing the motion of my lips behind my
kerchief. ''Ile is awfully deaf: he told
me himself"
SIS that so?" said Tom: and then he
fairly shouted the introduction.
Nell came forward looking as cool
and sweet as a lily and gave him her
hand, telling him how really glad she
was to welcome him,
20 fudge" said Tom, making a wry
face at her over Mr.. Everett's shoulder;
eff he's deaf that's all Greek to him.
Speak up, my little man."
For one dreadful moment 1 thought
Nell was going into one of her convul-
sions of laughter, but she pulled her.
self together and presented me.
$50 this is our little contributor"
said he, taking my hand and looking at
me with kind but amused eyes.
shouted out '.yes," but as that sounded
rather fat, and hearing Tom giggle in
the background, Imply subsidized.
slave a chair?" cried Nell, her voice
rising to little squeak as she referred
the best and really safest chair in the
house. To our CONSERVATION, however,
he showed preference for a guileless
looking chair that was at heart one of
base deception.
''Great guns" CALCULATED Tom, in a
tone of exaggerated emotion, while we
all stood shivering in agonized sus-
pense. "It's the chair with the broken
lcg!'
Before our guest could seat himself,
however, Nell had happy inspiration.
do, do take off your overcoat!" she
cried. and then in rapid aside to me:
''And Kate, do substitute another chair
while I'm talking sweet to him! Tom,
take his coat"
For one instant / thought a flash of
uncomfortable mirth swept across Mr..
Everett's face, almost as if he had
heard. But a second glance assured
iuC VI my iuiSthhCs III HtS CApiCSSiOu
was sphinx-like.
Now, that have his coat" put in
Tom, with cold irony, while deity
changed the chairs, ''what shall ! do
with it? Toss it on the trunk?"
Heaven! MOI" said l, sternly. "Put
il out in them the
''Cubby-hole," suggested Nell. giving
us brief, innocent glance, and then
adroitly continued her conversation
with Mr.. Everett.
"Sure enough" said Tom, giggling as
he went out "I'll put it CT the bag of
potatoes. He'll think we have a hum
dred-dollar hat rack concealed in the
darkness"
Tom, ] may say right here, was in
his element. A guest who was deaf.
and two sisters who had been caught
in dreadful plight! What more could
the imp ask? He took the tide at the
food, too. He came back and seated
himself in the shadow so he could fire