The Opelousas courier., 1892-09-03

him.
ayes, sir" she answered trigldly.
81 have just passed a very fine speoi1
men, which ] can point out to you if
you like"
Miss Bissel's bright gray eyes grew
brighter through her glasses. Without
a word she demurely followed him, and
he pointed out with his cane the covertaa
treasurer at the foot of the oak tree.
"T am extremely obliged to you, Mr..
Dawson" said Miss Bissel, with cere-
monious politeness. "This is indeed
just what I have been wishing for. !
will not detain you further" she added
stifiy.
So MIR. Dawson touched his hat and
walked away, wondering that she had
not requested him to assist her insremov-
ing the plant, as almost any other old
maid would have done.
But he observed at dinner that Miss
Bissel for the first time.seemed to be
listening to his conversational witticisms,
and even smiled family at n of them.
The talked CHANGED to turn upon diff.
ferent kinds of bread, and Mr.. Dawson
expressed his strong Partially for Sally
Lunn and flannel cakN.
Mrs. Moses promised that those DAM
ties should that evening grace the tea
table, but subsequently expressed to Miss
| Bissel her fears lest her attempt should
not prove successful. In fact, for some
undiscovered reason, all her Sally Lunns
| had proven failures and her flannel cakes
abortions.
"I will help you if you will let me,
| Mrs. Moss" said Miss Bissel. ~ I'm
considered a first-rate hand at Sally
| Lunns and flannel cakes
"Why Sophronia, I wouldn't think
you'd care to take the trouble, as it's for
Mr.. Dawson" said plain-spoken Mrs.
Moss, to which Sophronia replied, slightly
coloring:
ats only on account of those terns.
You see, I don't like to remain his
debtor for anything, and If the man likes
Sally Lunn and flannel cakes, as he says,
why let him have item and enjoy them.
Only he's not to know that I had any
thing to do with it."
Now, it 50 happened chat MT. Daw-
son, leisurely passing beneath the kitchen
window, screened by the honeysuckle
vines, overheard this speech, and when
at supper the table appeared adorned
with q beautiful loaf of his faVorite
bread and plates of delicate cakes, he
was in no doubt as to who was the &C
complished maker thereof.
aPity that woman is not married, he
thought. stShe'd be q treasure TO some
man matrimonially inclined; espe-
cially"-he paused and hesitated-
.ssome poor bachelor dependent upon
boarding house keepers. A woman who
can make such bread can do anything.
And she didn't wish me to know about
it. Why, any other old maid would have
paraded it to the utmosti"
It was some days after this that Miss
Bissel, having from her window care
fully watched Mr.. Dawson out of sight,
set forth on her own morning walk,
taking an exactly opposite direction.
This led to a meadow through which
ran a pretty streamlet, along which she
wandered, sketch book in hand, seeking
for some subject worthy of her pencil.
She came at length to a gnarled old
sycamore tree, on whose messy roots was
perched q large, green bullfrog; aad de-
lighted at this choice hit of s'art.sub-
iect," she seated herself and forthwith
commenced sketching. until presentld
aroused by a low, muttered sound re.
sembling distant thunder.
"Dear melp she thoughts" it can't be
going to raini"
CHANGING around, she beheld what for
an instant paralyzed her with terror.
From the opposite side of the meadow
was slowly approaching a large, black
! bull, staring fxedly at her, tossing his
head, and paving the ground, with low
muttered bellows.
Miss Bissel, though 4 strong nerved
woman, dropped her sketch book and
frantically made for the nearest rail
fence, which seemed her only chance of
safety.
But the ground was uneven, and she
| hUSW tHdb tut uEGfautut aHiuAhl uMAcs U0
gaining upon her, when -ol, blessed
sightl-there appeared q form-the stout
form of Mr.. misunderstanding toward
her, shouting and waving his cane in the
air.
He had made q circuit in his walk,
and appeared upon the scene just in time
to avert an awful tragedy.
Never before had Miss Blssel ran with
outstretched arms toward an old bach
elor! Never before had Mr.. Dawson
clasped an old maid in his stalwart arms,
rs, lifting the slight figure, he almost
tossed her over the fence, and himself
prepared TO follow.
His right lSs5 was already across the
top rail, when his enraged pursuer was
upon him, and BUT for Miss Bisse1s rare
presence of mind might probably then
and there have ended his days.
Seeing his danger, she sprang up aud
seized him by the coat-tails, upon which
she exeIted all her strength, while the
bull, catching him by the left legg,tossed
him ike a wisp Of hay into the air.
Fortunately, owing to Miss BisseIs
~unflinchlng grasp, he came down on the
Inside Of the fence, while the baked
enemy tore believing around the
meadow.
HELL come backl' gasped Dawson.
ssLet Us get out of sight behind that
thicket.
But, upon struggling to his feet, he
| found that he could neither stand nor
walk alone.