The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-04-01

cloud of soft-toned h~eliotrope. Janie's
eyes expanded to take in all this well
come sight, this feast of color. 1t was
to her limited experience like a glimpse
of the glories of heaven-a Joy unfail-
ing. To her childish imagination the
flowers nodded friendly greeting from
out the odorous golden gloom cast by
the sheltering awning. With a sigh Of
satisfaction, she loite red past, drinking
in the riches of odor and hue.
A heavy crash within the store, fol-
lowed by the harsh tones of an angry
proprietor, startled her. AS she shrank
timidly back, a clumsy Newfoundland
puppy dashed out of the door, and
knocking a geranium from the stand in
his headlong fight, vanished around
the corner with dropping tail and a
mournful consciousness of mischief in
his detected ears.
jamie stood rooted to the ground,
with Mortified eyes fixed upon the
broken plant. Would the proprietor
understand that this was but another
calamity to lay to the dogs account, or
would he charge some blame upon her?
At a hasty step in the doorway, she
raised timid, ~deprecating eyes. There
stood the owner of the angry voice,
with a no less angry face. Great drops
of perspiration stood upon his shining
forehead and rolled slowly down his
ruddy cheeks.
Mr.. Perkins read the look in the
startled eyes, and being in the main a
kindly man, albeit somewhat quick
tempered, his rage melted away in a
mighty laugh.
Don't be Altered, little 'un," he
said, cheerily. Il don't bite. Yes,
yes, | know it was the dog''-as jamie
attempted to explain. 'Drat the brute!
Don't | know him we'll? He does a sight
o mischief, and costs me a heap O.
money. Yet can't lay it up agin the
pesky %critter fur long. Glad twas no
wuss!'
AS he spoke he lifted the bruised
plant, and, after a short examination,
deeming it of too small account to fos-
ter into renewed vigor, lifted his hand
to toss it into the street
"Oh!" gasped jamie, then blushed
very red, and dropped her eyes to the
tip of one small shabby shoe.
"Hey!" CALCULATED Mr.. Perkins, let
ting his hand drop at his side. whats
the matter?"
I'll thought you were going to
throw the plant away" murmured
jamie, still with downcast eyes.
so | amor was" as he began to
understand. "It's pretty well bruk up,
an l can't bother with a common
! parqninm Won lor$ ro-sl ILL.,
it? Have it, jest as well as not, ar
welcome, if you want the bother of it."
"Really" JAMES voice had a joy
full ring. For my very own? Oh,
thank you, sir! Might l leave it by
the step until l nave carried this work
home-if it wouldn't be in your way"
Mr.. Perkins looked down into the
starry eyes and the thin face, whence
all WEAKNESS had fed. IAN right,
little 'un," he said, cheerily. feeling his
heart warm at the pleasure he had
given. 1t was an unusual sensation to
the man of shrewd bargains.
How happy mother will be-" the
child said, aloud, as she hurried away
on her errand. "And Allie will be
tickled most to death"
In ten minutes she was back again.
But her heart fell in bitter disappoint-
ment; the plant vas not there.
Here you are" came a voice from
the store, and the proprietor appeared
with the poor little plant enthroned in
a ~brand-new pot. Il had lots of EN-"
he explained, with elaborate careless
ness. Thought it mightn't be SO
| hnndu f,1y- ~ ga TTl---
that'l do, child. You're welcome"
1t was a flushed and painting little
girl who hurried up the long flights of
the shabby tenemeDt-house to the bare
rooms called home" Putting her
precious burden on the floor, she quiet
ly opened the door and slipped into the
room. Two faces were lifted to greet
heroine worn and lined by her hard
struggle with poverty; the other no
less worn, but with the delicate ap-
pearance that betokens an early fit
ting from this life, that of a tiny child
lying propped with pillows before the
one window, with wide unearthly eyes
fixed upon a dusty elm and a patch of
sky beyond.
Guess what sister has brought o
Allie" cried jamie. swinging the door
back and forth, her face flushing and
paling with excitement.
Allie smiled softly, transferring her
gaze to JAMES, face in mute question.
In an another moment the plant was
produced in triumph, and never was
rarest orchid received with the delight
and admiration that greeted the spind-
ling geranium, denuded, by the acct
dent, of its single blossom. The story
was 500 told, and from that day the