The Opelousas courier., 1893-04-22

cherry velvet bow should appear, then
she put her hand guiltily into Ter pocket,
and drew out the crumpled two-dollar
bill.
Glare, Billy" she whispered, "take
this. And, mind you, don't tell no.
body"
"Ma'aml"
The ~convulsive sobs ceased. Billy
stood staring at Hetty Hawkins as if she
had been an angel from heaven, and
holding the bill in one hand with a des-
perate grasp. .
"Not even Selina-nor Josephine"
added Hetty. .:But it would be such
an awful pity IF you to lose your place."
In~voluntarily she chirped to the old
horse to escape Billy's tumult of inco-
herent thanks; but at that identical mo-
ment Miss Selma came huErying out.
"Hetty," said she, "there's a lovely
remnant Of red paramatta in 1 Rere, for
only five dollars. If you'll lend ne your
money, just for a week, I can secure the
bargain now. Quickl Mis- Deacon
Blusedge is lookin' at it this minute.
The cheapest thing you ever saF0in your
life.n q
ell can'ti" she muttered.
"Hetty!"
"No, /. can'tw faltered the poor wo.
man, in an agony Of confusion and en-.
barrassment.
"Where's your money!" stesnly de-
handed Selma.
"I--oon't-kuow," almost inaudibly.
"You hain't-lost 1ts Yes, | swan to
gracious you have!" almost screamed Sc
lima.
Hetty dropped her brow, and said
nothing; but the torrent of Selina's I'M
bridled wrath broke all the same on her
devoted head.
"There goes the bargain!" bewailed
Selma; "and all through your mis'able
carelessness. l should think you'd be
ashamed of yourself. Drive on, Hetty.
Don't you see you're in the way of every.
body here?'
Once again Hetty clicked her tongue
to the old horse, and shook the reins,
but so awkward was the nervous action
that her off wheel became locked In those
of another wagon, and, as a necessary
illustration of the survival of the ittest,
Mss Hetty's equipage settled slowly
down to one side, and came to a stand
still.
"My,' she gasped, ''the wheels come
Off
eyes, said a deep voice, ''the wheels
com off, Miss Hetty. An I guess
'twan't a very safe axle at best. 1t
wobbled pretty bad when ye drove up, l
noticed. guess you an Mis- Shiny d
better git into my wagon an let me drive
ye home. Old Robin, ne can be tied be-
hind, an we'll leave the wheel at the
blacksmith's shop"
Miss Selma was all smiles.
$50 much obliged to you, Mr.. Bile
ings," said she.
"Hetty," in an undertone, "why don't
you speak2 Why don't ye say something"
She did not go back to her shopping.
Red paramatta and olive cashmere might
take its chance now.
The magic wheel Of opportunity was
revolving now, and had brought up
Matthew Billings on its top round.
81 guess you better set behind, Miss
Selma, an I'll take Hetty up on the
front seat with me-" said Matthew, re.
fectiveIy. "She's some simmer N you
be-"
Selma frowned a little, but she could
scarcely disregard his plain directions.
500 talk, Hetty," she whispered, as
Matthew went back to look to the IN
lucky wheel. "Don't set there like a
stun imagel If Mat Billings is goin' to
marry me, / don't want he should be
ashamed of my folks.'
And then, as Billings returned, she
cried, gushingly:
ooh, it's nice to have a man around
when anything happens! Me an Hetty
wouldn't "a knowed hardly what to do,
would we, Hetty7"
Still Hetty sat silent. In her secret
heart had arisen an awful certainty that
Matthew Billings's wagon had been close
by all the time, that he had witnessed
the little episode of the china jardinlere
and the two dollar bill.
ssIf he should speak Of it before Sc
lina," she thought, in a sort of agony,
sswhat would Selma saY2'
Uncommunicative though she was, her
sister supplied all deficiencies on that
score, keeping up q constant current of
talk and giggling until they reached the
door Of the old Hawkins house.
"Won't you come in, Mr.. Billingss"
simpered Selma.
"Why, yes, I dunno but what I will"
said Matthew.
Josey few to light the fire in the best
room.
"Don't make no stranger o. me-" said
Mr.. Billings. ssT was c~alc'latin' to make
this ere call afore, but somehow things
have sort o. hurried me up to-day"
Josey gesticulated to Hetty behind
5elina's back. She danced q mute fan
dango close to the wall.
ssI'm a-thinkin' o. changin' my condi.
tions,a said Matthew, slowly and dis
tinctly.
"Dear mel" murmured Selma, turning
her head modestly away.
"And gettin' married" added the
farmer.