St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1893-01-21

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He done t1sat-Mr. S1p,tat done it,"
Much rain fell in the night, and tn,
next morning there blew bitter win
terry wind out of the northwest, driving
scattered clouds. sat down once NOR,
beside the fire, which I replenished
and began gravely to consider my posi-
tion.
Presently, all swollen with conceit,
went up stairs and gave my prisoner his
liberty. He gave me good morning
civilly, and I gave the same to him
smiling down upon him frren the heights
of my suficiency. Soon we were set te
breakfast as it might have been the day
before.
"Well, sir" said with jeering tone
shave you nothing more to say to meT
And then, as he made no articulate re.
ply, sit will be time, think, to under.
stand each other" continued. 'sYou
took me for country Johnny Raw with
no more mother wit or courage than a
porridge stick. took you for a good
man, or no worse than others at the least.
1t seems we were both wrong. What
cause you have to fear me, to cheat me
and to attempt my life"
He murmured something about Jest.
and that he liked bit of fun, and then
seeing me smile changed his tone, and
assured me he would make all clear as
soon as we had breakfasted. I saw by
his face that he had no lie ready for me-
oh hor ho, =
one, and think was about to tell him
SO when we were interrupted by knock
ing at the door.
Bidding my uncle sit where he was ]
went to open it, and found on the door
step a half grown boy in sea clothes.
He had no sooner seen me than he began
to dance some steps of the sea hornpipe
(which I had never before heard of, far
less seen), swapping his fingers in the air
and footing it right cleverly. For all
that he was blue with the cold, and
there was something in his face, a look
between tears and laughter, that was
highly pathetic and consisted i'll with
this gayety of manner.
What cheer, mater" says he with
cracked voice.
I asked him soberly to name his pleas
ure.
.'Oh, p1easurew says he, and then be-
gan to sing:
For it's my delight of shiny night
In the season of the year.
"Well," said /, '.if you have no busi-
ness at all / will even be SO unmannerly
as to shut Won ont -
Stay, brother!' he cried. ssI'ye
brought letter from old Heasy-oasy to
Mr.. Belfower." He showed me letter
as he spoke. "And I say, mate," he
added, 'I'm mortal hungry"
"Well," said I, ''come into the house,
and you shall have bite if I go empty
for it.'
With that brought him in and set
him down to my own place, where he
fell to greedily on the remains of break
fast. Meanwhile my uncle had read the
letter and sat thinking; then suddenly
he got to his feet with a great air of
liveliness and pulled me apart into the
farthest corner Of the room.
stRead that" said he, and put the let
ter in my hand.
Here it is lying before me as / write:
THE HAYES INN, AT THE QUEENS FERRz.
SIR-I lie here with my hawser up and down,
and send my cebin boy to informe. Ii you have
any further commands for over seas, today
will be the last occasion, as the wind will serve
MS well out of the firth. / will not seek to
deny that have had crosses with your doer,
Mr.. Rankeillor; of which, If not speedily redd
mp, you may locke to see some losses follow.
T., a
and am, sir, your most obedt., humble servant.
ELIAS HosEAsoN.
ssYou see, Davie, resumed my uncle
Rs soon as he saw that had done, 81
have venture with this man Hoseason,
She captain of trading brig, the Cove
nant, Of Dysart. Now If you and me
was to walk over with yon lad, could
zee the captain at the Hawes, or maybe
on board the Covenant, il there was
papers to be signed, and SO far from a
loss of time we can jog on to the lawyer,
Mr.. Rankeillor's. After a. that's come
and gone ye would be swier to believe
me upon my naked word; but ye'll can
believe Rankeil1or. He's factor to half
the gentry in these parts; an auld man,
forby, highly respeckit, and he kenned
your father"
stood awhile and thought. was
going to some place of shipping, which
was doubtless populous and where my
uncle burst attempt no violence, and,
indeed, even the society of the cabin boy
SO far protected me. Once there, be-
lieved / could force on the visit to the |
lawyers, even if my uncle were now in
sincere in proposing it, and perhaps in
the bottom of my heart I wished a
nearer view of the sea and ships. You
are to remember l have lived all my life
In the inland hills, and just two days |
before had first sight of the firth lying
like blue floor, and the sailed ships
on the face of it no bigger than
toys. One thing with another, I made
up my mind.
every well, says I, ''let us go to the
ferry"
My uncle got into his hat and coat
md hY1cklad an old rustv crltIass on an