The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-02-25

makers small, pale face at the window.
where the ford, round punches of bios
SONS seemed to have drained all life and
color from her.
1t is a case of Rappaccini's daughter
reversed" | said. .'Instead of giving
her their bloom the flowers have taken
all hers to themselves. never see a big
coarse hedgerow like that one without
knowing there is a fading lily of a wom-
an behind it stitching and stitching her
heart out. Cannot you make an excuse,
DR.. Hugh: Mistake the house or $, me
thing. and let US knock and see if nv
faded lily won't come out"
But just then the door opened; the
dressmaker WIS letting out a customer.
Who or what that was | never needed.
for from where we stood over the way
my dog mad dashed across, up the low
steps and was fawning ON the little
woman Ill a transport Of joy.
She did not stoop to meet those eager
caresses; those sharp little canine cries
OF delighted recognition had no response.
Only as we came in she made q hurried.
cropping movement for the handle of the
door "a if she would have shut it in our
faces. Hugh was too quick for her. lie
stepped in across the threshold, where
she stood leaning pale and quivering
against the wall.
I'VE owe it to ourselves he said, Ito
make some explanation. Of course the
dog is yours"
Shn 1naIn :. lrr%,- &c l.a1
but Hugh went on:
"Of course the dog is yours; we havo
had him 50 long in our keeping because
he was found one night last winter. and
this lady kindly let him come indoors
with her out of the bitter weather. But
we have NJ idea of keeping the little
fellow from you-unllss, indeed, you
would care to part with him
This last tentatively. for it had not es-
capped Hugh any more than it had me
that as between dog and mistress the
affection was certainly all on one side.
The little woman-girl she was rather
had retreated, sinking down ON the steep
box stairs that almost filled up the tiny
entry. The dog did not feel himself re
pulsed as we did, but fell, dog fashion,
to kissing the worn hands with which
she covered her face. 1t was in that
same instant that we heard a child's cry.
She let her hands fall together. the we'd
ding ring flashing out on the worn finger,
and then, for the first time noticing me,
with a swift sign she led the way into
the back room.
The baby was just waking in his era
0le. She turned her white face round on
us in the doorway as she dropped down
on her knees beside him. The dog went
shifting about the cradle, round and
round, as if he could not understand,
then stood irresolute, his brown eyes
flashing inquiry from the woman to me
For the child's salle,'' she said. 'For
the child's sake'-
She caught her breath in a frightened,
gasping way that brought the doctor in
Hugh to the fore.
STEADY" he said gently. 1--WE are not
here to hurt you, but to see what can be
done for YOU"
She pointed to the dog. "Only take
Dash away. Leave us two alone"
At the sound Of his name the dog
glanced round at her. but at her vehe-
ment repellant gesture he crept nearer
to me, his tail between his legs.
Poor Dash! My poor, poor Artful
Dodger" whispered. STOPPING to pat
him. But Hugh was looking at the
woman attentively. Il beg your par
don. but l think l have seen you BEFORE"
he said.
She threw UP her hands with a sharp
cry: Il knew it! knew that Cog would
ruin mel"
Then you tried to lose him-to get
rid Of him."
She made Hugh no answer, only looked
at him half fearfully, half ~defiantly.
Come, Kittie," he said to me, ''since
the dogs owner is willing to part with
him we will take him home with us"
He laid a couple of bills on the sewing
machine as he spoke, ~disregarding her
gesture of refusal. "Otherwise we shall
not feel that we have a right to keep the
dog" he said. And we will keep him;
he shall never annoy you again, believe
me-" He bowed to her respectfully as
we three went out. closing the door be-
hind us, for she never moved from her
knees beside the cradle.
OF course l asked Hugh what it all
meant the moment we were out of ear
shot. and l AN afraid / was not in a
very amiable mood during the walk
home, because he would not answer.
The next day, however. he told me, for
the next day he went back to the flower
pot of a house and found the little dress
maker had lost herself to Dash again.
And l had been hoping you would be
here making your gowns, Kitty" he
said ruefuI1y ..Thof xyac tho raoco,