Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-12-15
CHAPTER XVIII

SET FREE
very affcctionately did Mr.. Bostock
bid me good night. He laid his hand
upon my shoulder and spoke and
looked kindly.
"This will be your work, Dorr. But
for your seeking her and loving her, |
might have gone on in the old foolish
way, without doing what is necessary
to make her what she ought to be.
After all, we are often led not by our
own choosing. Was it not something
more than whim that led me ten
wears ago up among the New Hamp-
shire hills to look for my old school
mate? Is it not something more than
accident or mere human design that
brings you here now, to prompt me to
do what / should have done long ago,
but for my pride? 1 think so. l sure
ly think So"
l slept but little. Lying awake for
hours, / reviewed all the strange
events of my life and the story of Mr..
Bostock and his family. l closed the
retrospect with triumphant self
graduation. Everything was clear
now. My way was plain. My path
was leading straight to perfected love,
to wealth and happiness / thought of
good Mr.. Dorion, and resolved, in my
last waking moments, that / would
write to him on the morrow and tell
him all.
I slept light and woke early; so early
that nobody was astir in the house.
dressed myself and descended, and
presently LIE Fevre joined me. He
wished to ride over to Thibodeaux, as
Mr.. Bostock had requested him to do,
before the heat of the day began, and
he storned at the negro woman for not
having his breakfast ready.
The omelet, the corn bread and cof-
fee were soon prepared, and the over
seer asked me to sit down with him.
''What's in the wind?" he inquired.
1.-THE old man asked me just before he
went to bed to go over and get Mr..
Coteau, the lawyer"
81 believe he wants some papers
made out"
"Will-eh?"
''Like enough"
80, 1 see, youngster. You know
more'n you want to tell. It's all right,
though, if the old man is fixing it so
that his rascal of son will be cut off.
Reckon shouldn't stand much chance
with him at the head. But with you
and Miss Coral it might be different" :"
'It certainly would be, Mr.. LIE Fevre.
I'm not telling you anything that is
going to happen; but you would be per-
fectly safe with Miss Bostock and
me-"
''The Yankee is coming out in you,
Mr.. Jewett. You are making your
harvest with a vengeance. You've
been here only a few weeks, and, as
near as l can judge, you've captured
the handsomest and the richest girl in
the whole La Fourche. Well, l con-
gratulate you. Hope there'n be nc
drawback. Now I'll ride over for the
lawyer"
Watched him as he cantered off on the
bayou road. Returning into the house
met Coralie at the foot of the stairs.
She was SO bright, SO sweet, so tempt
ing, and the opportunity was so good,
that improved it by taking her in my
arms and kissing her.
81 was afraid it wouldn't last till
morning, Dorr. When awoke feared
it was dream. Is it really true?"
"This seems much like a reality,
Coral"
She released herself, and ran part
way up the stairs.
"Dorr, 1 have just thought of some
thing. Let us go up to papa's room
together. 1t would be so nice, after
all that happened last night, to go and
say good morning both at once"
/ agreed. We assembled the stairs
and went along the passage. She
knocked lightly at his door.
Louder; he's asleep"
She knocked again. There was no
response. l opened the door and we
entered. The room was quite dark.
spoke the name of the occupant; still
no reply.
/ opened the window and unclosed
the shutters. The light fell across the
bed. Mr.. Bostock lay motionless, his