The Opelousas courier., 1893-10-07

smile on his lips and asuspiciousm ois-
ture in his eye, ready to distribute the
presents.
stMy friends" began the general,
rising to make the formal little speech
he had made each succeeding birthday
for twenty years or more, there are a
few trifes, worth but little in them
selves, but which I hope you will value
for the sake of the good will and at.
lection, of which they are only too in.
efficient a token, Cephas, hand them
round. You will find your names at
tached. Don't make mistakes, Cephas.
Alabam packed the basket and she is
immaculate in the way of constructing
frst-class blunders."
While the general talked the butler
silently placed the presents at each
plate, amid the pleased ordinations
of the recipients. They 1ere merely
little tokens of grateful acknowledge
ment. on the part of their host, of his
friends presence there that night.
There wa q book for one, gloves fo1
another, a silk handkerchief for q
third, and so on. The General was
practical, even in his gifts. Then the
old butler, after handing the empty
basket to Alabam, came and stood
again behind his masters chair. At
every plate but that Of the General
was a present of some kind.
'sMarse," whispered Cephas, bend
ing down, eds yere is yo' own birf-
day. Don't yo' reck'n dey'd orter be
sompin' er mother fer yo'?"
The general smiled. Then a smile
Of gentle pleasure lighted up his fine
face.
"No, Cephas," he said, half turning
in his seat. But as it is, my pleas
ure is the greatest, and I am egotisti-
cal enough to speak Of it here. They
only receive a trife, but it is mine to
give them that trife with a heart over
flowing with affection"
Cephas bent lower still.
"Dey is one ting, Marse; yo' amt
give yo'self muffin. Yo'ze been
maxim out fer a long time like yo'
amt got nutting ter give ter yo'self.
Yet yo' have got s%uttin', yo' cert'n'y
have. Yo' knows it, Marse, an hit
makes yo' feel bad ever time yo' see a
chile kiss its NANNY"
The face Of the general, indulgently
smiling at first, darkened suddenly.
He rose to his feet regardless of the
company, and frowned upon his SER
want, who, unmindful of his own te-
merity, added in a broken voice:
"Yes, Marse, yo' gives to ever n
but yo'self. Desc other folks dey
hearts is full; hits yo'ze dat stays
empty. while 20 keeps de door shet."
"C~onfound you! Will you hush!"
The general spoke p~assionately, but
the bitter truth-faltering enough
it was-stabbed him like a knife.
He made a great effort to compose
himself, while silence reigned at the
tables. But the effort partially failed,
for drops stood out upon his fore
head, and o haggard sound issued
from his lips.
"This is cruelty refined and per-
fected," he muttered, as if to himself;
then a sob came to his relief, and he
bent forward in his chair, yelling his
working features.
A black robed figure glided through
the open doorway behind the anxious
old butler, and fell on its knees at the
feet of the general.
Gather !" it spoke in broken yet
never forgotten accents. Wont you
forgive me for coming back? l could
endure your ~displeasure while he lived;
but now, I am so lonely, SO weary, Sc
heart-broken, lean hold out no longer.
Won't you forgive me, father?"
The silence around the table was
breathless. The general, for a mo-
ment, spoke no word, though his
shoulders heaved and his face was hid
den. Then his head sank upon his
daughters shoulder, and with a half
~inarticulate cry he burst into tears.
"Mildredl Mi1dred!" he faltered,
eft Is lit is I who need to be for
given"
"Praise Gawd, yes, Marse!" ejacu-
lated Cephas fervently, though with no
desire to blame, for his own black face
was wet. "Praise Gawd, yes! Seem
like we've nevur had sech ernother
birthday, not since Miss Mildred wat a
Ill girl"
Other eyes were moist as the guests
filed silently out of the room. Father
and daughter sank into each others,
while the old butler lowered over them
as if he were pronouncing 8 mute bene-
diction.
Thus ended the birthday dinner
Yankee Blade.