St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-04-22
WHAT HAPPENED TO HAL
LIE.
BYsAKAH BlERCE SCARBOROUGH"

Nothing had ever happened to Halle
Burt. At least, that is what she claimed.
"Fourteen years is very long time
to pass away without anything happen
ing to body was what her father had
gravely remarked when she persisted in
the assertion; and Phil, her grown-up
brother, had quizzically asked if she
would be satisfied with anything less
than lassoing crocodile in one of the
Colorado mountain lakes or shooting a
dodo in the canyon below.
II don't expect the impossible she
had retorted; "but do want something
that might be called happening. y
The hunting excursions with the boys,
the round-ups on the plateau, the
mountain climbing and the agate hunting
all these she refused to consider in the
category of happenings" They were ex-
pected things and Happenings" were
we'll " something that she had not
looked for-very long at least" she ex-
planned.
But, according to her own definition,
several things happened very soon. In
the first place, her father and mother,
who went every year at the time of full
moon in September, to Pueblo, had prom
ised to take her with them on this trip;
but the very day before they started her
mother called her aside for private talk.
At its close Halle emerged from the sit
ting room with suspiciously swimming
eyes.
"Try not to mind it this time, dear"
cold hor ,cthor Nc,, lxrrr, +bot x,-o
are to take your Aunt Catherine, and if
you think how i'll she has been and how
much she will suffer from the discomfort
of being crowded, and how necessary it
is that her poor nerves be not annoyed in
any way, am sure that you will find
some pleasure in the sacrifice of your
longlookcd for trip"
So she watched them depart, only
heaving great sigh as they disappeared
from view.
81 should say that here is a happen
ing with a vengeance" remarked her
twin brother, Hall, by way of consola-
ton. but I wouldn't mind it tho
and we will 60 up after agates. Maybe
we will find one as mate for the one
you want set for a button-that will be
another kind of happening"
But even that favorite amusement had
lost its charm.
at is bound to be poky the best way
you can fix it, she replied, gloomily
Then, too, it would not be right to 90
off. There is nobody here but Phil and
us, and Phil isn't to be depended on to
stay"
you forget Garcia and Manuel" said
They are never left alone.'
THAT is so. Heigho! Idon't know,
but wish with you that something would
happen
Halle was right about Phil. That
noon one of the boys came down from
the upper ranch to tell of the stampede
of the cattle, and their suspicion that it
was caused by a mountain lion. Instantly
Phil was alert. He had long wanted a
mountain lions skin, and it did not take
long for him to convince himself that
his presence was indispensable at the
other ranch.
-" I'll go up for couple of days, and
Fred and you can look after everything.
Manrel will take good care of things.
Isn't that so, MANUEL"
Isl, Senior" The man showed glis-
tening row of teeth as he answered.
And | am sure that Garcia is to be
depended on"
The woman bobbcd her head without
hearing; for she was as deaf as post.
And don't like it Bit" said Halle,
as Phil rode off.
As for Hall, had he not secretly wished
to 60 with Phil, he would have thought
it just the thing to be left in charge. AS
it was, he was disconnected, and roamed
about, leaving Halle to her own devices.
It was dull enough for her, as Garcia
was no company at all. But company
came. At night, two men-Mexicans-
rode up from the mountain road aud
stopped to talk with Manuel.
They want to stop all night" said
Hall manuel says that they are all
right"
And that would be good reason why
I would not have them stay" Halle de-
INJURED. But Hall laughed at her.
''Pshaw! Here's a girl that is always
wanting something to happen, and is
afraid it will at the same time"
II am not" was the indignant reply.
"Only it might not be what wanted
'"'They can stay in the adobe part, and
Manuel is all right to look after them. y
So they stayed, though Halle kept wish
ing in her heart that something would
bring Phil back. But he did not come, and
Hall sleepily declared that nobody need
fret. The consequence was that long
after he had gone to sleep Halle was in
PhiPs room next the adobe part, listen
ing to the conversation going on among
the men. The thin partition made this
an easy thing to do Late in the night
she tiptoed to Halls bedside.
awake up Hall! There is some plan
among these men. I can't quite I'M
derstand - there's so much Mexican
Greaser talk; but I know they think of
waiting for Papa's coming back, and
mean to meet them in the upper can
yon."
"Now, Halle, you have imagined
half of that, I expect" yawned Hall,
drowsily, as he prepared to turn over.
''But I haven't, really. Hall, wake
up! l tell you I heard something about
money, too; and you know that Papa
brings up the pay for the boys this
time"
manuel must have got hold of that
fact someway. The old rascall' Hall
was awake now. "If Phil were only
here!"
I'VE must get him here. 1t is only