The Opelousas courier., 1893-10-07

companions hand.
s'Dinnuh is served, suh," said the
butler in his most magnificent tone.
"How-eh2" exclaimed the general,
looking up. eAh, then I shall not
have to relinquish this fair hand, after
all. You will allow ne madam. !
hope?"
So saying he hurried away toward
the dining-room, with the lady on his
arm. the rest Of the company, who all
appeared to know each other well, fol"
lowing in sociable pairs. Soon they
were assembled around the long table
when Alabam, having touched her bell,
marshalled the we'll victualed trim
from the kitchen, and when they de-
posted their burdens with easy dex-
terity, hustled them out again as soon
as possible thereafter.
The side tables groaned, and for a
few moments Cephas and Alabam were
kept exceedingly busy in attending to
the wants of the guests. But when
the dinner was well under way the
butler found opportunity to slip down
to his own snug cabin in the quarter,
though not without su1adry misgivinga
that he might be taking trouble for
nothing.
"Most like hits some er de pore
wife trash er mother, jess come ter be-
er borry," he muttered as he fastened
through the falling O ':Dey all
knows de ginerl's way er givin', speshly
on his birthday"
Arrived at his cabin, a cheerful glow
from the fireplace shone upon the snow
without as no opened the door, for he
had left a good fire there not an hour
before. But who was this in deep
black standing on the hearth with
hands meditatively elasped, gazing
into the glowing GOALS?
sDe Lord hab mercy!" calculated
The old butler, after his first searching
glance at the pale, sweet face now di-
vested of %concealing veil. IF hit
amt my Miss Mildred's ghos'-" He
paused, his aged limbs trembling be-
tween dread and eagerness. "But no.
honeyi Hit amt posserble old Cephas
done forget his own little Miss"
GcThis last as the lady sprang forward
and seized the buffers wrinkled hand
in both her own, while the tears ran
down her cheeks.
"No ghost, Uncle Cephas but your
Mildred, sure enough. I have come
back to my old home in sorrow and
trouble, and upon my fathers birth
day. l thought his heart might relent
on this day more, perhaps, than at
another time. Oh, Cephas, Cephas
Will my father know me as his child
once more?"
"He's jess erbliged to, honey. he
can't help hisself!" The old servants
eyes also grew moist as he realized the
pathos of this unexpected return.
"Massy, child! How pale yo' is!
Watts de meanin' er all desc yere black
close! But never min, chile; [ know
Il knowl Some one has been q
dyin-"
eyes," interposed Mildred, in a
vc5ce that trembled, "my husband is
no more. You know he was never very
strong. Worrying and working for
| ulSs uASl6s WIS "Idp h41ICN ILL IL
was so hard for him to make q living
in the great city. Nobody seemed to
want his pictures, and I knew that the
thought of our poverty was doubly
painful to him, when he thought of the
home I had left for his sake. Yet his
love was worth more to me than
! everything else. But after he died ]
was lonely-so very lonely. It seemed
to me then that father must be very
lonely, too. He had my mother until
she died, then he had me. Dear
Uncle Cephas, don't you think my
father ever wishes he had me back
again."
seTo be shore he do. In cou'se he
amt say much, one way er mother.
Dat amt de Ginerl's way. But laws
bless yo', honey, he's materially en-
bleeged ter want yo' backl If he was
to up an say nodes yo' reck'n I'ze
b'Ieeb it? No, sub! He can't getyo'
mother back, kas she's a angel in
Heab'n, if dere evur was one. But
he'll get yo' yet, honey-see if he
don't!"
eff / could think it would be 80. ]
should feel very different. But my
father is proud and unyielding. /
| dare not face him-now. It was fear
-wretched fear that sent me back to
your cabin to wait for you. o, Cephas,
You will be my peacemaker, won't
you?"
"Now yo'ze talkin'! De ginerl, he's
powerful streenyus. He's nightly sot
in his ways, he is. But den-he's got
feelin'sAhe's got feelin's. You is de
very one ter git down to 'em, Miss
Mildred. Yo' set still an let ole Ce-
phas tend ter de ginerl. I'll study up
some plan. He's up ter, de big house
now, eatin' de best dinner in Dinwid-
die Kyounty-if I is de one ter say SO.
Full stommick make a full heart. Fust
news yo' know, my lii gall be 6
hangin' on 'er fathers neck, an
knows, IN reason, bout wat IL hap.
pen den"
The butler drew up his best chais
and made Mildred sit down. Then, as
he stood beside her with finger on lip,
his brow deeply corrugated, he gently
patted her bowed head as he set him
self to "study' out the situation.
eyes yo'self, chile, he said, sooth.
ingIy. after q long pause. Gwen 20
get back yo' strenk, we've slip up tel
de big house an see wat yo' father il
a-doin'. If de ginerl jess know'd wat
me an yo' is a-fxin' up fer him, he'd
be a-shoutin' glory, dis yere very min
ute. Dass my opinion, honey, shores