The Opelousas courier., 1893-03-04


a sad accident had happened. A large
stone had been lifted to the surface of
the ground and left for removal. He
had forgotten all about it, and hence a
serious loss of time right in the Busy
season.
It took several days to obtain repairs,
and in the meantime the rain came on
apace, 1eveTlIng the wheat tothe ground
and causing great damage. Luke be-
came gloomy, and Sarah could not help
speaking regretfully Of the loss her hus-
bands forgetfulness had incurred.
Everything was propltaous for a
quarrel and the quarrel came. Mutual
determinations became frequent and
seldom did a day pass without ualovab!e
scenes between the two Marpods. The
neighbors began to make comments.
Gossips took occasion to condole wish
Mrs. Msrpod respecting the unreason-
ableness Of her spouse, and, seeing her
take their sympathy kindly, grew bold
enough to betray all the rash things
Luke had been guilty of prior to his
marriage, acts which ought to have been
buried long before in the graveyard of
oblivion, SO extremely remote was their
connection with the present.
Poor Mrs. Marpodl She took them
to heart and at the next opportunity
hurled them at the head of the aston.
ished Luke. He owned up to every
thing, not even trying to soften his
wife's too serious Interpretation of his
escapades, as he might easily have done,
for the sinfulness was more against con
ventionalism than morals. He was in
no mood to extenuate, and declared
coldly that he didn't scare a cent about
it" and that he "would do the SAINT
thing over again for all Of meddling
neighbors and ill-natured wife," Life
gradually lost it charms for the Marpods.
Through perpetual clouds and storms
they pursued their gloomy pathway to
the grave.
Sarah had begun to think seriously of
preferring charges against Luke for
cruelty and praying for a divorce, when
an event happeued that Temporarily dis
missed the idea from her mind and made
Luke more solicitous and tender. A lit
tie girl was born to them, and because
it was in the spring time of the year taey
named her Flora. She came like a ray
of sunshine to brighten the hearts of the
parents and sheR them their dependence
on each other for happiness, but by the
time Flora was able TO toddle around By
herself and lisp the anne of papa and
mamma the parents had resumed their
old fault finding habits, and having once
resumed them they were not ldag in re-
gaining their former facility infNhe use OF
sarcasm and taunts.
Luke in the first place found fault
with the mothers method of nursing and
declared it a miracle if FlorIdid not
prove a weak, slckly child. He was sure.
that SO much fussing would engender a
frail constitution, yet as she grew older
she seemed as strong and robust as a
child ever is that breathes pure, country
air.
On the other hand, Mrs. Marpod de.
clared that Luke's example was enough
to contaminate the family, and that seeds
sown in SO young a mind would some
day bring sorrow upon their heads.
"Mercy OF me, manl' she would
shout, stdcn't touch that child with
those dirty hands of yours. If you don't
know how to be civilized, you had bet
ter not try to bring up children"
One day, after a quarrel had been
brewing between the parents for some
time, they came to AM understanding that
something must be done at once. They
seemed tacitly to agree thatthe time had
come for them to separate forever. Dis.
~passionately they sat down to discuss
terms, and to an outside party all eyi.
dence of ill-temper had passed away.
There was no question as to the di-
vision of property. Luke was willing TO
do more than Sarah wished, but regard
ing little Flora both were keenly sensi.
tive. After discussing the matter TO,
ONE time they agreed to hitch up the
team and drive to town to see, Lawyer
Hobbies.
Not wishing to 60 before a court, they
decided that Mr.. Hobbies should draw
up all necessary papers and arbitrate as
to the possession of the child. By this
decision they were willing to abide. So,
with Flora on the seat between them,
they drove to town.
In sad and faltering accents they told
Mr.. Hobbies how matters stood. Ml.
Hobbies, a benignane gentleman, with
long, white locks that had never been
put to shame by q single mean act IN all
his life. and who's heart was as tender as
a child's, tried to remonstrate, but both
Luke and Sarah were sure that the old
life would be revived and that it would
be better to separate kindly; and In this
they stood firm; so Mr.. Hobbies, much
troubled, entered upon the business
Little Flora listened with open.eyed
wonder throughout the discussion.
At last she seemed to comprehend, and
the tears coming to her eyes, she toddled
to her father, and grasping his coat in
her tiny hands, llsped plaintiyely: II
want to stay wiv 90, papa and then
turning, she ran, and burying her face
in her mothers lap she sobbed out: 81
luz 90 and want to stay Wiv co."
Mrs. Marpod's eyes swan with tears,
Luke's lips worked convulsively, and
Lawyer Hobbies brushed something from
his eyes.
Raising her head, she laid her face
against her mothers cheek AMI MUIR
INJURED: 81 luz oof Dol, I want to liv viz
90 bof.n
The long silence that followed was
broken suddenly By Lawyer Hobbies.