St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-06-03
collection of diamonds, harmonious, re

collection of diamonds, harmonicas, re-
volvers, watches, flutes, and razors.
When he came out a few minutes later
his derby hat had been replaced by a
broad brim, and his demure black frock
coat by velveteen shooting jacket. He
gave his dropping mustache an upward
twist and grinned namely, and looked
far more like a German tenor out of a job
than the confidential clerk of a reputable
forwarding house.
1t was fall day, sunshiny, brilliant,
| with zest to the air like the tingle of
wine. Hugh took car to the park and
then strolled across toward Sammis
street, in which the Tracey mansion was
situated. There were but few pedes-
TRANS abroad, here and there a maid
| trundling her charge or watching its
play from one of the benches; but Hugh
saw no fluttering CLEAN of little Mary's
golden curls. He reached a clump of
evergreens from which he could espy the
house where she was held. To the left
was grove, and beyond this terrace,
at the foot of which ran the street
through which he had arrived.
On the upper and lower sides of the
grove were broad fields, on which the
school children were permitted to play
croquet and tennis. But now these were
deserted. Indeed, if the park was lonely
mornings, this was its loneliest part !;
hardly sound, hardly a motion, save the
crackle of falling twig or the lazy
curl of smoke from greas piles of burning
leaves.
Hugh found an obscure seat, and draw
ing his hat over his eyes thrust his hands
into his breaches pockets, outstretched
his long legs, seeming to sleep, narrowly
watched.
Presently faxen- haired, robust maid
was busted with the ice at the Tracey's
basement entry, and then Hugh awoke.
What more natural than that a poor
German exile should dare approach and
accost a woman of his race What
more natural than that blue-eyed Mad
chen should chatter at the joyful sound
of her mother tongue2
Oh, yes, she was more than busy.
She could not inger with the much-to-
be-commiserated respectable stranger.
Her mistress was housewife with the
eye of lynx, and her mistress's daughter
had arrived to visit and was quite i'll, and
she must attend on her and the little girl,
besides the many duties of the ordinary
day. A pleasant hour for a stroll with
the child? Indeed it was, and more the
pity. Her mistress would not let her
grandhild out of her sight; did she fear
that she might harm one so innocent?
And the Madchen shrugged her plump
shoulders and hurried into the house as
the whistle resounded and shrill voice
strained the tube.
So Hugh, by circuitous route, re-
turned to his eyric and waited, feeling
rather discourag ed. But by and by the
door of the Tracey mansion opened and
slammed, and short, stout, red-faced
woman, who looked angry with herself
since there was no other suitable antago-
INST present, came down the steps, tightly
grasping child by the hand. A dainty
little girl, with long golden hair and
happy eyes that danced impatient to the
restraint of her grandmother's stride.
She marched up the street as if to bas-
ton. She wheeled at the corner and en-
tered the park by that very path near
which Hugh lay in ambush. and little
Mary skipped blithely by her side like
Cupid attending one of the Fates.
"Deuce take it, muttered Hugh. 81
never shall have q better chance.
There's not a soul in sight. But what
can l do? / can't loosen those bread
hooks short of garroting.'
He withdrew the closer among the
evergreens as the pair approached, and
looked about him in desperation. The
lazy curl of the smoke caught his eye
and suggested wicked design. But
there was success in it, for saint or
shrew, victim or vixen, would surely be
affected alike by such peril. He deftly
wove wisp Of leaves, twigs and grass.
He lighted it. He crert behind the ma
tron and dropped it on her trailing
wooden skirt. In an instant he was by
her side with hands appraised and alarm
protruding eyes.
beg pardon, Ma'am," he shouted,
"but your dress is all abaze."
Now il there was one thing--persons
were out of the running-that the Widow
Tracey feared it was fire. There was
directness about it which she could ap-
preciate. Her lecture on lamps, which
she delivered whenever a new servant |
was engaged, and consequently very
often, would have been potent adver-
Using medium for an electric light COM
pany. And so, as she looked behind her
and saw the smudge, she lost her head |
and found her feet at the same moment.
a thought of the child, she sped |
across the lawn toward her home, sur
prising the air with singular screams.
Hugh stamped on the wisp, which he
had adroitly kicked from the skirt, and
then, raising the terrified little girl in
bis arms, disappeared through the wind
lngs of the grove. A moment later they
we're seated in a down town car, little
Mary contentedly munching her orange
and Hugh holding her hand as carefully,
f not as agressively, as her grandmother
mad.
"You are glad to 60 and see your pa
oa?" said he.
eyes, and my mamma, too"
"And you love your papa?'
"Oh, yes; and my dear mamma
Hugh thought for moment. 1t was
ouching to hear this child speak so con-
idingly of parents who had separated.
Their chickering's had not affected her in
tinct at least; perhaps its purity might
lind what they had loosed.
"That's right, little one" he said, "al-
Ways speak Of your father and mother as
they were united in all things as they
re in your love-"
Little Mary looked at him inquiringly
s if she but half comprehended.
81 love my papa and mamma, bofe of
lem together" she stoutly reiterated.