The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-12-30

there? No; there were still some aste,
In the garden, and Eva Maria might f.
the vases with bouquets, as she some
times did on Sunday afternoons, settin
them for the nonce on the kitchen mar
tel No. the vases would not do. TIL
ingram carpet was tackled down tight
the-surely there was a step in tn
passage! The CRATE! There, under tn
fringec paper. 1t might lie safely al
night.
He drew his pocket-book from hi
bosom and stuffed it between two ZOOS
bricks at the back Of the CRATE. TIL
pink fringes of the paper concealed il
All was safe. He creaked across tn
passage into the kitchen with a con
seriousness of great meanness in hi
heart. Mrs. Vranklin, having execute,
her terrible intention, had taken fiigh
to her bedroom, where she sat in tn,
cold with q little shawl over he
shoulders, trembling. He said some
thing aloud about seeing Jones abou
those pigs, and fled the house, and tn,
two held no more conversation unit
breakfast time. Then Mr.. Vranklin
with unusual piety, went to church
while his wife stayed at home to cool
dinner, no one else being at hand to dc
il.
lust as the beef was SO far done tina,
she could open the oven doors there
came knock upon the door, and open.
ing it she saw upon the porch her Cous.
In Brown and the minister Church
was out. and Cousin Brown had brought
the reverend gentleman to his friends
to dine. Mrs. Vranklin received both
Hospitality, and FASTENED to usher them
into the parlor. The yellow artcmis-
las shone bravely in the big blue vases.
Mr.. Vrankl;n had been wise not to hide
his money there; but it was cold-very
cold.
"T'll light fire." said the good wom-
an. 1T won't take a minute. It's the
first fire of the season, or I'd have the
CRATE fixed"
She tucked the paper down into the
CRATE, the easiest way to be rid of it.
piled on wood and placed the scutt,e
ready. As che struck the match she
gave little cry, but repressed it in
stantly. The flames blazed up merrily
and roared behind the blower.
When Mr.. Vranklin returned the
blower was down and the two men
were warming their feet at compact
mass of red coal.
He looked at his Eva Maria. Her cold.
composed New England face, with its
high nose and close-cut mouth, BETRAYED
nc emotion.
"She don't know what she has donc!'
he said to himself; hut he did.
Tho ghost of that hundred dollars
stared at him from the embers. He
could not talk, he could not compose
Cousin Brown opined he was
not well. The minister remarked that
in the midst of life we are in DEATH"
and seemed to prophecy his funeral. II
was not a gay dinner. but then it was
Sunday.
That night Mrs Vranklin missed her
spouse from his bed. She went to look
for him, and found him poking in the
ashes of the dead fire with the tongs.
He looked up with very red face.
II don't think these here Goals kin be
good" he said, confusedly.
Ibid you get up in the nigh. to look
at them?" she asked.
He made no answer and returned tc
bed.
Next morning his wife again attacked
him.
Have you thought that matter cver?"
she asked.
Indeed he had, and il had occurred to
him that Providence had prepared
special Judgment for him In destroy
ing that money. He felt that his wife
had spoken the truth. She had right
10 decent clothes-she who had served
him so well for so many years.
1--WE thought it over, Eva Maria, /" he
laid, and arose and went to his desk, q
queer, old-fashioned one built in the
house wall When he returned, he
brought with him blank check.
Get what you like, my dear" he |
aid. land get it nice Fill the check |
Up just as you please"
He had not called her my DEAR for
'ears. She smiled up at him very gen
.ly; tears were near his eyes.
However, she used the check to dress
lerself comfortably. 1t was the first |
inc for many years that she had in
lulged in the luxury of shopping freely. |
At night he met her at the depot,
oaded with parcels, tired but smiling.
lie had not seen her SO bright for many
day.
After tea that night they sat together
eside the stove. as before, and she
ooked at him in peculiar way.
you didn't seem to feel cheerful
unday afternoon, jeremiah" she re-
,arked. "What allied your i
II don't want to tell you," he an
vered.
but I'll tell you," she said. "You
hought burned the pocketbook you
id in the CRATE. didn't"
She put her hand into her work-bas-
ct and drew it out intact, with the
loney in it
II was just in timc," she said "But
understood at once when / saw it
licking between the bricks. II you
admit given me the check, should
ave spent the money. There's con-
ssion for you, Jeremiahr'
He looked at her, half angry, half as
'nished. She arose and came to him,
I'd put her hands ON his shoulders
But / should never have enjoyed
caring them," she said. 81 should
i've hated them, think. These that