The Opelousas courier., 1893-05-27

Marks"
He tucked her shawl about her as he
| spoke with awkward tenderness, and his
| great, brown hand paused in passing to
clasp her slender one, while his lips
twitched TREMENDOUSLY. He was rough
and uncouth, this man whose continual
battle for a living had crowded out all
possible opportunity for self improve
nent out of his narrow, over burdened
lie; uncouth and uncultlvated but
great hearted in the extreme was Abner
Marks.
"It's cost.n' you o great deal, Abner,"
sighed the little woman, YEARLY, ''an'
I'm afraid VIC can't afford it. The Iela.
tives say"
t'Plague take the relatives! I wish
the hull pack on 'em was in Jericho.
They've pestered the life cen a most
out'n you. I've got my opinion tibet it's
more relatives than malaria what's ailin'
Of you"
Richard noticed that this was said in
subdued tones.
can as fer tn cost, don't you &C TO
frettin' erbout tibet, an Spite all the good
effects O. tn Californy climate" HI
continued in a much louder voice. 'tIve
had a hig streak o. luck lately, an CAP
afford a sight more'n your trip I'll cost.
Now say good-by to your folks while ]
give Mile a word O. advice"
He drew Mile to one side where the
little woman could not hear the ''Word
o'advlce" he was about to give her, and
in getting her beyond her mothers vi.
cinity, as well as away from the clamor-
Gus relatives, he paused quite close to the
solitary young man whom fate seemed
to have destined as a receptacle for the
condolences of this family. He could not
have changed his position without at.
tracing considerable attention and oc.
cupying much of the precious time
needed for the farewells.
"Here's the purse with ev'ry dime
could rake an scrape together, artel
buyin' your tickets" he began. "I'l
get some more to you fore this is gone,
an mind you're not to scrimp NAV ez
longs the money holds out, nor let her
know tibet I'm a-sellin' tn garden tools
to exc out, nor thet the red heifer s
sold nor tn white hc.ge-"
mo, no, father; surely you can trust
me-" interrupted Mile, earnestly.
s'Mother shall never know, and if this
trip cures her, we will be too happy to
care for anything else. mean to earn
something to help along with justa as
soon as we get to California" l.
The conductor shouted call aboars.;,"
which in this case meant for those al
ready aboard to leave the train. There
was a hurried handshaking, followedrby
q general scramble for the door, and a
moment later distance had begun to
lengthen out between brave Millie Marks
and her prairie home.
Having had so much of the family his
tory forced upon him, Richard Wake
man regarded the two women in the
next compartment with more interest
than he was accustomed to bestow on
travelling companions.
The girls face was completely hidden
by a thick veil which she now proceeded
to remove. Richard was just a trife
curious to see the face of this girl whose
relatives, with the single exception of
the little sick mother, were such loud
voiced, ungainly creatures. He expected
a slight Improvement perhaps, but not
much.
With an upper movement of her hand
she removed the veil and hat, then
busted herself making her dear invalid
comfortable. Richard came near ex,
claiming with surprise at the sweet, H.
conscious beauty of the fair, iower.like
face looking out from its frame of soft
brown hair. Every curve and outline
of it was as delicately chiseled as he
could hope to behold in the face of a
queen.
The years schooling abroad, which
the relatives so emphatically disap-
proved, had accomplished wonders for
Mile Marks, and Richard Wakeman
dmly comprehended what her later life
among them must have been.
''To a girl like her it must have been a
nightmare of horror" he thought, as she
caressed the little mother, while the
cadences of her sweet, low voice were
waited back to him. II don't wonder
that she wanted to get the mother away
from them, and God helping me they
shall neve go back again. but the way
shall open up for that plebian nobleman
to come to them"
Mile had already spread the evening
lunch for herself and mother when the
train came to a stop at a railway lunch
station, and she was about to go in
quest Of a cup of coffee for her mother
when a courteous voice at her side re-
quested the privilege of doing the Grand
for her.
ssIt will be no trouble at ALL" he said,
ssas / am doing a like Grand for my IN
valid uncle in the next car"
Mile blushed. She had meant to
spend but ten cents, and the pitcher full
would cost much more, she feared.
"You are very kind she said, CRATE
fully, handing him the dish and a dime.
ssJust one cup, please. I do not drink
coffee. Mother takes cream and sugar
in hers
He understood, bowed gravely, and in
a very short time returned with a 'brim-
ming pitcher or delicious coffee, in which
the magic Of money had dissolved the
best of sugar and the richest of cream.
ssThey are very liberal at this station"
he remarked as he handed her the pitcher
AMI fastened away.
and from that time Richard Wake
man appeared regularly at each lunch
80 y -.u.IA-al -LaAo-An Ahnu