The Bossier banner., 1894-11-22
"ME M MAZE"
The Two Found a Resting Place
Toge ther at Last.

"Mebby you don't take dorgs here,
anyway"
The woman was holding the door so
that her figure might just fill the
opening and as she had very thin
figure the door had an inhospitable ap-
pearance. Before she gave any an
swer she craned her head forward and
examined space for few yards about
the man.
Il don't see no dcrg," she remar ked.
80, you can't see him, he's out to the
corner of the house, settin' down. l
told him to Sc down n wait for me-"
Having said this. the man adjusted
his crutches so that he might rest on
them more comfortably while he
waited. He was used to waiting.
He was watching the womans face.
She had pressed her thin lips together
while she was considering, and when
Mrs. Darte's lips were pressed to-
gether it was as if she had only sort
of cut in her face through which
she might take her food.
81 don't expect we're called upon to
support no dorgs," she said, at last;
1.-THE town don't provide nothin' for
dorgs, anyway. Besides" here she
paused, but added, almost Immediate
ly-"our cats dretful 'fraid of dorgs.
She brustles all up horrid. She'd like
ly S not run away, N | d. know what
we should do. She's reg'lar ratter,
n the rats we hev here are jest be-
yond words. / don't see why the town
don't do sumthin' bout 'em. | tell
Abram if he tended to things S he'd
say sumthin bout them rats to town
meetin'. l tell him wish the select
men could see our hog pail most any
time when it's settin out there by the
pen. It's jest sight with them rats
tails in ring right round the top of
it, n they with their heads down in
the swill."
This seemed irrelevant, but the man
did not interrupt. His faded old blue
eyes were fixed on the woman's face.
Somehow those eyes made her uneasy.
She wished they were not SO mild and
SO gentle
When she stopped speaking he said
that he knew "some folks didn't like
hotSos they "cEG dIId1o tucy Il run
mad in the summer cause twas hot,
n in the winter cause twas cold.
But amt 'fraid to risk that" he con-
cluded
There was silence for moment dur
ing which Baltimore oriole in the
cherry tree close by fiuted ont his song
and then flew off, making swift line
OF brilliant color as he went. The old
man turned and gazed after the fly
ing beauty. He smiled slightly as he
gazed.
''Them birds are lot of company for
me this time of year." he said. Il
guess they've built up in the top
branch-though mostly they like ell
lums for their nests.
AS ne still continued to stand there
Mrs. Darte could not quite make up
her mind to shut the door on him.
Presently he turned toward her again.
This is the almshouse where
blong," he began, hesitatingly. I'm
towned here, anyway, n I've bout
made up my mind I can't take care of
myself no more. I'm gittin' old.''
Mrs Darte just now heard kissing
sound that told her the dried apple
stewing on the kitchen stove was boil
ing over. She felt sure that the half
witted pauper inmate that she had
left to watch would spill the apple
when she tried to move the kettle
back.
But here was old Lemmy Little, who
didn't seem to know enough to go
away. Of course they couldn't take
his dog. 1t was ridiculous, just like
him to think they could. And her
mother had always said that good
sized dog cost as much to keep as e
pig. She told herself that she hadn't
any right to use the towns money to
provide for a useless animal like that.
u don't see how / can, no way" she
said.
Il tell you what" exclaimed Mr..
Little, Frightening, ''you jest come
ontn see Maize, n p'r'aps you'll change
your mind. Hes such a good feller.
lou can't help Ekin him, nobody
can't"
guess I've seen him." was the re-
sponse, the speaker showing no enthu-
s'asm at the prospect of making ac-
quaintance with Maize. I've seen him
goin' along with you"
But on must come out'-the old
eyes were still bright-''n' speak to
nm. He's the best feller you ever seen.
Nny'-here the stubbly, weak chin
saivered slightly-''I amt ben 'thout
MIN day nor nipi{t for ten vear N, ten
ssar I ago this spring he was a pup.
laey was goin' ter drown him. l saved
- hfe. / got him way from them
sHo eusses of boys took off the rope