The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-07-28

tz%9 owy 'l
INlllllIA "a \Wlli" the Author.1
MNlllNNDH/N1 \1fENNY kissed me
WMNlNND ~ q when we met,
WN"l0N - Jumping from the
II VIA chair she sat in, |
<~J EMO lN Time you thief who |
wv love to get
Sweets-into your |
list put that in.
Say I'm weary, say I'm sad,
Say that health and wealth have missed mo-
Say I'm growing old, but add
Jenny kissed me.
Leigh Hunt)
"Win you kindly bring in log, Mrs.
Dawson, and then you may go. shall
not require anything more tonight"
Every well, sir. I'll put the kettle
on the hob for you; you may like to
have little something hot later on
and always think a kettle is such
company"
A grunt was the only response to
this well-meant offer, as Mrs. Dawson,
charwoman and caretaker, went out OF
the room.
"Confound that woman's incessant
chatter; thank goodness l shall be
left in peace for the next few hours at
least"
The speaker, a cross-looking, hard
featured old man, settled himself to
the best of his ability among his pill
lows, for he was an invalid, but
somehow the pillows would not
take the curve he wanted. and
at last, breathless and exhaust
ed, he sank back and closed his eyes,
giving up the attempt A look OF
intense WEAKNESS came over his thin
old face, and l think his worst enemy
would have felt some pity for him
now, old, i'll and alone, with no one to
care whether he were alive or dead.
His loneliness was indeed pitiable.
Presently he turned his head towards
the Pickering freight. and had any
one been there to see, they
would have noticed something glisten-
ing in the old mans eyes suspiciously
| like tears, but, as said before he was
alone, so no one brushed those tears
away from his eyes, or tried to turn
his thoughts into brighter channel.
The fire burnt on fitfully, casting
weird shadows on the furniture of the
room, handsome old-fashioned furni-
ture, that told you the owner was by
no means poor man. In fact, there
was everything in the room that told
| of wealth, but comfort and LONELINESS
were wanting. The magic touch OF a
loving woman's hand might have
| worked wonders, but then she also was
wanting.
The old-fashioned black ebony clock
ticking solemnly was the only sound
that broke the stiffness. Occasionally
a red-hot coal fell with dull thud in
to the fender, and then the fire would
burn up brightly for a moment or two
bringing the white face and the white
hands of the occupant of the bed into
high relief against the dark shadows
thrown by the heavy moreen curtains
of the old-fashioned four-post bed
stead. BY and by, as the kettle begar
to sing in soft and soothing way
the WEAKNESS of the face relaxed, as
the eyes closed, and the old man fell
asleep, and judging from the trans
formation of his face his dreams mus
have been happy ones.
| "Dandy-boy, be quiet, you naught,
little dog, or you'll wake up my poo
old conference.-the with soft ad
monishing pat on the head OF re
markably Misunderstanding fox ter
rier pup. The voice came from tn
doorway, where stood quaint LITTLE
1 t., crH nm wi
good portion of the LITTLE white night
gown, was the puppy addressed. Peep
ing cautiously round, the little figur
advanced few steps into the room
looking all the time at the bed, an
clutching at the puppy for confidence
until that long-suffering animal pro
tested with a squeak, only to be agai
gently patted on the head and told t
keep quiet. Still fixing her eyes o
', the bed, the little girl climbed up int
the big leather armchair, in front {
the fire. and smoothing her nigh
; gown over her knees she deposited tn
puppy, who first shook himself well o
finding he was released from h
previous suffocating position, and the
.. curled himself up with long draw
out sigh that would have done justie
to the most blase and ancient do;
! What quaint little couple they wer
this baby girl and puppy dog.
The former with her little pink to-
: protruding from under the hem of h
nightgown, her curly hair as it caugl
: the light of the fire, glittering with
!. bright coppery gold, the big mischie
: Gus brown eyes looking SO serious. al
:. the sweet little mouth and dimplt
!. chin, sat with most determined e
preston that gave curious dignity
: the quaint little figure. The pupI
dog, on the other hand, with one e;
: pricked, his head resting forward {
: his paws, and the eye that was n
closed looking SHARPLY round the ROOF
= on the lookout for mischief or rats.
After looking steadily at the occ