The Opelousas courier., 1894-02-24

"No, sir; get Doctor Collins" it
said, decisively. "He's the only Teller
around here that knows the difference
between a toothache and a case of
cholery morbus."
Goodness, Andrew, quit your jok-
ing!" a woman's pleasant voice be-
seeched. 'sTain't no time for jokes.
But you had better get Doctor Collins,
Mr.. Simpson. Andrew, here, put an
other pillow under his head. He's
coming TO-"
MIR. Hinckley felt the breeze pro.
duced by a palm-leaf fan; he smelled
arnica and camphor and ammonia.
He was on a lounge, with his collar
loosened and his face and hands wet.
| A big heavy bearded man stood over
him-Andrew Wilkerson.
eva, you're a master hand, Sary!"
he Observation-Disclosures him round
like that. / don't believe we'll need
Collins when he gets here. Iguess
it's jest a big bump that he'll get over
without"
"Andrews," said his wife, "if you
can't talk any lower, you'll have to so
| out in the kitchen. He amt Jest the
man to have roundanybody that's sick,
Mr.. Hinckley," she said to the sufferer,
"but he means we'll"
Thereupon Andrew gave a loud
laugh.
Mr.. Hinckley raised himself and
leaned on his elbow. He felt i'll at
! ease, disturbed, half angry.
"Andrew sent up for your niece, Mr..
Hinckley," said Mrs. Wilkerson. "We
didn't know just when you could be
moved, and we thought she'd want to
know"
cum! yes. I'm much obliged. I
guess [ can be moved; guess there
amt do bones broke" Mr.. Hinckley
responded. He was cycling Andrew
Wilkerson without warmth. "You've
changed considerable since we knew
each other up in Indiany, hain't you?"
he queried.
sIndiany?" Andrew Wilkerson re-
peated, in hearty tones. sob, yes.
yes, to-be-sure! So've you"
"You're thicker SET"
"Wa1, yes, guessI be. You're hold.
ing your years we'll, MI. Hinckley-
%spltldid."
"Better lay down ag'in, hadn't you?"
said his wife.
IT guess I'm holding my years." MI.
Hinckley rejoined, unmollifed. "I've
got q good straight, honest life behind
me, anyhow. I never done no injury
to no man"
"Course not-course not! said MI.
Wilkerson, in a soothing manner,
which nettled his enforced guest.
GIVE tried to forget that little
transaction we had, Andrew Wilker.
son." said Mr.. Hinckley. "Since
we've been neighbors here I've tried
to forget it. But I can't RELY forget
being cheated out of a hundred and
twenty-one dollars and a half clear
money
"Wa'nt it fifty-one cents?' Mr..
Wilkerson demanded, bursting into a
great roar Of laughter. "See here, 1
wanter know what you're driving at.
I thought you was loony-out of your
head-when you begun, but I see you
amt. What are you trying to get at?
I never see you beforeI came here, in
all my born days. ;
Amt you Andrew Wilkerson. OF
Indiany"
'I'm Andrew Wilkerson, but / amt
Of Indiany, by a long shot! I come
FROM Michigan-always lived Their
ner I amt ashamed of it,"
"Andrew," his wife demonstrated,
ssif you get him excited"
81 amt excited" said Mr.. Hinckley,
lying down, weakly. Il felt, minute
I laid eyes on you, that I'd ben max
ing a mistake all this time. I've got
considerable to apologize for, Mr..
Wilkerson. 1 amt ever had a good
square look at you before, and I
thought the hull time you was a Teller
that want much better n an a.
"Coyote," said Mr.. Wilkerson.
oval, seeing I amt that Teller, I amt
going to worry about it. Ner you
needn't apologize none. IfI'd thought
a Teller d clean me out of a hundred
and twenty dollars and fifty-one cents
want it'd ben mad. Wal, now,
We hain't ben very neighborly, but l
kind O. think your gal and my boy We
made up for it pretty much"
"Andrew !" said Mrs. Wilkerson.
But a sudden rush and futter of a
blue gown and incoherent little MUIR
murjngs interrupted the talk.
Jean bent over her uncle, her arms
around him.
ooh, pappy," she cried, "you amt
killed? Oh, pappy, I was scared to
death when Wilbur come and told
mel"
stTold you I guessed he want hurt
MUCH" said . tall young man behind
her. 9
Upon this young man Mr.. Hinck-
ley's eyes were fixed. He was a fine
looking fellow, and Jean had called
him Wilbur.
Mr.. Hinckley felt that some expla-
nation was due him from somebody,
but he made his own explanation first.
JEAN" he said, che amt the man.
He amt from Indiany, Jean. I've
wronged him."
ooh, pappy!" Jean sobbed. "Nor
| hain't done right by you. I've
known Wilbur almost ever since he's
been here. We got acquainted at the
Fisk girls dance. and we've seen each
other lots since, and-and, pappy-"
"And we're going to get married be-
fore next spring, ! reckon said Will
bur, with a flush of pride and content.