The Opelousas courier., 1894-05-05

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gent fire; all along the western sky
the evergreens tossed to and fro
against an orange background, and
the air was full of the faint, sweet
perfume of dead leaves. And Clara,
nesting close to her fathers side, re-
membered the days of her childhood
when she went nutting on Barrack
Mountain amid just such sweet scents
as this.
cit is cold," assented Clara, her
blue eyes inteEtly fixed on the evening
star.
The deacon was grim And hard
featured, with a nose that reminded
one of Cape Cod on the map, and a
complexion like a badly-tanned piece
of leather.
Clara was plump and pretty. with
skin like a rose-leaf, long-lashed eyes,
and a dimple which no one had ever
been able exactly to locate.
Clara might grow old one of these
days, but she never would grow into
the pattern of the deacon's old age.
"Hey!" said the deacon. "What's
that air in your lap, Clara? A band
box? I didn't buy nothin' that
would likely be packed in a bandbox."
mo, ] know you didn't" said Clara,
q blue CLEAN of mischief coming into
her eyes. cts a bonnet for mother.
There's the surprise party, you know,
at the parsonage tonight, and I'm
going to trim up something decent
for her to wear"
bonnetr" The deacon jerked
the reins in a way that had nearly
collided Old Dick with the churchyard
wall. "Ain't your mother got a bon
net? It does seem, Clara, as if money
burned a hole in you young folkses
pocket"
The soft pink on Clara's cheek had
changed into deep rose by this time.
SCOT a bonnet? Of curse she's
got a bonnet!" retorted she. 'The
same she's had for five years, until
I'm sick of the brown satin bows and
the black peoples on it. Mothers q
real pretty old lady, father, or she
would be, il you'd give her a chance"
"And who's to pay for all this
fnery" demanded the deacon, after
an ominous silence.
s'It isn't finery. father, It's only bare
decency. And I'm going to pay for
it," said Clara.
"Humph" grunted the deacon.
st1'm glad you feel SO rich. I don't.
Get up, Dick, or I'll let you know I'm
here, ye lazy, idle creetur'."
"The bonnet was only fifty cents
q real good straw" pleaded Clara.
"And the ribbon was a qu.fter, and
I'm going to trim it myself with some
purple asters off my last springs hat.
/ couldn't let mother go to the sur.
prise party with that horrid old brown
thing!"
"Humph!" again uttered the deacon,
who had by this time urged Dick into
q spasmodic canter. ri don't myself
see no occasion for goin' gallivantin'
around TO surprise parties-the hull
kit an Doodle Of us, I mean! OF
course folks expect to see me there,
bein's I'm a deacon"
"And everything else will be there"
quickly retorted Clara, tsand I don't
mean mother shall stay at home. She
gets so few chances to see anything or
anybody! There! you tipped over
the vinegar ing, father, with Dick can
tering in that absurd fashion. Iknew
something would happen!"
whoa, Dick-whoal !" bawled the
old man. ether amt nothin' broke,
/ didn't realize we was goin'
30 fast, an the roads is froze pretty
You see, I'd calkilated to carry
Q nice bag o dried apples for my
an if your mother goes"
Clara shrugged her shoulders.
II dare say we can find something
for mother to carry" said she, steven
if it's no more than one of her deli /
pumpkin pies or a loaf of GIN
gerbread. I shall take q ten-dollar +
gold piece. Ny salary wat paid last
week, and / shall never forget how
good Parson Potter used to be when I |
was q child"
Ten dollars!" echoed the deacon.
I'm money!" Be my Ears a-deceivin'
Of me?"
Eyes, ten dollars-and in money.
It's my own, isn't it, to spend or keep,
as ! please?"
sIt's a downright fingin' away OF
money!" gasped the deacon. tTen
dollars! Is the gal crazyl Why, ]
declare to goodness, it's enough to
make a mans hair stand on endi"
"Here we are!" cried Clara, joy
onsly springing over the wheel. "And
The freight shining out into the road. !