St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1894-02-10

>. There, woman, take the suuall;r
y little thing to bed" he said, 'tand j,
'e us have some peace in the room" Ar
n all knew that as far as Isaac Eyesha,
was concerned the fate of the baby ws
sealed.
Hall an hour afterwards Mr.
Evesham had to brace herself for
tete tste with her disagreeable rel,
tive, an ordeal she dreaded bevon
measure, notwithstanding the encou,
agement her children managed to whis
per in her ear under plea of bidding he
good night.
BE firm, mother dear, and don't giy
way to him." Alice said.
81 shall cry my eyes out If Won 1e
MIN send Wanda away" sighed Kate.
Hang on to the baby, ma, !" ilnplore,
Harry.
AS these suggestions were in accord
ance with the promptings of her owl
kind heart, she had not much need t.
hesitate concerning which course she
would take.
| To her surprise the enemy opened
| the battery with mild salute.
eve must make radical change iu
your affairs, Esther" he said grimly,
but not without certain tone oi
kindness in his voice. ''Now that this
lodging-house business has proved such
a deplorable failure, we must look for
something else for you to do"
81 hardly think you can call 1t a fail
ure as yet" the widow demonstrated:
Il have been here only few months
! and am getting"
"Into police courts and newspapers.
No, you must come to Buffalo-and
talk the matter over with Mrs. e. and
Jane" He had nearly committed him
self to undertaking the charge Of their
support, but as he afterwards said his
good angel stepped in at the right
moment and whispered discretion.
Now, with regard to this little girl,
Esther-had not better see the ma
tron OF the Home of the Friendless and
us to take her there in the morning?
Your children are SO obtrusively emo
tional, and"
"You need not put yourself to any
trouble about Wanda, Isaac"
''Oh, no trouble. I've put my hand
to the plow and don't mean to turn
back.''
''But have not quite made up my
mind what to do with the child"
'tYou don't mean to say that you are
going to keep herl''
Yes Mrs. Evesham replied bravely,
II believe am"
"Then all ] can say, Esther, is, that
you are mad, and | do not mean to
waste any time over person devoid of
common sense. What excuse have yon
for such an act of folly?''
The child is motherless. friendless,
homeless" Mrs. Evesham pleaded.
And there are in this city of New York
hundred thousand in the same condi- |
ton. Is that any reason for you to
turn your house into founding hospi-
tal?"
That awful fact does not absolve
me from rescuing this one wee lamb |
from the storm - .5g
Zone wee lamb, indeed!'' Mr.. Eve |
sham calculated, purple with indigna-
ton; its all very well to talk now that
she is baby, but what viii you do
when your one wee lamb grows old T
enough to go to school and wear dresses?
You'll find your one wee lamb the
dearest piece OF mutton you ever
bought In your life. See here, Esther,
you know you have not the means Of
clothing your own children without
extraneous help"
'Are you alluding TO the box Of cast
off raiment you brought with you yes
terday, Isaac?"
She was at bay now and her eyes
flashed with unwonted fire.
What If amp" he asked, doggedly.
''Only this. That you can take the
things back with you to Buffalo. was
not too proud to accept them and should
have found them useful, but your coarse
1llusion to my need gives too strong a
1avor OF charity to your generosity.
You may have paupers in your own city
much more worthy of your bounty"
Hundreds! haven't doubt of it,
Mr. Evesham assented, utterly uncon-
'cious of the sarcasm. "But that. is
neither here nor there. The question
$, what are you going to do with this
deserted child? Let me state my propo-
ition before you decide. If you choose
o behave in sensible manner and
'laee her In charge of the city author
ties, / will continue to give you my
and assistance, to aid you
n clothing and educating your chill
rem, and, perhaps, to find q career for
our son when he is old enough to go
ut into the world; bat II you obsti- l
ately persist In encumbering yourself
nth her support, shall decline. in the
anne of myself and family, ever again !
, hold communication with you. It is
choice between the brat and ME!''
He made the 'smen impressively en- =
hattie, as though In his opinion she had 9
o alternative. Z
The widow was very pale. Even the
lapping of this. s.sslender link which 9
ound her to helo husbands kin hurt 2
er keenly. but 81 brayely raised her
ig, brown eyes, wet with tears, and =
lid: r
I think, Isaac. shall keep the
aby." G;
An angry retort rose to the lumber Il
ans lips but ere he could speak he d