The Opelousas courier., 1896-12-19

fered her. Then she walked on, onl,
pausing to looking through tn
brilliantly lighted show windows a
the rich furs.
For some moments she stood, then
drawing her old shawl closer, hurried
on. Over the bridge she passed ant
up the dark street, entering one of tn
houses in a long row of tenements.
The great bare room, dimly Lighted
by a lamp; the rusty stove, and the
fumes of oil struck the girl unpleas
antly as she threw open the door. By
the window sat a man busily mendiue
an old violin, while near him was :
bench strewn with tools.
"Here, father" she said, coming
yer and throwing some pennies OF
the bench; IL stayed out until I was
chilled through, and that is all I could
get"
"You hussy! It's because you won't
work that you can't get. You're as
lazy and proud as your mother was
she'd rather freeze to death than ask 9
penny"
The girl stood by the stove, with
one foot resting on the fender. /,
was her apparent Indifference that
reused the anger of the man. He
spread the money in his palm and
counted it.
"Twenty cents, you lazy good-for.
nothing. How are we going to pay
the rent with that?"
The girl neither answered ror
showed that she had heard. When
she had partly dried her feet she went
to the cupboard, and, bringing some
brown bread and cheese, sat them on
the table. She then wheeled her
fathers chair to the btard, and sat
down to tie cherries supper. She
broke off bits of bread, and ate as
though unconscious of what she was
doing.
"You'd be glad enough to see your
father turned out, wouldn't you? Rent
coming due, and nothing. to pay it
with" Hewaited for a reply, but the
girl had nothing to say.
"Three days more, then nothing to
do but freeze and starye to death" he
continued, watching closely to see the
effect. The face opposite remained
unchanged.
"say, SAL" here the surly tone
changed into q coaxing whine, "Bill
Bradden was around to-day again, and
he says he'd be willing and glad to
marry you. Now, Bradden's got
money enough to take us both in, and
q good home for your poor old"
Tho dark eyes slowly raised to his
great. glowing eyes, burning with
rage and scorn.
"I'd starve before I would marry
that Bill Bradden. I'd rather starye,
than live out this-this-
what is called life."
"We'l see, my girl" was the re.
ply, spoken 80 quickly as to sound
ominous. you'll marry Bill Brad
den, or you'll leave home"
"Home!" and the girl laughed a
little laugh.
Nothing in the determined express
sion Of the girl betrayed the agitation
in her mind as she quietly rose and
cleared away the dishes, piling the
crusts and bits Of cheese in the bowl
for their breakfast. %Suddenlye figure
the window. In an instant the
girl had sprung to the door and holt.
ed it.
A loud rap sounded. She went on
putting aws.- the supper things. The
vigorous pounding continued.
"Sall Let me in"
She did not answer, but slowly LIGHT
cd the candle, and, passing the win.
dow at which the man stood peerine
in, went up stairs. She listened at the
pipe hole and heard her father open
The door to admit the visitor.
"That girl of yours is a rare n
Fhe minute she sees me coming she
and bolts the door in my face. It
look very encouraging, Ell.
Gust you have patience, Bradden.
The girls got to have some OF the
'tubbornness knocked out Of her,
hats all. But say, old fellow, about
he cash. It's agreed and written
Town in black and white that You are
Q hand it over the night you marry
lei?
That's . bargain. The girls a
'rize and I'm willing to pay well for
ler. Clip her wings, Garrick, that,it
Tlll be straight sailing.n
LET me see-this is the 10Th,
three days more and then Saw.
sraddeD, what do You say to doing
ne thing mp tomorrow night? She'll
g Just as willing then as she would be
year from now. Shall We 60 ahead? 2"
Then they laughed together and
hook banda. Sal strained her sars,