The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-02-20

hated whether he would better wait
for the train, long over due. or walk
home "aeross lots. The trains on
this onc.horse line were run presum'
ably for the accommodation OF the
public, but as they were invariably
behind time, and ran at snaiPs pace,
Il was an open question whether the
nubl;c in that particular locality were
much better accommodated than they |
had been by the old stagecoach which |
had fallen into disuse when the rail-
roal went through. It had been al
most mystery how tho road ever
came to be built there, and talk OF
djscontinuing the branch had been rife
many times; but old Colonel Hale,
who had some influence with the legls-
latu-e and the railroad company, saw
to it that it ended in talk.
So the road was open, and es the
night was chill and snowy, Milton
decided to wait for the train, which
would take him within IN eighth OF
mile of home, md sat down with what
natience he could muster to wait. "A
half hour passed, and slowly into the
station puffea the belated engine at
tached to the freight and accommoda-
ton. Davis boarded it and sat down
in seat near the door. The compart-
ment vas divided in such q way that
one end was used as sort OF caboose,
where the trainmen were allowed to
wait when not busy, and any passenger
having desire to smoke could crafty
it in that end OF the car.
Milton Davis was one OF the wealth.
lest farmers about Hintonville. in
addition to farming he engaged IN
stock raising. Bookkeeping, and, III
short, anything that promised big re-.
turns for not too large Investments.
All he touched prosperea. His crops
were generally fine, though perhaps
his neichbors' were not worth harvest
ing. Of course he would have told
YOU that this was due neither to luck
nor ill luck, but to simple attention
to business, and he might have added
having the means st hand to pay for
help just at the right time, which
often turned almost failure into sue
cess, But aside from his financial
stability he wos man whom all the
town respected, whose word was as
good as his bond any day, and wht
had filed many Of the Offices IN thf
Gift of his townsmen so accepeeolJ
that the opposing party was generaliy
satisfied ii Milton Davis was elected
end the defeated candidates wer'
solaced by the fact that nothing els'
was to be expected. In church AM
missionary work he shone especially
and more than one obscure countr.
church had been materially helped D.
his checks.
So you will be surprised at what fol
lows as he was when his attention wa
attracted by the voices OF two mon i
The smokers end OF the car, and onl
separated from him by SO thin part
ton that he could distinctly hear ever
word they uttered. He did not motto
what they were saying till his o"
name caught his eur, though ne ha
recognized the voice Of Doctor Crame
an old friend. ,,.
81 should not like to have MI
Dayis's sins on my conscience" sal
Doctor Cramer in half vexed, ha
sor;ous tone. evidently continuing
theme under discussion.
"Why," interrupted his companion
81 was under tho impression
ayes, you were under the lmpre
sion that he had probably as few a1l
to account for as any man we'll cou
haye, being always to the front IN eVe'
good work, and so forth, and SD
nose YOU are right, generally spea
irg but + have Just come from Colosz
where went to consult with Doct
Hill over Walt Davis. wife. She
diving as sure as I an sitting here, 81
lust as surely Milton Davis will be I
sponsible for her death
"Why, ! don't see"
"Of course you don't! But l q
Won know, and that makes all tue e.
ference in the world"
"But what has Davis done that :
ahould accuse him thus harshly?-
ut is what he has not done: he
allowing his sons wife to suffer wh
no has more money than he kno
what to do with in this small place;
"oh, yes, see! You are speak Il
Of Walter Dayis's wife she that was N
tie Eller. Walter did not marry
please his father, l believe: "
exercised his rightful prerosatlve,
married to please himself. ;, You "a az =
did the same, I believe, ola te!le
and would have done so II a o0'
fathers had objected. I"
"But there was something esp
ally repugnant in this affair." was VI u,
not? 1t seems to me J. remen'oe'
have heard SO. =. ~
"Not with the girl herself. no
Eller had brains and beauty emo
to turn the head OF g stronger mlt