The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

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the best home in the world"
The hand lying in his moved slightly.
but she made him no other answer.
Then silence fell on them again, and
his eyes still rested on the old gray
house; but hers were fixed on the val
ley below. The day grew more dim
and the land was all hushed and peace
full, except for a beetles quick whirr
as it hurried along to its home, and the
call OF a farm boy rising up from the
rick yard as he finished his evenings
work. Then at length he spoke again,
and his voice was still low and pleading
as he spoke of that day long ago, the
day she had come to his home. He
minded" the song she had hummed.
the words she had spoken. And once
a futtering sigh escaped her lips, but
her lids did not culver above her wide
eyes.
"An' then" he went on, and his voice
sank lower, and it was even as though
he spoke to himself, "the sun went
down, an the daytime was over; an we
climbed-you an me-up the field path
to this bench. An here we sat in the
dimsy; an you was wearin' a little
white frock with bassomy roses upon
it, an byme'bye. when the dew fell,
the frcck grew all heavy with damp
ness, an I-ali laughing-chid YOU
sharply for bein' a careless wife. An
then-how well I can mind it-you
turned your dear face round to me-all
sober an solemn-an' you said, just as
if twas a prayer you was sayin': Hus-
band, I was fearful of the new life be-
fore me, being but young and over
thoughtless; but 1 want it to be better
for you-havin' me with you. Iwantto
make you happier, am 1 want never to
do nor to say n thing to hurt or to
veH you--till l die Poor little Patty
how well / can mind it-nigh upon 60
years-an'-"
His voice broke, and the next words
would not come. She stirred Slightly
and shivered. then leaned closer to him.
And then at last she lifted her eyes
from the valley to the sky where the
stars were appearing; and then her
lids quivered and narrowed; and he saw
there were tears on her cheek.
Patty, wife," he mUrmured, "mind
the old days for my sake. Mind him,
too, as tbs best. Mind him lynn all saucv
and strong in his cradle, as we stood by
him, you an me-, and laughed at his
baby ways. How he waved up his bragg
garty arms to reach us, an grabbed at
our fingers to raise him, an cuddled
his face on our shoulders when he got
his own way in the end"
%AD' UhaO ha foil III 4bo4 Ca c.-s--
time, how we watched, an we hoped
an we prayed for him; an he battled
way back, just a shadow; an laughed
hisself into all hearts. An i can mind
that when night came, for many hn'
many a year after, you would start from
your sleep with a cry an wonder if all
was well. An hen l would creep to
his bedside, an shadin' the light would
look down pom his face, all lynn so
quiet an so rosy; an would bring back
the word, just to soothe you: '"Tis
right, he's sleepin' WE'LL"
Against his own heart he could now
feel her sobs; on his hand he could feel
hot tears falling; but this weight at the
heart was easier to bear, and the tears
made the handclasp firmer.
And the stars shone out, and the
moon rose high, and no more words
were spoken. The scent of the clover,
all heavy with dew, YVES sweet on the
cool night breezes. From the farm be.
low CHEEKY lights shot forth and then
CLEANED bright and steady; and the
slow rub of a chain from the cow
house now and again broke the still
ness. Time was UNDECIDED by the
mourners now; it was good to rest
just rest and be silent.
By and by her sobs were spent, blu.
she did not raise her head from his
shoulder; for a week she had held it
high and stern, and now it was raising
to bend it.. So he drew her shawl closer
about her; he stroked her heavy,
loosened hair and gently fingered the
soft curls which straye,l about her ear.
And a great tiredness that was even
peace fell upon her heart; and after
awhile she slept.
Peter Penruddock's rlouth had been
shaped by cheerful words, and now he
must abide by it; there must be no
further Strengthening of the upward
curves, for his cheerful words were still
needed. The world did not die withthe
death OF a son, and live worlds seldom
love innovation.
So Peter sat with his face to the stars,
and schooled his tongue to the shape
of comfort. And the great moon was
SO placid, the stars were so radiant, the
gray sky stretched so vast, and life
shrank so belittled that it did not seem
hard to smile over earth's pains, and
think of the childless years-as but mos
ments. But when at length he turned
his eyes downwards, and faced the still
spot lying stepped in the valley below,
for awhile his heart fninted with the
force of his anguish which fought with
the power of his peace.
Then up through the still air came the
chime of the tall clock striking its hour
in the stone hall below, and it entered
the dreams of the Sleeping mother and
warned her back to The world; and
suddenly she uttered a warming cry,
and raised her head and opened her
eyes.
It was the erv he kDavy CO wall an1