The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-09-04
LAKE PROVIDENCE, PARISH SATURDAY, SCI
Jean had no wish, either, to break the


aye ken this Is the second time your
obstinacy has come in the way" said
John, finally.
81 mind" said Jean, briefly. "But I
didna mean We to TAX it as We did yon
time" she responded.
Il didna ken,' replied John.
1t struck neither of them that there
was any pathos in the sentence-a
pathos of ten years mistaken silence.
"Are We sure We mean 1t noo?" he
asked, getting up.
81 certainly dae," said Jean, firmly.
''Then gude-by, JEAN"
"Gude-by."
The instant the door was shut Jean
almost strangled Thrift with kisses.
Unfortunately the practical things
could not be settled so summarily.
Jean had given up her house and she
found it was let to the new dress
maker. She was not accustomed to
complications in her life. Alternatives
seemed to crop up. and they worried
her. At the same time Thrift was her
one object. Everything was directed
to this aim.
After some few weeks she got tum-
bledown little cottage about q mile
from the straggly village. 1t proved
too far, or the chang" of the new dress.
makers skirts proved too much for
Jeans old customers. Work and pay
became scant. The little dressmaker
bore up proudly and bravely. She
stinted and starved herself, but Thrift
grew and f1ourished. There doomed be-
fore her always a fear of the charity"
where her boy might be taught-and no
one knew at what expense Of unkind-
ness.
If the worst came to the worst, she
would ask John Forbes to get him in,
and she would become servant. One
wintry evening the child was fretful
and ailing. A knock came to the door
and John Forbes entered. He did not
appear to notice the extreme poverty Of
the cottage, nor the miserable attempt
at fire. This fact brought rush Of
gratitude to jeans heart. 1t was to see
if these things were as bad as report
said, that he had come.
He took Thrift upon his knee and he
talked occasionally to Jean.
"Can 1 dae onything for ye?" he said
suddenly. "For the boy, We ken"
A little flush came in jeans cheeks.
She faltered her thanks.
No idea that she might work on her
old lovers pity crossed her mind. She
began timidly asking him If he could
manage to send Thrift to the home he
had mentioned.
"Why, moo. when We were so set
against it?' asked John, with severi-
ty that was not reassuring.
cts circumstances" said Jean, brief,
~.
She felt that she would rather die
than let John Forbes know there was
nothing to eat In the house and no mon
ey. She would have risked everything
but for the fear of Thrift falling Ill.
"Weel," said John, slowly, "I'll see
ABBOTT 1t. But hoo wull We pay me,
Jean"
The little dressmaker drew herself
UP.
"There'll be no fear O. that, John
Forbes"
"But We hivna teIl't me in fat wye,
Jean%
I'm honest money by honest wark."
The pink flush had deepenod into
deep crimson on her cheek.
"But dinna want your money, and
as for wark, suppose you come and
wark for me-"
INA, na," said Jean, Involuntary.
She had had her chance of being mis-
tress at the farm. She could not stoop
to work for another, as she supposed he
meant.
"Weel, come wi'oot doing ony wark."
Jean looked at him in utter bewilder:
ment.
"The difference atween us lay In
Thrift. If he gaes AVA there's naeth-
ing nede hinder your coming to the
farm"
II didna expec' ye'd think 1 meant
you," said the little woman. She was
thoroughly hurt. "I'll thank We a. the
udyS my iilc IL yS VI NdC LUZ I'LL l,
but I'm no seeking to be behoIden to
you for myself"
"Ye'll be gey lonely wi'oot Thrift"
SAY"
Jean nearly smiled because she was
so near to tears at the thought.
"I'll be lonely at the farm"
aye can MARRY" said Jean.
She suddenly felt that she had cut
herself off from every possibility by
her suggestion. She had done it for
Thrift all along; she would have mar
ried him for Thrills sake, she gave him
up for Thrills sake. Now Thrift. by
her own act was to go away from her.
And John Forbes was nothing to her.
The unexpected touch of kindness had
brought a rush Of sympathy to her
heart. She did not know it, but it had
broken down the barrier that her love
for Thrift had built up round her WON.
ans heart.
"Ay," answered John Forbes, slowly.
"But We maun ask me this time, JEAN"
'Oh, couldna," faltered Jean.
She felt confused and trembling. She
looked down.
'And Wilma, nae third time"
I'm no fit to be Teddy, noo," she
murmured.
Then she looked up. john saw in her
eyes look he had not seen for more