The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-04-23

HS36oS5SS5oSIaSIS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Fling said. He had studied to be
civil engineer, but land! what did it
amount to? Mary Jane was Of the silly
kind that thought they were in love; but
when she was Mrs. Silas Lufkin, with
velvet carpet and parlor organ, she
would be happy enough.
The storekeeper was widower with
two sons; but then, Mary Jane was
getting on; she would be twenty-seven
her next birthday, and Lyman Bee
! was beginning to be called "an old
bach"
Lyman Bee had disappeared with
his best clothes on, and not to soul
in Enfield Lad he contided his destina-
ton. Mrs. Fling went across the field
to Mrs. Deacon Judd's, after supper,
to see whether she could learn any
further particulars--Deacon Judd was
the po:tmaster--but only learned that
Lyman had been seen crossing the toll
bridge, the highway to Carmel, and in
his top ,lpggyXSis seemed to point
towards Vharlisa1 gEers end matri-
mony-as was cl6Nly saosll:to Mary
Jane by her metheE- Mary Jane said
Ito herself that she had perfect faith in
hyman, and yet she could not sleep
ifthat night. She almost repented that
\ she had not, long ago, agreed to Ly-
mans proposition to run away in that
top buggy and be married.
She knew that people said she was
soft little thing, to be kept so under
her mothers thumb-but it is only
those who live with the thumb who
know it's weight. Mrs. filings thumb
was weighted BY threatening heart
disease; she grew purple about the
lips if Mary Jane asserted herself at
all, especially in the matter of Lyman
Bee. And Mary Jane shrank with hor-
ror from the possibility Of being her
mothers murderess.
What had promised to be real sem
satien for Enfield came to an end the
next day, when Lyman Bee came driv-
ing quietly home, alone, in his top
buggy. But he gave no account Of
himself. The most adroit cross-ques-
tioning, the wariest suggestion failed
to elicit auy information as to the ex-
tent or the object Of his journey.
Whether be would have told Mary
Jane or not wilfnever be known, for
she studiously avoided the neighbor-
hood Of the poison ivy. She went
about with heavy eyelids, and in her
heart there ranked that report about
the Carmel toll bridge which led to
Charlissy Porter.
| On the second day after Lyman Bees
return, Mrs. Deacon Judd beckoned
mysteriously to Mrs. Fling from the
little square aperture in the postotfice,
where she was officiating in her hus-
bands absence. Mrs. Fling waited
patiently until the little crowd that
collected when the mail was received
and assorted had taken its letters, and
gossiped its gossip and gone, and then
she stepped inside the door which led
to the sacred interior precincts Of the
Office, held cautiously open for her by
Mrs. Judd. They were old cronies-
the postmaster's wife and Mrs. Fling.
eff You didn't see it with your liv-
ing eyes I know you wouldn't believe
i'll" whispered Mrs. Judd hoarsely.
"And Lyman Bee, church member,
too! If he amt whited sepulchre
there never was one. Thinks ]
to myself, If I don't find out where
he's been, it's the first time I was eve,
was beatn Look at that"
The postmaster wife held out tri
umphantly q postal card addressed tc
Lyman Bee, which Mrs. Fling eagerly
adjusted her glasses to read:
No. 1877 has won the first prize.
S. B. FULLERTON, Sec.
Mrs. Fling read slowly, moving bel
lips as child who cons its lesson
When she had finished, she raised hel
eyes in bewildered questioning tt
Mrs. Judd.
"a prize! it's just what was writer
to Seth LOOMS when he drew a prize
: don't you remember?-ten or ,
| dozen years ago. But it wasn't sur
prising that Loomises should buy lot
terry tickets"
"a lottery ticket!' gasped Mrs
, Fling, and the color surged over he
heavy face.
"a first prize!" said Mrs. Judd
''Seth Loomis's was only third, AM
, he got ten thousand dollars; this mus
} be as much as twenty thousand.
| shouldn't be mite surprised if 'twa
! thirty. Think Of Lyman Bee having
3 all that money! But-don't be over
come, Mis- Fling, you look most as i
you was going to have a stroke. 0
I course, if twas honest earnings O
,nonov +hot ho had loft him ,twonl,