The Opelousas courier., 1898-10-29
Blu the Doctors Order,

1op-plchlh8, SAID young Durell,
as be took a rosy August apple from
his pocket, and fed it leisurely to the
beautiful horse against which h,
leaned. "Why, yes, it is a rather 70
mantle business, if you look upon j
from a romantic point Of view. Your.
an artist, eh? Come to sketch oul
little bits of romantic scenery? Blu
there's nothing particularly pictur
esque about u hop fields. Just sun,
shine and the gold-green of the clus.
tiers, and the curling tendrils reaching
out for something to grasp at, and the
air SO blue and clear that one car
almost see the straight lines of the
sunshine. OF course, it looks pretty
to me, for [ was born and brought up
upon it; but-excuse mel can't see
what there is specially worthy of an
artists pencil"
"Do you see those long perspec-
tives of green alleys" said he; with
figures running in and out, and the
old woman sitting among the fragrant
heaps, with the scarlet cloak, and two
htte teaales at her feet? And yondel
feeble, bent old man, with water cans
on his shoulders? Why, there are a
hundred bits Of genre here, to say
nothing of the background"
And Raymond took out his mill
boards and color boxes, set up an i'm
promptu easel, and began digently to
paint.
Squire Durell's son looked on with
an amused smile. To him, the ma
chlnery of the great hop farm was the
real business of life. Artists and such
like were merely pleasure seekers who
dlsported themselves airily on the
outskirts Of creation.
"You will find some very pretty
faces here" said Durell, '.if you care
for sketching that sort of thing. Peo-
pie come here from all parts of the
country in hop-picking time. Gypsies,
tramps, respectable poor workers who
don't object to turning al honest
penny, young people who come here
for the frolic of the thing, and poor
old wretches who think that every
season will be their last. It's healthy.
the doctors say. At all events
it's profitable. In hop-season there
isn't a cottage, a farmhouse garrett,
nor even a barn untenanted. There
are tents, a white sprinkle of them.
down in the meadow by the vines,
where people sleep at nights. You
can see them from here. You are
staying in this part of the neighbour
hood? No? Ny father will be very
glad to see you up at the house if O
will honor us by becoming u guest
And raising his light straw hat,
Daniel Durell went his way, the beauti-
Ful s~atin-skinned white horse following
ike a docile kitten at his heels.
Hugh" he said to a servant who
nad come down with q hamper from
he house, stake a cup of coffee and
;wo or three of these white rolls, with
ny compliments, to that gentleman in
he white linen coat who is sketching
lnder the trees. And, Hugh!"
"Sir?"
Did you carry the sardine sand
vlches and the basket of apricots and
fresh milk to the young girl in
The man nodded.
"She didn't want to take them. Mr..
said he. "She was ali for
me back, but I minded your
rider, sir, and made off as fast as I
ould, pretending not to hear"
Durell smiled.
"That's right" and don't forget the
Old meat and slices of new bread for
Id Dunstable. He grows weaker
nd weaker every day, and there was
but the heel of a loaf and a
lack-cheese rind in his dinner basket.
n I saw it myself"
TITS all right, sir" said Hugh.
(And then Durell, going up to the
reat house, shrewdly noticed all the
op pickers as they sat and lay around
nder the shadow of the vines, in the
dice far niente of the noon intermis-
on, and finally came into the great.
'ol room where the scent of cheese
aking filled the air and the muslin
lrtalns huttered to and fro in the
'eeze.
The squire himself sat there, goutv !
1t content. Iced tea and cold chicken !
ere on the table; forced dollhouse .
caches scented the atmosphere; O =!
ate Of deviled tongue, with curry =
uce, supplied the fiery element, and :
outlets, Dreaded and fried in q
g; were brought in. The old gentle .
ans face frightened ct the sight of !
son.. >
'It has seemed a long day without I
u, my boy" said he. "Sit down. .
down. Do you know, Daniel, I've !
thinking all the morning that T Il
sh you'd bring a wife home to the >
place. She would be company for !
, when you are gone. why don't u
u think of it, my lad?" u
Il have been thinking of it, father" "
d the squire's son. "But what e
uld you say, sir, if I were to marry
,oor girl?"
The squire set down his cup of iced Ii
j. Evidently this was entirely anew
W of the matter. 9,
- poor girl, Daniels" @