The Opelousas courier., 1899-07-22

from'bad to worse, and aow | am a row.
er, OurslarlZlng houses. For the love
bear you, | have left this house un-
touched. iuuAs,
LAWRESCE MURRAY
Calling General Hastings tn him,
Wilmer asked what it naeant. His ia
Their told him of the Child left at his
door years ago, and how after gradu-
ting with lonors, lie had left them alb
rubtly OF account of Rita. He also
told Mrs. l1ardee and Estelle the whole
stoly. When Rita cane down stars
the next evening she was looking pale
and ervou She had told her father
that the burglar had kissed her and how
he had acted in her o WtimcIahad
destroyed her programme, by the al-
vice OF the doctor.
Jack inquired that morning about
Rita, and heaiWHs tlat she was much
better, lett before Sr"lns !ltA again. He
had AGAIN been refused ty her On the
previous night 1t was th, Sd and last
time that he would tvrF mtutltn the
subject To her again. l'hry al regret
ted % see hIm leave. Rita VAS not
cheerful all day. TllNlr WIS liz excel
let spirits and leased trr a great hrai
and called her iirttr st>jri. The two
girls started uut IN the Stttlnuun tor II
walk IN The park, bat Rita feeling weak .
still they sat down on oItr OF the rustic
benches. IlIXle told k.tt that as She
hau taken the place she was To occupy
last year, that She Wonid not marry
Wilmer so soon after his first attempt .
but Rita, ON the contrary, did not sane
tlon lrlXlc ; action and Hald
Il appreciate yNur drltcary on my &C
a.nnnI- Eut my Inv. Has .,tlttrr,t ia ttlt
of Il devoted sister, and | shall nuver
marry
"Pntting Eer arms IoRuh her fragile
little friend. IIINle exclaimed
'Dh, uiliIng, do net break poor
Jacks heart love him il only il Ilttic
CHATTER Nail.
The next week after the above con
versation between the two girls. they
were all seated under Il sarge grape ar
Dor, when Il servant IN towards
them. TriXie ran to meet lnm
"A letter from Jack no, Il Telegram
for papa
The old gentleman ~neivonsly opened
New ORLEANS. LA.
To CAPT. HARDEE:-
Jack very low with brain fever /,
come at once.
RODNEY.
The Joyous group of Il few moments
were very different rs they retraced
their steps to the house. Mrs. Hardee was
not to be cnnsoled no one saw Rita but
Wilmer found her alone in the grape
arbor.
"My dear little sister; | am AFRAID
un,,r inrn far 7nnlr hos r,p,n tns In ia
do not weep so calm your grief and
listen to me-
She looked S o tiny and fragile rs she
rested in her brothers arms. Wilmer
noticed her annotated face and said
Darling, | do not blame You IT you
could not make him happy
They left for New Orleans the next
train. Thus it was that Estellc again
returned to the Crescent City the sec
Ond time that year. Jack only lived Il
few hours after they arrived in the city.
Theironly son, OH, the giIet OF that
proud and excellent tHmlly Wilmer
was like an embassaIor of mercy 10 the
strickened and bereavad ones. Poor
little Rita, she exaggerated her roubies
and blamed herself for u~nkindnesses to
the dead boy. The next day, the day OF
the funeral, they found a letter which
u L itlu W. ti5 ~ ~
ging that the property coming to HIM
from the family estate. should be given
to Rita. This Capt. iIaldee did, and
Rita had II home built for orphans. In
September Wilmer and TriXie were
quietly married. General Hastings
went to live witt, them, and Rita, my
dear readers, y possession nt her or
phanage, and was never seen outside
the wallis without her orphans.
Her maiden fingers longed to trace
Some nohler work III broader space
Thus, her childish verses had lead her
and sweet c~itality brought many of
Christ's little ones 10 d happy shelter
from the storms OF lie. Rita Is loved
and blessed on every side. In the sum-
mer preceding she took her little or
phans out t. Ipgleside Farm House to
enjoy the sweet haunts OF her wi
childhood. Wilmer visited her there
one day; and she took hlm TO the sacred
mound near the waters ut the tiny MIN
nature lake and showed him their moth
er's grave-tlie mother whom they had
not known. The next spring measles
broke out among the orphans; the little
ones suffered Il great deal. Rita unused
them faithfully, for 1t was OF a severe
form. The doctors tried to make ler
take a needed rest. One morning they
found her asleep OH her chair ana DIS
covered that she had contracted the
malaIy also she was delellon>; no
only the disease had worked itself into
her system, but that she had never been
the same since she returned from Cali
furnia. Mrs. Harute had her removed
to her own home, aud every care was
taken by loving hands. One morning
DIR. Owen Lassiter came to see her
she requested them to carry her down
she was far too weak to rise;
she insisted, he seeing the great change
that had taken place since his visit "i
the night before, told them that
she could go down to the patlor. Gen
eral Hastings and Wilmer brought her
down stairs followed 10y the others.
She was placed in Il large arm chair.
Wilmer turned a few moments to ask If
she was comfortable her head was
bert !; the doctor who had new
or taken his eyes from her, stepped for
ward and felt her pulse, and said "She
is dead"
Her noble work was done
Her spirit was beyond the sun;
A heavenly crown was won
A life was given for the orphan ones"