The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-02-18

you don't really think I am . bad,
dreadful womanT
'Well, I can't say, I'm sure. IT isn't
for the likes of me to say. You know
best"-and, picking up her jug, Jane
went morosely off, feeling in her soul
that she might after all have said
something more civil in answer to the
poor things pathetic appeal.
The light died out of the young
woman's face as she watched Jane go.
She left her work, and sat quite still for
a time; then she went to the window
and looked out, and she sighed.
Opinions pursue me everywhere.
Who could have imagined that Jane and
Mrs. Norton held any? If I had not
been SO densely ignorant 1 should have
known they had some, / suppose. We
don't know half enough of useful
things; we should be taught the opin-
ions of other classes; they vary, OF
course, but a rough idea should be
given. How was / to know the world
was so bad; that the people wanted
most to help would rob me, and then
turn me from their doors; and that the
people / wished to elevate would
would ruthlessly insult me. If it had
not been for Joseph! Dear, kind Jo-
seph! Have / made, in marrying him,
the worst of my mistakes, wonder?
Does his fine, true nature measure me
by what his friends think of me?"
At this moment young fellow en-
tered the door, sucking cane. He
leaned against bench, and sniggered,
and seemed quite at his case-and sure
of his welcome.
He scrutinized the girl from head to
foot, and amiably commenced to
soliloquize in loudish whisper. He
did not seem 10 desire conversation.
He went over her points Admirably
in ford, blatant, offensive terms. II
was his killing" method, and was in
tended to allure and attract. At length
he mentioned-"My names Norton
You don't seem to know who am"
This is surely lunatic asylum, y
the young woman said, softly, and
pinched herself to see if she were
awake. Then she looked across at him;
she saw his cluInsiness, his attempts
at smartness, mis- general imbecility;
but she didn't speak to him-she went
on cleaning up.
Unable to differentiate, he though'
the look meant admiration; and h,
went up to her, and said: you may
kiss me, missus-twice, if you like"
She came and stood right in front o
him.
MY good boy. go home. Do 20,
hear?-fnd your mother, and g
home"
His little eyes blazed.
"Ah! see the sort you are. YOUR
on the lookout for the swells. Your
used to 'em. I've heard all about you
Poor old Heslop! All the villages talk
I ing of his madness"
, Jane came busting in.
"Ah, Mr.. Norton, it's you'll"
The girl looked dangerous, and sh
, said, haughtily: "Take your frien
away, please. and find the key OF tn
, dairy door. want no more visitors"
I "Hoity-toity. Let me tell you, thi
. door was always kept unlocked in m,
mothers time"
y bah! Don't you see, Janey HesloI
a the wench wants to lock her visitors Al
!, | with her?"
f Heslop and Mrs. Norton passed tn
S dairy door just then. The girl GALE
I; them in. She was SO erect and scornfr
!, Joe scarcely knew her. Mrs. Norton,
+ she said, coldly, ''you will take you
!. son away, and you, Joseph, will forbi
his ever coming here again."
III "My-my-son turned of this farl
n by you, madam, a woman such as you
u creature no one knows anythin
about!"
r "Mrs. Norton, stop before you go to
/ far. There is some misapprehensio
I here. Il should much like to know VIII
+ put those rumors afioat about this lad
e my wife!" and he looked at Jam
IS and he got affectionateiy close to tn
young girl and put his hand on he
d shoulder. "But, in spite of it, she's
n good woman--and your superior, an
+ YOU can see it-and that's why you a
dislike her-and l have every cont
r dence in her-and If she says youn
Norton's to go, he goes"
There had been rush of dogs, horse
If and pink coats past the farm, but
70 lad not been noticed in the storm. An
le now an elderly man stood in the doc
T. way. He was also in "pink.
,e "Heslop, something's happened
h my saddle-by Jove-a stage picture
IT What's up? ] beg your pardon-Lad
70 Selina-is it really you?"
The girl went forward; she was
n little sulky, but she decided that, aft
ar all, it was just as well.
u Eyes; Sir Archibald. Cest MOL"
:" GOD bless my soul, child! To thin
that / should have discovered yo'