The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1899-04-06

out bliniiy into the dlrkl;ess Allen
| th0u9ht that he heard him sigh. So did
1aorton- Morton was just little max
when once he was convinced.
81 say, fellows, he whispered excit-
edly when Townsend had been recalled
to his duties by boiling over of the
teakettle that threatened to put out the
fire in the grate-"I say. fellows don't
believe he likes doing it after al.
Townsend had lifted the kettle from
the fire and was making tea in brown
teapot with broken spout, While it
was stepping he picked up the pieces Of
the shattered plate from the hearth
where the old woman had tossed it
when she had finished her omelet
Here's your tea. came distinctly
through the open window few min
utes later "What will you stir it with
todayf'
He turned to motley collection of
articles on a shelf at the old woman g
side. She selected a toothbrush. at
which Townsend was seen by his watch
full friends to make griInace.
"I'm ready; go on, " they heard her
say, and Townsend, seated on the ia
blo's edge. in proximity to his cooking
appurtenances, swung his legs idly and
began to sing THE Sunshine Of Pa'a
disc Alley
"Well, III - be - hanged sail
Chadwick
The tea and the music seemed to
have composing influence upon the
old woman The incessant swaying Of
her body ceased Only the nervous
hands beat continual time with the
toothbrush against the teacup.
81 went through a pork establish
ment the other day. said Townsend,
resting his elbow on his knee and his
chin on his hand, land there | learned
the intimate connection between the
rendering of pig products and the rem
dering of song stored the infolma
tion in my memory to tell you. >
The old woman showed some interest
"In rendering pork. you know. you
try the fat. and in rendering song
you try the audience. Sre? | will now
illustrate the rendering of a song, he
went on hastily, seeing that his patient
was growing restless in her effort to
understand his nonsense.
He was singing Ben Bolt in "A
highly sentimental manner and tears
We're running down his hearers with
cred cheeks when step in the entry
caused an instant change in her de-
meanor Springiny to her feet. she flung
her teacup straight at the door. Town
send sprang from the table and caught
it neatly On the fly.
''Out!" cried Grimston under his
breath.
/ 'tHow has she been?" the newcomer
asked. with no traceof surprise at the
| warmth of her receptive. Size WAS a
woman of 40. tall and angular. and her
+ features showed her kinship to the in
sane woman. her mother
about as usual returned Town
send Il saved the cup today, you see.
but was too late for the plate, indi-
eating the fragments on the table.
The listeners beneath the window
now thought it wise to make good their
! escape-all except Allen He walked
along slowly after his friends who were
running in pursuit of an electric car
that had flashed by the end Of the alley
He let Townsend come up with him
Hello. old man! What are you do
ing here2''
Spying on you." returned Allen
frankly. and then made his confession.
ending with, And beg your pardon
with all my heart
''Oh. that's all right. said Town
send. much embarrassed. They re just
| two old women fou0d out about The
| daughter makes ncckties. and she has
to deliver them at shop in the square
every day at S o'clock, so if can stay
with the mother while she's out she can
keep her job, you see. Then it saves
/ her some trouble if the old woman has
! her supper while she's gone 1t amuses
me, too. he added rather shamefacedly
Allen never told Townsend who had
been his companions in the reconnoiter-
ing eApeulllOu, UuL IL WAS HGt nhIu W
guess at some of them Chadwick came
to Townsend the next day with
II say I've got some money here
that got the other night-no matter
how-and don like to keep it Do
you know any poor people that it would
help2'
And Morton. who had cut several
recitations for the purpose Of going into
Boston to make some purchases, brought
him big bundle of silks. saying
"Old man. Allen tells ME that you
know woman who makes neckties.
Will ycu get her to make me mp some
out of theseY Pretty. aren t theyH'' he
added sheepishly
And Grimston. who was fond Of an
tiquities, implored him whenever they
met to 'render Il song to try men S
souls Mabel Shipper Clarke in Ma
tional Magazine.