St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1899-01-07

L 8
| Black Dwarf's table service, the dingi-
ness of its tin-plate, and the grittiness
of its cutlery. Manager Bingham, that
great parsonage, dressed partly in his
own clothes, partly in the 1endings of
his hosts, was lapsing deeper and deep
er, in his chair by the fire, into state
of mi-obliyiouspess from fatigue
and other causes.
Mike looked at him critically, and
listened to his remarks, which were in
frequent and far from lucid; but he
kept his suspicious to himself for the
present, and went on with his cooking.
mike" asked Darcie, who was full of
his own share in the entertainment,
"where is the cup and saucer?"
''The which?" said Mike.
sThe china cup and saucer that I
bought at thehospital fair. You needn't
ask which when there never was but
one. Where have you hid the pieces?"
.Wisha, don't bother me wild your
cups and saucers. I've me bacon to fry,
and the rain is peltin' down the chimbly
in me pan, and it'ssshpittin' fat like
blazes upon the lady's habit-skirt.
Take hould, and set back the chair a
bit"
You are the worst old duffer of q
cook" groaned Darcie, scolding Mike
softly, on account of the neighboring
guest. "You have sliced the bacon as If
it was ham. Go hang yourself up some
where out OF the way! Find me that
cup and saucer!''
IF it's for herself Mike glanced
toward the screen Of blankets she'll
have to dhrink her coffee out av tin, or
rave it alone, God bless her! The sau-
GERS brolSe-it's the trut' I'm tellin' We
-and the cup, barrin' the han'le, ye'll
find in the chink at the left av the
chiInbly; it's got me boot-grease in it,
1t would be money in my pocket II
you'd never been born,s' Darcie in
formed his senior partner, for the hum
dredth time that summer; and Mike
duly responded: "Faith, an it would
in me own! And fwhat's the matter wild
tin, that she cannot put her lips to it?''
he demonstrated. "Tin is wan av the
precious metals, these days; there's
howlin' duty on it. A poor mans dead
bruk if he buys four-bit dinner-pail
to pack his cowld vittles in. Mabby this
cup, now, is made av that Amerrykin
tin they do be BLOWN about" He took
a murky tin cup from the table, and
polished it on the leg of his trousers.
''The world knows it's cost its weight
in gold to produce it,,and who wouldn't
be proud to dhrink out av iti''
Oh, stow your tin-horn racketln
Darcie requested. "Save it for election;
keep it for the man in a tin hat. Don't
waste it on a British free trader, who
hasn't got vote"
But now the drowsiness Of Mr.. Bing-
ham was invading his whole system
and becoming progressive and alarm
ing. Darcie studied him anxiously,
and thought that he recognized the
symptoms; Mike said that he ''smelt
it on him when first he come into the
room"
He's exceeded himself, and I hear
it's a habit he has. He's TUX wan too
many, or maybe more than wan too
many,to counterac' the victim he got;
it's risin' on him, like yeast -powdher,
wild the hate av the ROOM
HoW's he going to get home?" was
the next question, and a very serious
one, in view of the daughter.
He'll not get home the night, unless
he's fetched" said Mike.
Well. you needn't give it all away
to her. in that stage-ghost whisper of
yours" admonished Darcie.
s.Be aisy; she can't hear a word
were sayin'. wild the torrent slushin'
down the gulch and the t'under rowlin'.
I niver hard the like o. that in the Cor
de Lanesi 1t aquils the boss storrums
yen get IN the Saw Tooth. Hark now!
The mountains is craekin' their ould
nobs together. Sure It can't hould long
like this.
This is a. horrible business, Mike.
Help me here; we must move his chair
back into the shadow; he's not pretty
to look at
Hell not look pretty to her when
she'll be comm out to her supper;
a hoary-headed shpectacle he'll be.
We'd best get him into the bed at
wanst' .
1T will be the last of him, Mike. if
we dc"
First and last, there's no more
power in him. He's shuccumbed to the
drink; and . pity form, a man av his
age, not TO know betther how much he
can carry. Aud a cruel shame 1t is for
her, alone wild the baste and tho two
strange men av US for comp'ny. dun
no fWhat will she do wild herself, an
the night comm on, and FIVE mile o'
nasty grade bechune her and the
mine
Darcie went 10 the window ndlooked