The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1899-06-02

mer air. lnccSSant, keen insect voices
buzzed and clicked and sang Within
for while, there was no sound but
the crackle of Andrew Candles news
peper: then Luther Carter spoke with
gruff attempt at apologetic good hu.
NOR.
"When I'm in Andrews luck. and
the uncle l never had and wasn't
named after dies and leaves me
little mess of money, I'll take the pa
per. l guess till then 'twon't hurt
Andrew if l do borrow his"
THAT was good while ago. !
should have thought Andrew'd spent
it all long ago, Luther, building barns
and things as he did
Luther Carter suddenly laid down
the paper. He gave startled cry.
"My good land, what is it, Luther?
You look all struck in heap" ex-
claimed his wife.
"Eie's dead, Jane Ellenn
"Whos dead?" Her voice rose
shrill and anxious.
"Andrew is-Andrew Gamble. He
died this mOrning-'as we 20 to press
it says. There's a black mark all
round the notice. l guess Marietta
was thinking to send it to Johns
folks. 1t clean takes my breath
awayw
"Andrew Gamble dead! | can't be-
lieve it, Luther-it isn't possible! l
guess we shouldn't have to find it tout
in the newspaper"
well, read it for yourself, Jane
Ellen"
They huddled over the paper, read
ing the lines together with scared, dis
tressed faces. 1t was a small sheet,
whose local columns stood out, boldly
prominent. 1t was the only daily IN
the thrifty town of S..
Andrew Gamble dead. Andrew
Gamble! Why, he lived just house
or two beyond. How could he die and
they not know it at once? But there
it was: "As wego tC press the painful
news reaches us of the sudden death
of our much esteemed and well known
citizen. Andrew Gamble. 1t is too
late to obtain particulars of the sad
event for today's issue"
Luther Carter went to the door and
called "Cyry. Cyrym imperatively.
Cyrus shlflled slowly in and sat down
on the edge Of chair, awed by the
solemnity in his parents faces.
"Cyrus. did you see An-did you see
the folks when you went to borrow
the paper?"
Mrs. Carter groancd softly and
wiped her eyes on Cyrus's undarned
sock.
"Nopc-guess there wasn't anybody
at home. 1t looked all kind of shut
up"
Mrs. Carter groaned again. "Dldn't
you see anybody, Cyry?' persisted
Luther, "Now, you think real hard.
Who came to the door,"
Nobody did. l walked 10, after |
kept knocking Il while"
Cyrus began to look embarrassed
under this fire OF mysterious Ques-
tions.
"Well, nobody gave me the paper.
l took it. It's always lying on the ta-
BILE waiting to be taken. lguess Mrs.
CANDLES sick of getting it for me;
and the last time she told me to 60
into the sitting room and get it my
self. l had to hunt all round. 1t was
under the sofa. Say, pa, why don't
we take our own paper?"
"Did she look as II she'd been cry
ing, Cyry?" quavered Mrs. Carter.
II didn't see her, l said-only her
picture hanging up. That looked real
solemn. guess though somebody was
crying, though, somewhere. l heard
snlffy sound, real loud"
Luther and Mrs. Luther gazed
gravely at each other, signing.
"Marietta is such a sensitive woman
poor Marietta." murmured little
Mrs. Luther, tearfully.
She rose suddenly, upsetting the
darning.basket. SIN going right
down there" she said. II feel as IL
I'd ought to. II can't be any other
comfort to Marietta, l can wash up
the dinner dishes and trim lamps.
Cyry, you run and get my shawl"
She looked down thoughtfully at her
flower sprigged dress. ayes, s'posc
I'd better put on a black dress. !
s'pose so out of respect to Marietta's
feelings"
Soberly begowne1 and shawled,
Mrs. Carter, a few minutes later,
tapped gently at the Gamble back
door, She noticed that the blinds
we're nearly all closed and the shades
down. An air OF hushed solemnity
broodcd over all things, animate and
lpanimatc, In the small dooryard.
Poor Andrews choice Plymouth
Rock hens went about as II on tiptoe,
with dropping tail feathers. To Mrs.
Cartcr's sensitive eur, even the old
cocks growing had doleful drawn.
lppt wall to 1t.
She tapped again softly. Nobody
responded. Then adjusting the corn.
ers OF her mouth to appropriate
droops, she stole gently into the