The Opelousas courier., 1899-06-10

was under the sofa. Say, pa, why
don't we take our own paper?"
"Did she look as if she'd been cry.
ing, Cyry?" quavered Mrs. Carter.
II didn't sec her, [ said-only her
picture hanging up. That looked
real solemn. guess somebody was
crying, though, somewhere. I heard
a snihy sound. real loud"
Luther and Mrs. Luther gazed
gravely at each other, signing.
"Marietta's such a sensitive woman
poor Marietta!' murmured little
Mrs. Luther, tearfully.
She rose suddenly, upsetting the
darning-basket. "I'm going right
down there" she said. 81 feel as if
I'd ought to. If I can't be any other
comfort to Marietta, I can wash up
the dinner dishes and trim lamps.
Cyry, you run and get my shawl"
She looked down thoughtfully at
her fower-sprigged dress. eyes, I
s'pose Ia better put on a black
dress. Is'pose so, out of respect for
Marietta's feelings
Soberly beSowned and shawled,
Mrs. Carter, a few minutes later,
tapped gently at the Gamble back
door. She noticed that the blinds
wero nearly all closed and the shades
down. An air of hushed solemnity
brooded over oil things, animate and
inanimate, in the small dooryard.
Poor Andrews choice Plymouth
Rock hens went about as if on tip
toe, with dropping t%ail-feathers. To
Mrs. Carter's sensitive ear, even the
old cocks growing had a doleful,
drawn-out wall in it.
She tapped again softly. Nobody
responded. Then adjusting the COR
ners of her mouth to appropriate
droops, she stole gently into the
kitchen.
There was no one there. The little
room had on it, prim afternoon dress,
ana looked unsocfaf. and'stiff. The
faintssts possible hint 5sof clinking
knittmy-aeedles dEsw the visitor I'M
cuns eiipuuslly toward the. sitting-room.
Mrs. Andrew Gamble sat there knit
ting in the STILL dark room. She
gave a little start as Mrs. Carter en-
"Oh," she said, in a low voice,
f'I'm really glad to see you, Mrs.
Carter. Ne, don't take hat-ehair--
Andrews, and I can't bear it.
The rockers easier to your back. I'm
deeyour hawl. do"
80: +. had to. come oyer, .Marietta-
seemed as if T must. I couldn't bear
the thought of you sitting here all
I wish / could help you-O,
[ wish I couldr'4
Mrs. Gamble looked up from her
knitting quickly. Eyes, il is tone-
some with Andrew gone" she said,
quietly She was q slight, sweetsfaced
woman; and the loose;wisps ofhair,
turning cray. curied -prettiIy erounsl
! For a very little space neither of
The women spoke. The. subdaed creak
their rockers sang q dirge-in the
gisitor's ears. She was wondering
how Marietta could knit stockings,
andslookedso composed, and curl her
lair. Still, she hsdbeen crying. Her
syes looked reddened:
Then the. visitor spoke: an a sharp
whisper, drawing the words out SOL
stnn1 ..AVasn'ti it dreadful sudden,
Israsrietta2"i 49,. ..4<. j: gzt=.:)
yes, it was sudden. Still I'd been
,Sgpecting as likely as not it might
lappeh He's never been real hearty
,."No?p Mrs. Carter assented, with a
lon B Hui, upward infection. Andrew
lad looked hearty, very.
1HEver since he sprained his knee
last fall he's been ailing espec-
ally; it seemedt to use him up"
~ never noticed that he li.maptesdd..''sz
: swell, he did, going uphill and
home after along "trip s>!
Another pause, and another stanza
+ t~heseEeaking ,dirge. -~.
! "When did--it happen, Marietta?"
thispered Mrs. Luther Carter then.
{ 'Three O'clock this morning, or &
minutes .'past, 50 We were up oil
. s Wy VII y him. f didn't set .Y yZi1SJ
."Poor chiildl!!" Mrs. Garter softly
tatted the knitting-needtes. Did-
ia-he sufferi:l1nalus.th?s' t. ). : !, { 8: e i: i
aSNo, I guess not. That was q
1ercysa He7didn't seem to5sense s1y-
AIMS all night. We did everything:
how to for him-eyerything.
:aidn'ttseem to do any r
God. r. She Began to dry suddenly. /.
I was*& $50 fond of 4Aim !psshet sobbee,
pologetically. ~:
&1'Ycs. yes, do cry, Marietta-itll
osyoa good You toughtto cry. It's.
mercy you can"
III ddeoini'tt. Know how were 3 going to-
1T along without him, Mrs. Carter"
Its a great loss to the neighbor-
We aliz4feeI ii, Mrs Carter
#"Luther and I were Ill !,
tuck in a heap: He read it in the
aaper- just. think of our finding it
ut insthe newspaperr"' n - +
Mrs. Gamble lifted her dropping head
9Th. an air of solemn pride. "Yes,",
ae said. "thiey put it in the paper ]
Isht away l. didn't: s'poss they'll
'ould in to-day's;ibut they're dread
smart about getting things in.
1rharAHareu's Uacle Andrew sdied,s
aey got tlat into the morning paper
10. :tEs<f Etsiif. ,eee: LII
u Was warm in :tAse room. aud Msas IL