The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-06-16

little things to say and some directions
to leave in case anything happens to
me''---Mr. JobsOn said, Gin case any-
thing happens to me" in an exceeding
~ affecting, sepulchral way-"and 1
might as well dispose of these matters
now"
"But don't you think it would be as
well to wait to see what the doctor
says? He might"
my dear, this presentiment I have
is stronger than any superficial words
of any mere doctor could possibly be"
said Mr.. Jobson, dismally. 81 know
that I'm dished this time, and that
I'm not going to get over this. What
ever the doctor says won't change me
in my belief little bit"
Here Mr.. Jobson paused and took
Mrs. JObsOn's hand and squeezed it,
Il hope you won't, always think of
me simply as of a cranky old pest"
he said, with shadowy, spiritual
smile. 81 know I've jawed and raised
Ned without any occasion good
many times, and guess you've had
pretty hard time of it humoring me,
little girl"
Here Mrs. Jobson began to sob quite
convulsively, and she tried to deny his
self-accusations.
"Oh, there's no denying it ALL
know it, said Mr.. Jobson. "Now that
I'm about ready to make my peace
in this world, can clearly see that for
a good many years past I've been the
eranliest and neutrality-suspicious.
with old nuisance in the District of
Columbia or anywhere else, but I'm
square enough to own up to it all,
anyhow, now that my end approaches,
and that's something. But L hope you
won't hold it all against me after
after-well, when I'm no longer here.
There are lot of little ways in which
know now might have made your
life happier, but all of us poor mortals
are more or less blind, and it is too
late now"
Here Mr.. JobsGn studied the ceiling
sadly for a spac}, while Mrs. Jobson
walked to the window and wondered
if the doctor woIId never come.
tive kaid ht Of things in anger
that I tsei nov IS If I should have cut
nv tou ae q BEFORE sayinen lnent
n b folding his hai ~
he ed oa]ei Egs and loQsSs2a prefer
Iatu lily lie8ceft and I've let the [
MILL 90 and bne little kind things
I've done f9r me all these years 20
unRotieed and dpnspoken of, But never
mind. I've always meant wen, and I 1
can only hope that you'll remember
in the after years whatever few little /
good traits may have possessed, in
stead Of dwelling in your thoughts up
on my meanness to you.
Mean" began Mrs, Jobson, sob
bingly. who ever said you were
But Mr.. Jobson waved aside with
movement Of his right arm whatever
she intended to say.
''The time is short, fear, my dear"
he said, "and there are a number of
matters I ought to speak of, 1 think
7 win leave you pretty fairly provided
for. OF course, everything / have goes
to you. The life insurance is all paid
up, and my affairs are in good shape
As 1 say, have felt this typhoid com
ing over me for some time past, and
I've been Strengthening out my affairs
during the past week or so. Now,
there's one thing want to say.
You're still a comparatively young
and handsome woman-no, no, no,
don't interrupt me-and I'm not such
a mean proposition as to ask you to
promise me that you'll never marry
again. I,thinlI that a man who'd make
his wife promise that 'ud steal sheep.
You won't want for admirers, little
woman, and nothing 'ud please me bet ]
ter than to have you pick out some
square, upright man--nOt peslky old
crank like me-who'd take care of you
and give you much better home than I
I've ever been able to provide for you, ]
and marry him. Of course, it would 7
be well for you to wait a proper s
length of time after my"
just then there was a loud ring at
5he front door bell, and Mrs. Jobson
1urried downstairs, with her handker-
chief still at her eyes.
Mercy on us!" exclaimed the old
family physician, bustling in, whats
III this2 Jobson on the point of disso-
ution again, Ell? Come, come, come,
his won't do! Where is the man?
I'll just look him over and have him $
1laging hop-scotch with the boys out
n front by tomorrow morning"
"How are you, doc?" said Mr.. job 1
ion, when the physician entered the j
'oom. 81 guess I'm a little beyond E
Tou this time-typhoid, beyond a t
loubt, as you'll see in a minute. I've t
old the little woman about it, so that S
'ou won't have the bother of breaking i
{ to her. Now, I'd like to have you 5
ell me, as nearly as you can, how L
ong I've got to-" v
"Tush, tush! Let me see your j
ongue, man." said the old medical a
oan, and then he produced his little II
thermometer and raped Mr.. Jobson 4
ter the heart, and put his ear to Mr.. 2
.obson's chest, and did all kinds of t
Kings peculiar to medical men to Mr..
-obson. Then he leaned back in his
hair, unfolded his features and his n
oice, and emitted one long, loud
augh, which caused Mr.. Jobson to sit