The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1901-08-24


warm for the ladies - even old
Billy went to sleep. But Hector
Pryn felt to his inmost being that he
was painting the picture he had al
ways hoped to paint, something that
was human, truly typical of phase
of life, vivid and beautiful. II IL
needless to say that Mamie was de-
lighted with the picture. It seemed
to her that she had awakened from
dream. She saw herself as she was,
she felt raised above groveling. actu-
al existence. She forgot her hard
life, her rough, red hands. her re-
sponsiDility. Hector Pryn liked ia
talk to her, to hear her crude opin'
ions, her naive comments. Then he
made some extraordinary discover
les. Despite her hard work and
wages, despite her constant endeav-
or, Nan was q perpetual pauper.
Miss Lily had to watch her to
keep her from going ragged. As
for the boy, Louis, he was curly
haired scarecrow who was strictly
forbidden the front yard because Of
his dilapidated appearance.
~But her money" gasped Hector.
.swhat does she do with it?"
"She has q horde of relatives"
replied Miss Lily, calmly, land
some of them are always in want or
sick and dying. You have never
heard the name she goes by, have
you? / forgot to tell you, we're 50
used to it. She's known far and near
as "'True-H Hearted Man,"
"I'm going to buy you new gown
and some ribbons and q hat for the
county fair, Nannie,r said the artist.
as he was working industriously the
next afternoon. Miss Lily shall
choose them and is going to fix up
Louis so he will not be disgrace ia
Bonneair. And you must not give
those clothes away"
.Law now. Mr.. Hector!" smiled
| Mamie.
81 want to see you in neat gown
| like other women" went on Hector;
81 believe you would astonish us.
why do you give everything to 9TH
ers ?"
And Nannie's color deepened .
great deal as she returned the true
answer:
"Law now, Mr.. Hector. just can't
help it when foll<ses air so bald on.
The household at Bonneair entered
with zest into Mr.. Pryn's plan of fix
ing Mamie up for the county fair
Miss Lily and her daughter made the
purchases and impressed their maids
into the making of a simple lawn
gown, and the trimming of straw
hat. But not one of them were pre-
pared for the entire transmutation
the simple costume Effected. 1t was
as the young Mr.. Pryn said. almost
appalling" 1t changed . healthy and
attractive country woman into pos
tive beauty. Even Hector Pryn shud
dered at her possibilities But it die
not at all change her manner. Tht
picturesque boy sitting beside thu
driver of the servants wagon KEPT
the helm that would ever steer thai
beauty straight away"
| But again and again IS the artist
looked that day over the motle,
throng gathered in the fair grounds
he saw the truth. That servant o.
IBonneair was beautiful, calmly, allur
| ingly beautiful. Transplanteu else
where she would learn the old lessor
of wha. woman's fascination could d.
| in the world.
! One morning the doctor from tn
county townwas summoned to Bonnie
air. And when he had been fifteel
/ minutes in the room. he locked tn
door and babe the black people out
| side to ride for another doctor as fas
~ horse could 60. When Miss Lii
demanded entrance and explanation
he told her TO stay in her room ant
keep Mrs. Pryn away. When she in
sisted he slipped under the door
card that had been dipped in carboli
acid.
"Mr. Pryn has the smallpox"
Miss Lily and Mrs. Pryn fed ba
land baggage by the next train.
All day the doctors gave their mes
sages through crevices in the doc
and were without food or aid.
huddled group of black folk stood !
| the rear house lot. But in the lat
afternoon . firm step came along tn
hallway and . woman's voice called
"Open the door, doctor. It's Nan
Mamie Watts. come to help. hav
had the smallpox"
The doctor opened the door in he
fair, calm face.
II believe you're lying" he said.
"Yo' can't prove hit. had hit whe