The Opelousas courier., 1901-09-21
ONE TOUCH OF NATURE

lie hadn't slept soundly. He rarely
slept soundly now. 1t wasn't his age,
surely; he was only 81; audit couldn't
be his business affairs, for all his in
vestments were sound and highly re-
munerative and his large income was
rapidly increasing. No, he must look
1or the cause elsewhere. Perhaps it
would be well to consult a doctor.
He arose and, lighting the gas,
looked at his watch. 1t vas 4.30. He
went to a window that faced the east
and raised the sash. The air came
cool and fragrant. Low down by the
far-aWay ridge streaks of pale blue
light were showing.
I'll see this SUNRISE" said Amos
Brandon. 81 haven't seen one since
was a boy" He hastily bathed and
dressed himself. "Ill see it from the
outside" he added, and softly creeping
down the stairway, found his hat, and
opening the great door, descended the
stone steps that led to the street.
AS he faced the east and moved
slowly along the e he snuffed the
oh "Ao AouAu l. 6OOus 41C CfSA SOOh
off his hat and let it cool his head.
ut certainly seems to me that this
is better than tossing on that comfort
less Mattress" he muttered. won
der why I never thought of it before"
The pale streaks in the east grew
broader, a pink flush rose behind the
wooded crest, the clouds became hazy.
Swiftly the flush d%eepened, spokes of
| light were flung upward and then came
the sun.
Amos Brandon walked slowly on
ward, eagerly watching those magic
changes.
"Oh," he said, 'sthat's fine; it's
worth the trouble. How many people
know anything about it? Precious
few. Look at the present audience.
One restless, lonely old man, and a
night Waterman or two. What a
shame!"
He came to a street intersectioned
and paused and looked at his watch.
Quarter to five," he muttered. mo,
I'll not go home. / feel like a runa-
way boy. I'll stroll down to the lake.
I don't believe I've really seen the lake
in a dozen years..
He walked at a leisurely gait,
breathing in the tonicky air and ever
and anon turning his gaze on the sun
| tinted clouds. His eyes were bright
er and his step more elastic. Labor
ing men, swinging their dinner boxes.
looked around as they passed him. His
was an unusual figure at that early
hour. Once he heard a man repeat his
name to his companions and they all
stared curiously at him as they
passed.
AS he came within sight Of the lakes
blue ripples a girl came across the
avenue and turned in on the sidewalk
just ahead of him. She was a girl of
perhaps IA, rather slender, with a clear
olive complexion and thick, dark hair.
She was neatly dressed, say her shoes,
which were dingy and frayed, and in
her hand she carried a basket whose
contents were concealed beneath a
white paper. Amos Brandon quick
ened his steps a little.
"You are an early ~riser," he said to
the girl. At the moment he was in
terested in early risers.
Eyes, sir" said the girl, who showed
no surprise at his abrupt remark. Il
have to carry my fathers breakfast
to him. He is a help at the mills over
there" She pointed to a long row Of
dingy buildings not far ahead.
She spoke well and with a lack of
c~onstraint that the old man admired.
"Why doesn't your father come home
to his breakfast" he asked.
"He goes to work at midnight and
quits at noon," she answered.
"And how far do you conner"
"About a mile and a half"
She gave him a little nod and turned
to cross a vacant field that would save
her a few steps. Amos watched her
for a moment as she sturdily stepped
forward.
ga good little woman, and her father
should be proud of her. I hope he is.
He sighed softly, as ne plodded n.
He enjoyed the lake, with its dim
ply surface and the sWash OF the lit
tile waves as they struck the piling.
and the black banner Of smoke trail
ing after a PARKWAY steamer. Pres
emily he turned and strolled over
toward the iron mills. Almost in a
moment he came upon the girl of the
lunch basket. She was sitting on a
low pile of boards and close beside her
sat a w~orkingman, bare-armed and
sinewy, a swarthy man with small.
black eyes, and a short, black beard
He was eating with evident enjoyment
the breakfast the girl had brought
him. Amos Brandon paused at the pic
ture. 1t pleased him. He nodded
smilingly to the girl, who nodded back
and when the swarthy man looked VI
he nodded to him, too. Amos leaned
against a pile of lumber.
ssYour load will be lighter on the
way back" he said to the girl.
eyes," she answered, father always
has a good appetite"
The swarthy man looked up. III,
nodded gravely to Amos.
She's a good girl" he said slowly
"Come long way"
eyes" said Amos. sim sure she's
q good girl"
The sWarthy man looked around a
The object OF his praise. There wa
fondness in his glance.
aSmart girl, too" he said. "Teache
say snnartest girl in English school,
he said this with u difficulty, bu