The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-06-01

| eieu, anu posSeSseu the rare merit u
expression.
The last sunset rays were just touch
ing the stone cornices of the elegan..
mansion that Mrs. Gardener called
"her ancestral inheritance" mot deem
ing 1t worth while to mention the
trifiing fact that it was rented from a
Jewish stock broker at thousand dol
lars a month";, when Mr.. Pelham rang
the doorbell.
"Out of town." he repeated, after
the servant. chow unfortunate! Where
has she gone, and when did she go?"
Now Margery. being a new servant,
| had not yet learned the crooked ways
| and wiles Of the Gardener household,
and unwittingly answered the truth.
"She's gone to Berksdale, sir. and
maybe she'll be obliged to stay two or
three days, heard her tell the missus.
It's at Mrs. Darby's, sir. where"
"Berksda1e. ehw
Mr.. Pelham knew that another train
left within the next hour or so-the
last train that night, and he resolved
to follow his bright beacon star forth
with. Poor fellow! he had reached
that desperate stage in love in which
all spots where the beloved one is not
are bowling wildernesses.
He slipped bank-bill into Margery's
not unwilling fingers, and hurried
down the street.
II will seek her out and let her
sweet lips decide my fate at once" he
thought. Marion! how appropriate
is the sweet Scottish name to her pure
and gentle womanliness! All the
Marions in poetry and romance are
models Of grace and gentleness, and
she is no exception.
(You see that Mr.. Grey Pelham was
very much in love.)
Berksdale was soon reached by the
iron feet of steam, but rapid as the
progress was 1t failed to keep pace
with the young mans fevered i'm
patience.
shining upon the fresh spring foliage.
when, after having been duly directed
to Mrs. Darby's, he set forth ON his
walk to the secluded village nook.
"Darby-Mrs. Darby-she do be the
one who keeps the old. crazy gentle
him round! Oh. yes, sir! Hain't more
than a mile beyant the big church-a
| red house, with big poplar tree in
| front"
Thus instructed with regard to the
locality Grey Pelham felt that he could
not well be wrong.
The red house with a big poplar
tree in front presented no very in
viting aspect as he strobe up to the
wide-open door. The blinds hung on
| one hinge, creaking dolefully in the
| breeze; the gate was tied up with loops
of rusty rope. where nails should have
been. and broken crockery. invalid tin
ware. and heaps Of oyster shells
adorned the door-yard in lieu of velvet
grass and borders of flowers.
Grey Pelham wondered a little as
to what business could possibly bring
Marion Delaney to such a spot as
this, knocked at the open door, but no
one responded to his summons.
He knocked again, and yet third
time, with no better success, and final
ly walked boldly into little sitting
room, whose yawning portals seemed
to invite entrance. A single oil lamp
burned on the table, by whose sickly
light he could but just find his way
| to a chair.
II suppose may as well sit down
here and wait until some one comes"
he said. resignedly, to himself.
AS he did so he became aware of
voices In the adjoining apartment,
raised high in alteration, and of a
name spoken in shrill tones-a name
dear and precious in his ears.
II tell you, Miss Delaney. faint
enough! Two dollars week won't
pay his board, let alone the clothes and
the lodging!'
And Marion's accent, silverly sweet,
| answered In low, measured tones:
1.-TWO dollars week Is a great deal
of money for an old man who can
chop wood. and dig garden, and help
you so much about the house."
But he won't help, Miss Delaney
he just sits and mopes the whole time.
The doctor says he ought to have
wine."
ooh, nonsense! I can't afford to buy
him wine! That's all an absurd no.
| tion."
"Well. he is your own father, Miss
Delaney; fix 1t any way you please,
and 1t amt hardly decent to let him
| starve."
"You are too extravagant in your
ideas, Mrs. Darby. What can an old
man like that want of new clothes and
dainty fare? tell you 1 can't afford
| to pay you more than two dollars q
week; my expenses in New York are
ruinous; and"
"Then you may as well send him to
| the poorhouse at once. Miss Delancy;
l won't undertake to keep him short Of
three dollars at the very least"
II don't like to do that" Marion an
swered, hesitatingly. as IL the idea
| commended itself to her as not i'm
practicable in some respects. People
| will talk"
They'll talk just the same If you let
him starve to death here. and good
deal worse"
"It's great nuisance" said Marion.
impatiently. "Well. suppose will
have to pay you two dollars and a
half"
The other woman grumblingly as
sented, but added:
| Don't you want to see him? He's
| talked deal lately about his pretty
girls comm"
"See him? oh, no. not for the world