The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-10-04

| ''AS ehc ouSHt really ~. Wdh lot
papa. brt we all persuaded her pap
wos'dn' think of risking himself upon
pavement like glass. We ought to
| nave known better-old Glib always
does the thing that any other man
would let alone"
Bet hat he came" Merton said.
! chEckling more than ever.
You win=-fi4iHi Yourself" DR..
waters ahawered. He came, he didn't
50 his daughter he went back swear
ing like a trooper. though he is q
deacon. And he fell right before Mas
| ter Joe's fine rig, coming back from
leaving Miss Florrie safe at the gate.
OF course, Joe picked him up and car.
| ried him home. Equally, of course.
old GID hates him fer doing it. By
the time got to him next morning he
was fully persuaded Joe was at the
bottom of his fall, with Florrie as ac-
ccssorsi said they ran away and left
hin, hoping he'd break his neck, so
Joe could have both his daughter and
his store. You know he didn't take
over-kindly to competition anyway"
That he didn't Why, he even
wrote to pur credit man to keep a
peeled eye on Joe," Merton interrupt
ed
That's like him." DR.. Waters said.
II tell you, boys, nature must work
along a certain line of compensation.
I'm sure she slapped into old Glib all
the small meannesses due to two gen.
erations of EZells-it may even be
three. His father was fine man. and
his daughter is Just as good woman
as ever was made"
About Joe now?" Merton queried.
Dr. Waters frownel.
Joe courted Florrie with such
rush, in week they were engaged.
Then he went right into old Glib, and
had it out with him-toIu him all
about himself, and his business, in
and out. up and down; but the sub
stance of it was he wanted Florrie for
his wife, and would get her. And then
the old crocodile pretended to cry;
said Florrie was all he had to live for;
he hoped Joe wouldn't press him for
an answer then, nor, indeed. talk of an
engagement until he was either dead
or himself again. You know how
soft-hearted old Joe is, and how he
hangs on to his word, once he passes
it. Of course, he promised, never mis-
trusting the old wretch was playing
him-so there you are! Florrie's
worrying and losing color. because Joe
only speaks when they pass by, but
desperate, and old Glib is fattening
and getting ten years younger-on
spite and crutches. What the end is
to be nobody can guess"
Can old Glib be snamming?" Mer-
ton asked. DR.. Waters shook his head.
Il thought SO at first" he said; but
if he is, it beats anything In the
books. There's certainly nothing
wrong with his legs, except that
they're bit fiabby. It's equally as
certain he can't walk on them.
think sometimes he has hypnotized
himself If it was just deceit, and
what I call cussedness, l would have
been able before this to take him of
his guard"
well! l can at least go over and
condole with Joe," Merton said. step
ping across the street. ANY maybe
sympathy will be worth an order" he
called back over his shoulder, as he
struck the store steps.
Although it was late March it was
nipping cold. A red fire roared in the
base burner inside old GIBBS store.
Old Glib himself sat close beside it.
his eye ranging all the miscellaneous
merchandise which crowded shelves
and floor. His three clerks had been
on the jump all morning. but toward
noon there came lull. He was about
to send two of them off to dinner.
when the door opened wide, and Mer-
ton came through. with Joe Beenam
in his wake, and DR.. Waters and Lew
Bayne marching solemnly behind.
Joe's face was white, his eyes bril-
liant, his figure tense in every line.
Indeed, he looked desperate. and his
voice rang hard, as he said. stopping
short three feet away:
"Mr. Ezell, have come to ask you,
here in the presence of these witness
es to release me from my promise.
You know we'll how it was given
with a total misapprehension OF the
truth"
You mean you want to take my
daughter as we'll as my trade and
leave me, a cripple, to starve!" Old
Glib roared.
Joe set his teeth. Il mean nothing
of the sort!" he said. "Give me your
daughter and our home shall be yours.
| will serve and care for you. as
would for my own tather-
"You won't get the chance" old
Glib sneered. Joe half turned to his
friends and whispered sepulchrally!.
Go away! Quick!"
Going to murder me, hey?" old
Glib shifted.
Joe stood very straight. The others
had skunk toward the door. with the
awed clerks budding after. They
heard Joe shout:
.y% 10 mt ynurders I shall give my