St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-06-06

auctioneer to sell it? For goodness
sake, Thompson, tell ME what am
to do" appealingly.
| "Sest give it to her straight, that's
1 what I'd do. You're too ALFRED
chicllen-hearted, Williams. Folks has
to bear such things. H'sh! here she
| comes now"
| At this moment she train began to
move away from the station, and
the girl watched it until it disap.
peared in the mass of palmettos and
| cabbage palms, then she walked
| eagerly toward her new acquaint.
ance.
and beautiful she said, with flushed
cheeks and sparkling eyes. Il know
I shall like to live here. Well, am
all ready. Can you take my trunk
and valise in your wagon?"
YES" gruff1y. IIe was glad to get
away from her and he made the work
of transferring the baggage as long
as possible. Somehow, he could not
bring himself to tell her the whole
brutal truth. If il had not been his
money that had been stolen, and if
he had not been the one who had
complained of the worthless drunk
ard, it would have been less difficult.
He had been sorry for his justifia bic
act ever since he had made the COM
plant, and now->yell, he would take
the girl home to his wife. She had
more tact than he, and would know
just what to do.
This mental throwing of response
bility from his own shoulders
brought back his natural cheerful
ness and buoyancy, and he smilingly
motioned for the girl to climb into
his wagon.
Ever ride in sech wagon afore 2"
he asked, as he left the animals head
and climbed up ON the seat beside
her.
NO" Then her face grew wistful.
'Do you suppose father and the boys
are at home today?"
His countenance fell, and he
twitched the reins irritably. Why
could she not ask about something
else? he asked himself. His wife
would explain all the disagreeable
things after they reached home.
II low they won't be there jest
right now,'' he said evasively. "You
see, they didn't know you was
comm, SO they happened TO be off
for a spell. But you mustn't let it
put you out any, with more ANNA
ton. ''I'll take you home, an my
wife II fix you up mighty comf'ta
till they get back
'Thank you. But why can't I go
right to the house and wait for
them? 1t would be such sur
prise
mo, no." he objected with sudden
energy; 'by no manner o. means.
Bachelor ivin' amt apt to keep a
house fixed, an jest now faint no
place for you. I know that. You
must do jest like l say, an come to
my house for a spell. You amt
used to Floridy ways, an my wife
can give you heap of p'ints.''
"Well, if you think best" She was
silent for some time, watching the
unfamiliar plants along the road
side, and the curious, bright colored
chameleons that flashed from the
warm sand in frcnt of the horse, and
disappeared with marvellous rapidity
among the palmettos and wire grass
hummocks.
Gurus, amt tiley?' said Williams,
as he followed her glance; Jest like
bits o rainbow strung on lightnin'.
But they're main fine things for
pets. Your brother, Freddy, used to
have one that would scoot from
under some queer hidin' place when
ever he'd whistle. Great hand,
Freddy, for pets"
At the mentions of Freddy she lost
interest in the plants and chame-
Icons, and turned to him with
tender, tremulous smile on her lips.
1T will be SO pleasant to have
ones own folks to live WITH" she
said, softly. '"rhey We're all nice to
me at school, but none of them be-
longed to me. I used to get very
lonesome when the girls went home
vacations. 1t will be almost like
like Heaven to live in the same house
with father and the boys
Williams reached out and struck
his horse viciously, but she did not
notice. She YVES looking straight
ahead, apparently at the house and
father and brothers her Imagination
was picturing.
Il suppose everybody around here
likes father; he is such a good man,
she went on in tone that was an
assertion rather than question.
Il almost envy the boys having lived
with him so long"
He kept you to school pretty
stiddy,' ventured her companion. II
knew he had gal up north, but had
an idea she was stayin' 'mong her
kin. Booz-er--Mr. John Austin
want much hard to talk bout his
self"
Father has done everything for
said the girl, with
a tender light in her big gray eyes.
He was not rich, for he once wrote
that might have to wait q few days
for my years tuition, as money was
hard to get. But it came the very
next day, and he always sent me
plenty for books and dresses and
everything l wanted. He wrote for
me never to stint myself in anything,
and that after l graduated 1 was on
no account to come home, but to
keep on with my music and drawing
and other studies until he could send
me for trip to Europe. Dear, dear
father! I hope I may be able to