St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-03-14

then, wrote all day long. He had
no carpet down; in five minutes her
small broom had lightly f1icked round
the walls; in five more her long one
had gathered up the worst Of the
dust and flue. He waited on the land
ing outside. AS she brushed the heap
past him he held out two coins that
had grown hot in his hand. He
knew that she often thoroughly
cleaned a room for fourpence.
What's that for?" she whispered,
sharply girl who seldom saw oc-
casion to whisper. Put it back, or 1
won't ask to do it again. You know
Detter!'
Il know you're kind" ne said again,
past throat lump. "These-these
rooms soon get dirty"
They do, in six or seven weeks. He
went in; the dust had subsidized She
knelt there, wringing her flannel, and
picturing him at the table in the cor
ner. No, she should never dare to
offer to cook him a meal. It seemed
the most ridiculous thing in the
world that day, but somehow, her
heart was beating faster under the
blouse, that suddenly seemed too
shabby for the daylight, at the
thought that she had done him that
morsel o. good" He was one of the
men who painfully need some one to
cook after them, and, in the nature of
things, that some one could only be
a woman. 1t was all well to have
"broken hearts," Busy fingers are
the things a helpless man needs.
And after that-after that Gyp, SUI
premely unconscious of her own tact,
found regular opportunities of doing
him that little service. No one knew;
and if he could never seem to find
his voice in thanks he seemed to
know that any mention of payment
would bring the blood surging to her
cheeks. just as you may find fault
less kernel in fool of a husk, so you
may have the heart of a true woman
beneath an impossible bodice. Gyp
did it for the love of the thing. If
any one had suggested that she did
it for love of the man Gyp might
have found herself unable to an
swer.
The lower door of the tenement
generally stood open. One day, at
an hour when most of the occupants
were out, Gyp saw tall, aristocratic
old gentleman. with white hair firing
ing his silk hat, staring incredulously
in.
"Does-does my son lodge here? I
mean, a Mr.. Meredith?' he asked,
keeping back some emotion.
There's one right at the top" she
said, cycling him doubtfully. "Yes,
1 think he's in. I'll-I'll show you"
They went up. She pointed and |
then retreated to the next landing. |
Not for her life could she help lis |
tening. She heard husky Frank"
and then dull bound, as if the man
in there had leaped convulsively from
lls writing table. And then
''What! [ asked you not to try and
find me. I told you"
my boy! I've searched all New
York for you. You-here, in this
den! frank, you know never meant
half of what 1 said!"
''But you said it. 1 was good-for-
,othing-I could go. l simply took
you at your word. Perhaps, when l
Fan show you that I'm not SO worth.
Jess, Ill think of coming back. Not
before! You mustn't come here. You
need not worry. I can exc out ]iv-
ing by writing, and I'm in hopes
But, my boy, it's impossible-it's
Look at you now! Peo-
pie are saying let you go to your
ruin!"
ITO just the reverse, it may be.
Dad, ii have your obstinate, hasty
spirit, that is hardly my fault. I've
lad to swallow the lump; I'm quite
here, whatever the place
$. No, you had better not come in
,ide. You'll go back and say I'm mad.
I'm not. I'll tell you this much: 1"
his voice trembled here-''Tve been
writing book-a novel. I'm in hopes
1 may be the beginning of an end. If
t comes back-if it fails-then III
'ealize that I've made the mistake of
ny life; and I may make another
SUIT it won't. / can't talk about it
1ou'd never understand. You'll know
oon."
"My boy, you know it will come
,ack-you know what things are!
cure an unknown. Publishers play
'pon names nowadays; they're bound
o. You know well I-why, I'd have
aid for it to be printed and let you
ave your fair chance. You'd be Ger
ain then of getting a hearing. 1
ont wish to thwart your ideas, but
let ne pay, that"
A pause, as if he were struggling
gainst the sharpest temptation that
Yer came to man clutching the
owest rung of that slippery ladder.
hen an amazing answer.
mo! No, sir! A month ago I might
ave thought twice of that; but now
now l feel that I want my book to
tand upon it's merits. You don't
now what a book becomes to it's au-
hor. Heaven knows l had to realize l
was all or nothing with me! want
0 make my own way in the world"
"Then, my boy, if you won't con-
der me, think Of that poor girl with
er breaking heart. You left her
ithout 4 word. after you had won
er affection. Think of her!" )
Il de-" he said, brokenly. II think
{ her every moment ! live. would :
ever let it be s2id that l married '
er for her money. ] wrote to her
gave up all thoughts of it. She
knows that if ever make
name for myself Don't-don't
are to tell her where l am. If you =