The Opelousas courier., 1903-07-11

ston, when you know /
m ri start for London to-mor.
Es4 esHI row. Marry you, Sim Par
ker! You! Why, I may be a lady
ship before I come back with all that
money. All I want is to find some one
to take care of Club till I get back"
Club was her little boy.
"See that tree?" asked Sim, pointing
to an ancient rock elm which leaned
crookedly against the side Of Celinda's
pretty little house-the house she had
just sold.
"Of course I do. What has that got
to do with itY'
you'll find me leanfn' agin it when
you come back; that's ALL" The young
fellows blue eyes impressed her with a
sense of power. Her own fell beneath
his masterful gaze.
There was a big but unsympathetic
procession to see Celinda start from the
wharf next day. Four Cornerites
vaguely resented Celinda's airs and
graces, and did not believe that she
would get the money. As far back as
1850 Fraser Of Ochlltree's eldest son
had emigrated to Canada. When Fra
ser of Ochiltree died his SON had never
claimed his money, which, presumably,
continued to accumulate. One of the
Montreal papers said it amounted to
four millions. All Celinda had to do
was to prove her identity and bring
back the money. She wanted to settle
down in the Judges house and show
people what she thought of them. But
when the vessel got outside Quebec Ce-
linda would have given all the Fraser
millions to be back ut Four Corners.
But in time she recovered. Club Che
declined to be seasick) made violent
love to the captain. whom he persisted
in looking upon as a parent, greatly to
that worthy's embarrassment. He was
a married man, and told Club SO. but
Club only laughed and gurgled, and
wanted him to 'tiss mummy propo-
sal which sent a blush to the young
Widows pretty cheeks.
When Celinda reached LIVERPOOL the
captain obtained permission from his
owners TO take her up to town, and
leave his first officer in charge. Celin.
do had refused to marry the first off,
Ger four times, the second officer twice,
the third officer thrise, but they none
Of them bore malice, except to pity the
captain for being a married man. "You
See" saidthe first officer to his compan-
ions in misfortune, 1--WE can afford to
look down on him, because he's out Of
it-married. Now If the widow comes
back with US for the return trip we can
90 on proposing until she gets tired out
and takes one Of us. 1t looked at first
as lie the Old Man has the bulge on us,
but you just wait until he goes home
and tells his wife all about It."
III.
Sim Parker went into what had once
been Celinda's pretty house, and gazed
ut 1t with on air Of satisfaction. Every
thing was just as it had been before
Celinda went away to fetch the hypo-
tletical four millions. Clubs cradle,
already aired, stood in one corner. Sim
gave it q thoughtful push with his foot,
and set II rocking. Some interesting
works OF art ON the walls shonc iii
fresh frames. The rooms had been re-
papered and the kitchen ceiling white
wished. At the sale Sim had been the
only bidder for Ave photographs of the
late unlamented Dick Marston. With
q certain delicacy he took them into the
kitchen ind put them In the stove, as
if he thought they would thus rejoin
the person whom they portrayed. The
SHRED girl wore q new frock. present
ed to her by Sim. Cclinda's little pig,
no longer an outcast, in spite OF his pit
eous ~entreatics. had been scrubbed by
Sim Into 0 state Of pinky perfection, In
case Club wanted to 'love him." The
black and white COW looked out from
her stall and lowed to q pretty little
black and white calf which had mystic
riousIy appeared on the scene. The
calf wore a collar with the word
"Chib' In brass letters.
$50 far that's all right" said Sim, as
he went around The verandah, and no
ticed q belatcd huniIning bird lowering
over the big fuchsia in It's green tub.
Nov. IL narson and bis wife will only
come along In time. Celinda IL Git here
just after dark and nobody be any the
WISER
He Looked at q telegram from his
agent III Montreal and smiled. Then
lie frowned.
II dunno" be unused. II dunno ais
It's fair 10 Celinda to force her into it.
Reckon she'll be feelin' pretty bad"
Hc heard the whistle OF the night
boat as she fused up to the long
wharf. I'D like to wiring the neck Of
that Whippoor-will.. unused sim, tax.
Ing bis position against the tree he had
mentioned to Celinda. Makes me feel
that lonesome It gives me the chilIs.'
The Inhabitants of Four Corners
were all indoors enjoying their evening
meal. and the stage, after vainIy wait
Inc at the wharf to bring ND passen-
sars crawled emptily into Four Corn
ers,
AJslss 90" said Sim. plaeidly continu-
ms to smoke. "Juss SO. She amt
goIn. e come up In die stage and have
half the place rushin' out to jeer at her.
Nos much. 40, sir. MOI much. BY and
large, CelInala's pretty cute
'AEe ron thaEe slnliH aaksd 4 pleas.