The Opelousas courier., 1903-07-11

| ant voice as, the parsons wife ap-
preached the tree.
"You bet I'm here, Mrs. Clarke" said
| Sim, with a smile, shut it's sort OF lone
( some"
You you'll be very gentle with
her," hesitated the minister's pretty
| wife. you'll be very gentle with her.
| Sim. True love is eve harsh or IN
kind"
Sim nodded cheerfully. "You bet I'll
be gentle. Minister in there?" He
pointed to the little parlor in which the
lamp shone brightly.
my husband? Yes; he's very hum
CRY, Sim. Don't be longer than you
can help"
"I've got a d%eputation Of our lead
ing citizens hiding behind the barn"
grinned Sim. Had to pay old Parker
| ten dollars afore he'd come, and Chris
| Jimmerson five, but they've learned
their speech"
you're a good man, Sim," said the
| little lady, and tripped away to join
| her husband.
Presently, as Sim stood leaning
against a tree, a slight figure stole tim
idly through the dusk. In it's arms 1t
carried a bundle. A sob rose to it's lips
as it looked at the cosy little house.
Then 1t turned sadly away. Club. who
was weary, began to cry.
ST wouldn't go If / were you, Celin-
d." said Sim, softly.
Celinda gave a little sob also, then
| choked it back. I'll wanted just to
have one look at it again. might have
known you'd be here, SIM"
"Of course" said Sim, quietly.
Didn't I say so?"
"They laughed at me-" faltered Ce-
linda. IT went to the Bank Of England
with Mr.. Gould, and they were quite
| satisfied with my proofs. The only
| difficulty was that there wasn't any
money. 1t had never been lodged at
| the bank at all, and no m knew what
had become Of it."
She turned away bitterly.
"Where are you going to put up, &c.
lindaY" O
Anywhere - anywhere. I'm going
into the bush," she said, iercely. Il
haven't a friend left. i serves me
| right. I'm only grieving for Clubs
sake"
II wouldn'stdo that If I was youeCe-
linda. Here's your GsEn house waiting
for you all fixed up tumferable." .
"My-own-houseg" 9
"Of course" Sim took Club from
her tired arms. "Your oY}ps h9pse, &c.
linda. Shall / carry drue IittlePeller in
for you?"
"But I sold It," ..
"Well, I bought it back. for you.
You've no call to thank me-" said Sim.
"YouI You" She knelt at his feet.
Sim held Club with n hand and
raised her with the other. "I'll. go
away il you don't want me-" he whis.
pered, brokenIy. "Only, there's a dep
| utation waitin' to welcome you back,
and parsons in the parlor. Brace up,
Ceainda. Brace up"
"Sim, dear, will you forgive me?" she
whispered and kissed him with a heart
and a half. 1--WE been wicked, so un-
kind, so brutal to you"
you've kissed me-" said Sim.
kissed me! That answers every.
thing"
He led her proudly to the house as
| she wiped away her stears. Once in
| side, Celinda "braeed UP" and received
the greetings of the parson and his
wife with shy cordiality. "Would you
please marry us, and then Wen have
SUPPER" she said with characteristic
decision, and the parson understood.
The "deputation'' staggered in as the
brief ceremony finished. "You kin git
out agin," said Sim. you've been
asleep behind the barn."
"Ain't slep' a wink. VANISH earn ten
dollahs," hiccoughed old Parker. owe,
| the underestimate" He looked help
lessly around.
"Citi-citizens," hiccoughed thinner
son.
"Ve, the underestimate"
"yYell, you kin juss 60 and shine
somewheres else," said Sim. I'm. a
married man, I am. and I can't have
two cranks like you foolin' round"
After making three unsuccessful at
| tempts to find the door the deputation
withdrew.
"Ve'll take them home" said the
parson, making a sign to his wife.
| And thew followed the devious foot
steps Of the deputatfon.
Outside, the river murmured at Its
own sweet will. All the happy souls
who had ever loved shone down upon
them with radiant eyes as Sim placed
sleepy Club within the empty cradle.
Slowly, slowly, Cellnda turned and hid
her face upon his Observation-Disclosures
Telegraph.