Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-02-03
CONTINUED

One day as Blossier. his swathed
hands on q pillow before him. sat In a
big wooden rocking chair in wide.
dim, breezy hall. sunshiny outdoors
before and behind him. it occurred to
him that he was getting well too fast.
Janey, according to orders, was play
tug on the gallery within sound of his
voice. so that he could call her If he
wanted anything-not that Blossier
had been known to want anything
since he had been in the house.
Amt 'Cindy's voice. softened by the
distance to the kitchen, rose and fell
on the pleasant air in religious fervor'
and upstairs Jane McGrath's footsteps
could be heard. The men had I'll come
back from Tullahoma week before.
but Andy McGrath was not among
them. He had been in the fed Il year,
and two more were to el&pse before he
should return. Jane felt that the en-
tire weight Of their debt to Blossier
devolved for the time upon her.
Janey's moon face appeared at the
door. She felt it incumbent on her to
come and look ut her charge OCCASION
ally. Then. seized with sudden I'M
pulse, she clambered down the steps.
disappeared and in moment was III
boriously climbing back again with
very big marigold in her hand. She
trotted to Blossier. her bare feet softly
batting the bare floor. started to hold it
out to him, remembered the swathed
hands and held it up tiptoerg. to his
nose. Flowers were to be smc!icd IN
Janey's creed without petty distinctions
as to odors.
"Merci," smiled Blossier as she laid
the happy yellow thing on his p!ijwcd
lap. NE comprenez-vous pas: Non:'
The child stood looking in his face
grave and silent. ready TO see what ih!s
odd creature would do mex.
Jane had come down the stairs and
was standing looking Oh. 1T the same
moment. then and there. she ana Bios
sisr each became possessed Of an idea
small ones. to be sure, but destined to
become pregnant.
Blossier's blinking little lashless eyes
(the lashes had been white. 80 their ab
sence made no great difference Ill his
appearance were fixed OH the curl rags
that tied up Janey's straight brown
locks. Jane herself was Il simple. plain
body, not given to considering the deco
rative side OF life, but she did sorcly
want curly hair for her child. HloS
sier's mind reverted to Il hairdresscl
he had once known IN New Orleans.
II he only had such pair Of tongS as
that man used. he was sure hc could.
when his hands got well. curl .Iancys
hair to d marvel. And how Pleasant it
would be to come and do it every day.
Vague vistas Of usefulness To this wor
shipful hostess opened up chcrringly
before him.
The dear dumb Jane was remember
ing certain StrathUJro girls who had
gone to boarding schools where they
had studied French Everybody knew
they had. 1t was often mentioned in
their honor. But she had heard so;nc
very smart people-Judge Caldwell. for
instance-say they didn't believe they
could speak 1t, and Judge Caldwell
mentioned that he had northern kin
folk who got French nurses for their
children SO that they learned to talk
French when they were little. Why
this preface and conclusion came all
but simultaneously in James mind)-
why couldn't Janey learn 1t from Mr..
Blossy. and why couldn't other chill
dren learn from Mr.. BlOssy (she had a
pang here at giving up the hope of a
lonely emin.nce Of learning for Janey),
and thus Mr. Blossy be lifted to the
dignity and prosperity Of teacher:
That might indeed be payment on
the debt Of gratitude!
Janey looked at her marigold with
thoughts Of reclaiming it Gt seemed un
appropriated and unappreciated lying
there on the pillow. and then she heard
the coaxing voice Of Ant 'Cindy's small
granddaugL or calling from the big
Grape myrtle tree (she was not allowed
to trespass farther upon the front
yard: "Janey. Janey. | got pooty
fur We, Janey" And she trOtted off to
bestow her society where 1t was most
priced.
Jane may not have been blessed with
many ideas. but she gave profound
attention to those that did visit her.
She pondered all day on the possibility
of Bossier becoming teacher of
French. and after supper she went
over to consult Mrs Pembroke about
It.
"Of course" she said after she was
seated on the gallery in the starlight
and had introduced her subject. mo
body can do much with the war going
ON, but I'm willing to make some sac
rifices for Janey. and Mr.. Blossy
wouldn't expect much. We could just
share what we've got with him till
times are better. I'm afraid he's been
awful pore lately. And, after all, the
town would "a been most burned down
sure il it hadn't been for him."
Miss Catherine had no little children
to be instructed. so Jane, with difficult
ty and hitches got out 30 much sug-
gestion Of Strathboro's obligations.
That's all true, Jane" replied Miss
Catherine cheerfully, r'but everybody
amt as anxious to recOllect them kind
of things as you and as your mother
was before you. remember now how
she cherished that old Nanny Dinah
of yourn just for the way she nussed
you when you had that terrible ty-
phoid sickness when you was little
Seemed like she couldn't do enough for
that niggah when she got old and
wuthless. Good niggah she was too.
Tbera was n nause and lust as Miss