The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-05-23

barr mp in the erimHing pins, and
tsont pausing "a consider the ac-
sn, hurried % Bed.
But as she lay between the home
made flannel sheets, sleep would not
come. How would the crimps look
and how would her mother like them2
IS her mother would only 60 away
and visit over Sunday, she could ex-
pertinent with those crimps. But no
her mother never went away. She
was always there to oversee every
thing.
Obi vas If, after all, s1Uh a crime
70 be So attractive that a gentleman
desired her society," Then common
sense whispered to her that she was
nok attractive. With these and many
other painful reflections she fell
asleep.
Next morning Mrs. Brown did not
seem to notice that her daughters
temples were bound in a red and
green keFchief and treated that
daughter with unusual kindness.
Her excessive amiability continued,
though Lavinia certainly wa dazed
and did foolish things; fed cream to
a calf ia place Of skimmik, and
passed her saucer for coffee at break
fast,
Her mother sweetly overlooked
these little mistakes. She also
maintained her composure when La
vinia came from her room after the
late dinner had been cleared away,
with her best black flannel gown on
and a wavy fluff Of steel gray hair
over each temple.
The two women sat down before
the kitchen fire in their h~igh-backed
rockers. Mrs. Brown was indus
triously reading her large printed
psalm book and Lavinia had the Bible
open on her lap, but made no pre-
tense of reading. Her mind dwelt
on the great event that had come
into her life. She no longer had any
fear of her mother in connection with
Mr.. Smiths visit. Her mind dwelt on
other matters now.
She had done the barn chores fully
two hours earlier than she had ever
done them before, and now she sat
thinking that the fire in the "settin'-
room" stove was all ready to touch
off," and tried to calculate the time
it would take it to get 'het up" after
he came. That he would come she
did not doubt, and when he came
what would he say? What would he
say?
That question filed her poor dazed
brain and hummed in her ears until
she could not by any ear put it
from her.
She knew that giving him per-
mission to ONE was as good as ae-
cepting him, and he knew it as well
as she.
1T IS sad to relate that Lavinia
never had sSunday-night company"
and she had q hazy idea that this was
a ~deplorable state Of affairs.
She was aroused from something
very like sleep by the clock striking
out the hour Of seven. At the same
tipge she heard the noise OF wheels,
presently some One was saying
skFhoal" very emphatically in the
back yard, Her mother remarked
swestly:
Il guess we're goin' to have com-
Pany, Lavinia. Run and light TIL
settin-room fire, while L go to tn
door"
While she was thus employed she
heard Mr.. Smiths voice in the shed,
and did not even wonder to hear her
mother warmly asking him in and
hoping he felt himself tolerably well.
Mr.. Smith shook hands with the
two women with a great show Of
robust cheerfulness, hoped they were
well and thought as he was passing
he'd drop in an be sociable, as it
must be pesky lonesome for two
women livin' alone like that.
Mrs. Brown replied with many
smiles that it was rather lonesome
sometimes and that she was awful
glad to have him come and, of course,
he would stay the evening.
OF course he would, and then he
had to 60 out and stand his horse in
the barn, as it was apt to get
mighty uneasy hitched to the q
When he returned he unwound a
long, stringy muller from about his
neck, and Lavinia hung it with his
hat on a nail beside her own working
hat and coat. Then he began to
wrestle with his outer coat, and it
was not until Lavinia came to his
assistance that he was able to rid
himself of the strengthening gar
ment, which was very narrow across
the shoulders and at least four
inches shorter than the under coat.
Though Lavinia was not f~astidious,
she would have wished to see her ad-
mirer's coats agree better with each
other, but CHANGING at the voluminous
and lengthy skirts of that Sunday
coat" hanging on the STOPPING form
of Mr.. Smith, she did not wonder
that he could not easily get an over
coat to cover it.
By and by they went into the par
Tor, but presently Mrs. Brown re-
membered that she had to GO and see
a neighbours sick child, and departed,
smiling graciously on the odd pair.
After she had gone, Lavinia tried
her best to be entertaining, but
found it an awful task. She wished
Z - IT, ~ -A.-s.I Oh ---11