The Opelousas courier., 1904-07-23

able to hold up his @ad.
Mrs. Boldero pres Its her compli
ments," said Lucy, d-ying on her in
yention, land she-sha has sent you
tn this" y
And what is this?| he demanded,
fixing his single eyegla IS and leaning
forward to peer into tihe uncovered
'~ @A~a rumpsteak pudding.
70 He stood glaringly S93kucy's rosy
face while he ferocioF eawirled his
mustache. Hal
Il am Major Roper MaIy said.
Mrs. Boldero thortred ""
"She evidently thou. Analk could in
suit me with impunityfhanI
Il am very sorry,l Altered Lucy.
His annoyance was He greater, if
possible, on observing FL the pudding
was not eve whole, yh3Acongruously
enough, the sight Of killed his pal
ate. Formerly a mScM1$n extravagant
habits, economy H~Hver become
easy to him, and, aLgh he made a
practice of county Af4ts money into
small sums, and yPappingNhese in sep+
arate scraps of paper, 81 thu he might,
at the worst, retain suficiehN for rent
and food until his next pensiohbecame
due, he would extract sixpence from
one pocket, a shilling from another,
thus leaving the last weeks barely pro-
vided for. In a manner he was still a
gourmand. Every Saturday, after pay
ing his small rent, he would purchase
sixpennyworth of jam tarts, p%atroniz-
ing a shop where seven were sold for
sixpence and thus ~insuring one for each
day in the week. Today his meal bad
begun and ended with tart, whe4 pas
Mrs. Boldero employed an excel fnt
cook. Still, Major Roper found his ap-
petite easier to control than his pride,
which had never been more aggressive
than now, when he looked forward
shortly to leave Burrowf1eld and to live
again within reach of a London club.
you will kindly present my compli-
ments to Mrs.-er-'
"Boldero," faltered Lucy.
"To Mrs. Boldero, and tell her that I
am very much-very much Obliged"
"She will be rather hurt" said Lucy.
"And l." said Major Roper, Jam rath-
er hurt"
81 do wish you would let me leave
it," cried Lucy, holding out her arm
with the basket in her left hand close
to his face.
81 have told you that l am Major Ro-
pert" he answered, stepping backward.
Mrs. Boldero will be immensely an
gry," murmured Lucy, gazing from the
basket into his face.
"Angry-with you, do you mean?"
"I am afraid she. WILL" said Lucy
with a ~deprecatory smile.
Major Roper began to cough.
. "You will kindly present my compli-
ments to Mrs.-er-Boldero and say
that I am greatly obliged, and accept
her-her gift in the spirit in which, nc
doubt, it is offered"
"Oh, thank you!" exclaimed Lucy,
and, with an air of extreme relief, she
saw Major. Roper take the basket.
you will wait a moment for the
for the basin?" he suggested, as she
have tnrned away.
Il can come tomorrow"
There is no necessity to give you
the trouble" he insisted, 'if you will
my closing the door" He did
not wish her to follow his movements,
leaving Lucy standing on the top
step and the street door ajar, the Ma
jor held the basket gingerly as he
along the passage to another
dood which led to. back yard.
There he removed the basin from the
standing this on the red tiles
he gazed with mingled sensations
at the top of the half-eold but still saw
Dry pudding. Never since his boyhood
had he felt such temptation at the
Of anything to eat. Holding the
basin now at arms length, he stepped
the dust-bin and therein emp
lied the enticing contents. A few feet
10 the right was a tap, and, STOPPING
IN front Of 1t Major Roper turned the
water into the basin, which he after
ward dried upon a buster that hung
rom a nail in the wall. Having re-
placed the empty basin, he carried the
basket into the house and opened the
street door.
"a thousand apologies for keeping
he said, offering the basket to
Lucy, whose face looked quite cheerful
again.
sI hope you will enjoy the pudding,
Major!!" she cried, with a laugh, Wtiiehf
made him feel almostaysdng again;
he hadsRot been so addressed
or many a day.
You will kindly tell Mrs.-er-Mrs.
3oldero, it is n of my favorite
he answered with a bow, and
lucy nodded brightly as she walked y,
way with the basket.-Thomas Cobb, /.
n the Sketch.
Men of Genius.