The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1905-03-25

the Old woman watched tlr white give
way to the green on tn. hills that
curved in and out around her old
home.
Ma" she began one morning. a
think l will have to be pacing up this
| week"
Packing up what?"
Why, don't you remmher. Ma.
we're going to town the fist of May %
"Oh. la, Libby, I've give that up
long ago! I'm going to di. on the old
place."
But you know, ma, tie arrange
ments have all been made I'm afraid
we'll have to 60"
She turned to her GROSSLY
There's no use to arge wi me,
Libby Anderson. I amt g,in'."
But what about Dave?"
"You can jest write Dave. and saw
his mother don't want to leave the
place. Dave won't have pthin' fur
ther to say
She looked off at the meMowland as
if it were all settleu Lbhy would
have to tell her.
Ma" she said, "it's no 1e to write
to Dave"
Why not?" she demanled, in a
half-frightcned, half-aggresive voice.
He's sold the place, ma"
What's that you say? Something
about Dave selling my place! Are you
gone crazy, Libby?"
you know you decided It to him.
ma. 1t was his after you did that.
And he's sold it, and wei have to
move out"
Hearing no answer, she turned
around, and it was then she coveted
Dawes gift of saying things smoothly.
The old woman was crouched low in
her chair. and her face was quivering
and looked sunken and graz.
Il didn't think he'd do that" she
caltered.
Never mind. ma" Libby said awk-
wardly. Poor ma"
1t was the nearest to a caress that
had passed between them since Libby
was a little girl.
Nothing more was said until after
ma mad gone to bed. Libby supposed
she was asleep, when she called quav-
aringly to her.
Libby" she said, "you mustn't be
-hinkin' hard OF Dave. He must have
-housht it for the best"
Libby was used to caring for ma,
ind she needed care now.
Eyes, ma" she answered; I'm sure
le must"
1t was not until the morning of the
ourth day that the silence between
hem was broken. Libby got up to
AXE down the clock, when she heard
strange noise behind her, and turn
ng, she saw that mas head was down
ow in her hands, and she vas rock
1g passionately back and forward, and
rying as though her old heart had
roken.
She put down the clock, and again
be wished for little of Dare's Sikh
ess OF speech. But she did not have
;, and the best she could do was to
ull mas chair out from the barren
Dom into the sunshine Of the porch.
he hills, she thought, would still
'ok like home.
Ma did not get up at all next day.
erhaps she was i'll. or perhaps it was
My that she did not want to 20 out in
le sitting room and see how unlike
ONE 1t looked. But the next day she
ID not get up either, and then Libby
ent to town for the doctor He said
le. excitement had weakened her, and
ID not seem very certain she would
7er get UP again. That night Libby
rote letter to Dave, asking him
gain to let his mother die on the
d place. A week passed, and an an
yer had not come, and still ma had
1t left her bed. The pacaing was
J done, it was the first Of May, and
le was Just waiting-she did not
low for what.
Her whole soul rose up against
owing ma from the old place now,
hen her days were SO surely num-
red, and SO she sent telegram to
ave, telling him his mother was i'll,
ID asking leave to stay a little longer.
here came reply from his partner,
ying that Dave was away and would
It be home for two weeks.
That night the old woman raised
.rself and sohbed out the truth.
Its Dave that's killing me! It's
think that Dave sold the place
ID turned me out to die."