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

q III :STSs"SSSS
Libby Anderson hung the dish clotl
on its accustomed nail, and stood ther
,~serveying it. 1t was plain, from tn
way she looked, that she had deter
ymined to speak.
ma" she asked of the woman wht
was sitting before the little rount
stove, what were those papers Dave
put in his pocket as l came in?"
.Some things he was shown me-"
"Ma," she asked, quiveringly. "yor
didn't sign anything. did you?"
vi r didn't sign your name to any
y thing And the needles clashed
Hasain
She knew her mother too well to
press further.
"I don't just understand Dave coming
y here this time Of year" she ventured:
\ NaId thought he acted queer"
The old woman was folding her knit.
|. ting.
I'm going to bed. and you'd better
come along, too," was her reply.
A week went by, and although Libby
!, had twice forgotten to feed the chick
ssssehs, and had several times let the Ret.
tie burn dry, she was beginning to feel
! more settled in her mind.
She did up the work one morning
and went to town.
/ Her first call was at the solicitor.
lnd here she heard the worst. Ma had
assigned their home to Dave. She did
j not make any fuss; she was too old
fashioned for Mysteries.
q It was not until the old place came
n sight that she broke down.
"It's not fair" she cried out. when
Eve stayed here and worked-it's not
hiF!" And, for the first time in many
years, she was crying-passionately
crying.
It was a feeling of outraged justice
that made her speak, for she was just
9 woman-the daughter of pa.
Ma, she said, do you think pa
would like to think of your assigning
The place to Dave. when I've stayed
here and. kept it up the best l could
.tor twenty years."
II La, now Libby" she said, not un-
Kindly, don't take on. You'll never
want for nuthin'!"
~ think you don't realize what you
have done." she said; and turned to
me bedroom to take of her things.
It was not until the next month, the
clustering month OF March, that all
vas, made clear. 1t was early in the
afternoon when Libby looked from the |
window and saw . man coming in at |
TIE. gate.
Z That friend of Dawes from the city
- 6coming. ma" she said.
Gracious!" exclaimed Mrs. Ander.
pQr. and such day as t is!''
Ipe stranger warmed his hands and
alsnursed q number of pleasantries.
.arWell. Mrs. Anderson" he said
.naily, your son wants me to make a
Iftie proposition to you"
Mrs. Anderson looked pleasantly OK.
pectant.
Dawes always maxim propositions,
NE chuckled.
He's been a good deal worried about
!oa this winter-afraid you were not
lest comfortable out here-you two, all
llone.'
DAVIS always thinkin' Of his moth
~ comfort" she asserted; and looked
aiamphantly over to Libby.
Well,' he resumed, turning back
g me older woman, ''it worries Dave
q 0nink Of your being out here alone
low that you're getting along in years.
2 ne's rented nice little place in |
ypxn and he feels sure. it would be
'Ytler Az around if you'd just 60 in
nd take, it, nn -. X
4 "a that amt for all the world like I
Are.-always some new idea in his ,
~ But you just tell him. Mr.. MUIR :
"a not to be botherfng. We don't {
'ant 70 move to town-do We Libby?" (
Not Il we can help It," she re- !
4 se's been away from the place s
& Rg that he don't see just how t /
!, explained. Libby and me would
= zeal At home no place else"
is itss soo bad you feel that way" he ,
Rh 90, persuasively, ''for Dave was !
geufe 1ph'd like the idea that he's |
e akes:i. md made all arrangements, q
y insass Nd there might be a little !
eueisa 4htat 7 unmaking them" 3
lia sarrned o Libby. !
!. IYfkr w t3fx S,rx. .l.-,. 49,.
Oval " le first of May?" 1,
ss Il. sappaae So" she answered in Il
Apl c;sae.sad for the fftHtb thps / .
.l.s I ",