The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1905-02-04
~~~O<aN 10NNcN
Gbe Yellow Trousers.
By IDA REED SMITH.
NAN0~ ~NN~N

, lLGlulH:s III va Liza ~ lHot III
horseback was within easy steppin
distance Of her old-fashioned 'coyere
buggy" Miss L0dusky Ellis wound tn
lines carefully twice round the whip
from the gray linen lap robe and pre-
pared to descend from her conveyance
"Wiliam." she called, when she hat
progressed as far as the horseback
"Willyum"
That's dreadful awkward name L
holler," she thought, impatiently
And by all accounts, boys have to be
hoilered at a sight l mistrust II
be sorry that while | was a-picking
didn't pick an orphan named John"
'.Will-yum," she called again.
4 A freckled urchin Of twelve, who
was riskilg life, and limb hunting
swallows nests in the great barn, heard
the summons. Leapng from the ''fod-
der window" upon the straw-stack, he
slid to the ground in twinkling and
appeared at Old 'Lza's head, his keen
little face alive with curiosity.
Miss Lodusky, with the aspect of a
lean, brown forefinger.
Take these bundles in to Mis-
Cobb she said, pointing to the pack
ages, big, little and middle-sized, that,
reposed under the buggy seat. Don't
drop EN- or spill 'em or stick your
fingers into EN-. Then come back and
unharness Old Liza an turn her into
the south pasture. And don't go
trespesin' of anywhere else till Mis-
Cobb's taken your measure"
"Yes'm-no'm," answered William,
briskly, appearing in his arms a lofty
brown paper pyramid, the base and
apex Of which were, respectively, a
dollars worth of sugar and three nut
meSs.
But when the bundles were deposited
on the kitchen table he selected one
with unerring instinct and handed it
to the little tailoress who had ar
rived the day before.
That's it," he exclaimed, with ex-
element. And I'll be back to be
measured soon as tend to the horse
His bare feet flew down the path
to the horse-block When Miss Lodu-
sky entered the kitchen Mrs. Cobb had
united the string which bound the
package, and stood obviously inspect
Ing a piece of heavy wooden goods of
a NEST peculiar hue
Is that what you got for Williams
trousers?" she asked, holding the fab
rlc Off at arms length and looking at
it over the tops of her glasses.
Eyes," said Miss Lodusky, com
untying her bonnet strings
md rolling each carefully before
placing the bonnet in its box. Good
cloth, isn't it, Malviny?"
Taint what Id call a handsome
'olor,' answered Mrs. Cobb, cautiously.
"Twa'n't colCr l was after" re-
marked Miss Lodusky, with superior
Iir. For boys everyday trousers
olor's no odds. Wears the thing to
ook out for, and l got it, too, if IN
ny judge o cloth. Now get William
eWed up soon's you can, Malciny. It
rets me to have him going round
ooklng like rag-tag an bobta.l. If
m going to raise boy, want him
lean and whole"
I'll do my best" said Mrs. Cobb.
rying to rub out the anxious wrinkle
etween her mild blue eyes with a
MINDED second finger Biz. | mis-
rust William won't be over pleased
'lth his trousers. If this was brown.
ow, or gray. or most anything but"
wei, amt it a brown, Malviry
oob-a lishtish kind Of brown? And
William isn't pleased with good
mole clothes after what he's been
caring, he's got less sanse than I
we him credit for. to a'4y nothing of
attitude"
Miss Lodusky sailed into her bed
'om, frown upon her forehead. the
'ndbox in her sauI. Mrs. Cobb
ook her head as she spread the cloth
eparatory to laying on" her pattern.
bingham apron IL hand, Miss Lo-
'sky re-entereh IT,. kitchen Just as
lillian, breatElsss, but full of joyful
ticipation, bounced in for his meas s
ing. Miss LoIuslsy was not an adept S
reading facial expressions. but ro
e could hive mistaken the bows \
Ok "nen h@ saw the cloth spread v
on the table. Surprise, disappoiut- t
INT, anger, recruitment! S
Miss Lod.asl.y knotted her anron n
inss as oae Who girds himself for Y
fray, and Ept her mouth in more O
lernined ltnss. A crisis was ut
nd. Like Aapoleons bugler. Miss 2
dusky WIS one who could not sound :
'treat." She therefore charged in. D
pidly. a
Come Iisht in and let Mis- Cobb
asure ycr, William" she con- N
me by seemed glued to the door "
|. MIS-. Cobb, tape measure "A hand
,terel up to him compassionately. "
ne held her off with one hand ia
ntirg to the cloth with the other Il
Is sEe going to make 'em out of
II" ~
Or course!" was the sharp answer 0,
lllam'S thin little lipS shut as t;ebt T.