St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-01-19

my regards, Mrs. Simpson, and to con
graduate you upon Mr.. Watkins, who
is coming to board with you"
Congratulate mel" cried Mrs
Simpson. why, am indeed delight.
ed to hear that. Do you know.
have never seen him YETI"
"Yes?" The look In Mr.. Parker's
eyes was far away as he replied, and
his body bent forward attentively, Il
have known Mr.. Watkins-Jeremiah
Watkins. ma'am-from a boy. / am
glad he Is come to such home as
yours"
Indeed, you please me, Mr.. Parker,
returned Mrs. Simpson. II shall be
especially happy to tell our board ers
what sort of person they may ex-
pect."
Mr.. Parker gave a sudden start, but
carefully recovered himself. "Ah," ne
said, that's what came to tell you
Of"
"Tndeed?"
"Yes, Mr.. Watkins is a-a-a gen
tleman."
Again the courteous speaker leaned
forward rs he spoke, struggling awk-
wardly for the next word-"but want
you to know that he is "a gentle
man."
"Ah!" returned Mrs Simpson, with
ready intuition. "Then he is perhaps
eccentric?"
mot exactly" replied MIR. Parker,
thoughtfully and sweetly, "but he
looks, let me say, he looks rougher
than he isl
"But he is"
"Yes," said MIR. Parker. "He Is a
gentleman"
Half an hour later the door closed
softly. and J. Spencer Parker came
down the front steps Of 1916, at first
smiling, anG then sadly, walking with
slow, unsteady step. AS he passed
by the little corner grocery store, he
paused and smote himself pathetically
on the breast.
''Liar!" he said, groaning. Liar!
And yeti had to be done. God
forgive mel"
Anyone who had happened to see
Mr.. Parker's friend, Mr.. Jeremy Wat
kins, on the next day, when he came
with his trunks to 1916, might have
been excused for cherishing the sus-
picion that he was not exactly a Beau
Brummel or a Lord Chesterfield. He
cursed the baggage man for letting
his trunk fall roughly to the ground,
and quarreled with him over his fee;
and, to further give vent to his feel
ings, he strobe to the door and gave
the bell knob a vicious jerk. There
was not look on his face or a ges-
ture of his body that did not reveal
him a coarse, ill-mannered young man,
properly Of the stable, rather than
the house. His square, rough face.
with its loose mouth and broad nose,
his burly shoulders and big hands,
and his clothing, tnviolate with re-
spect to any previous contact with the
whisk broom, bespoke a vu1garity of
person that he did not attempt to con-
ceal. It seemed almost impossible
that he should be friend or acquaint-
ance of such a person as ]. Spencer
Parker.
Mrs. Simpson, radiant, sweet and
fresh, appeared at the door, and gazed
at him for moment. Then, seeing
his trunks, she extended her hand
and said:
INF Watkins, suppose?"
'Yes." j. Watkins was on the point
of asking her who in hi she thought
he was, with two trunks right there
before her eyes; but something in her
ladylike manner evidently different
from what he had been accustomed to,
checked him.
II am SO glad to see you," she
went on $50 glad to know that we
are to have you here. We. are almost
like family here, and so you can
imagine how much was pleased to
learn that our new 1odger was a cul.
tivated gentleman"
Watkins flushed angri1y, supposfng
that she was making sport of him,
but one glance at her frank, ingenious
face convinced him of her sincerity.
"Some one must have been here
he ssammered, uncomfortably, "telling
you about me-
eyes," replied Mrs. Simpson. "Mr.
Parker was here yesterday. He thinks
highly of YOU"
Again the surging suspicion that
Mrs. Simpson was mocking him-and
again the sweet and straightforward
look from her.
II have known him number. Of
years, ma'am," replied Watkins, in a |
Subdued voice.
$50 he said" returned Mrs. Simp- |
son, land 1t is indeed delightful that
those who know one well can speak |
so well of him. But come-your
trunks must be taken care Of. viii
cali our man."
The man came--a wizened man,
whose face was wrinkIed into con-
slant smile: and as he hustled about,
assisting Watkins with the trunks, he
talked pleasantly and respectfully.
you will be pleased here, SIR he |
said, as they stopped, painting. at the
top of the stairs. IF / do say it |
myself, there are no more gentleman
" or lady-hke people In the world, |
than at 1916"