Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-01-03

nor TO the left. Her face was pale and
orawn and unsmiling, and she did not
iiIt her eyes. When Mr.. Wellesley
asked her If she were feeling well, she
uio not reply. After a glance or two
the Doarders concluded that questions
were perhaps not in order, and did not
lntrude conversation upon her, Mr.
wellesley himself taking this stand.
she made an astonishingly short
meal and rather hurriedly left the
room. With one exception, the board.
ers, even Mr.. Wellesley, had overlook
cd her unusualness, being by this time
deep In the joys of their meal. The
one exception happened to be the pref
~ girl. The pretty girl was observ-
ant, and, although reasonably engross-
ed with her own affairs, occasionally
found a spare thought for her fellow
creatures. She took note of Miss TEL
mans leaving and manner of leaving.
Later when she had retired to the
front stoop, accompanied by three
young cavaliers, who were smoking
their cigars about her, perhaps in the
spirit Of burnt Offering, she announc-
ed that she must excuse herself for
few moments, as she was obliged to
run around the corner to call upon a
friend. Escort was Immediately Of
fered her, but this she declined, throw
ing her cavaliers the sop that she
would return shortly.
She had no idea where Miss lehman
lived, beyond the fact that it was
around the corner" But fortune
sometimes favors the soft in heart as
well as the brave, and she found, up
on rounding the corner and moving
past few old-fashioned houses, that
the object Of her search was sitting
directly before her. quite alone, upon
the low front stoop.
"Hello!" she exclaimed, informal
ly.
why, good evening"" responded
Miss lehman in a faint voice that
struggled to be pleasant
The pretty girl ran up the steps and
dropped lightly down beside her. 81
didn't know you lived here" she said,
socially.
The old lady turned to her with a
strange look in her weary eyes. "Pve
lived here eighteen years." she said
slowly. land I've eaten at Ryerson's
for ten. But I shall never eat at Ryer-
sons again. Tonight was my last meal
there; and tomorrow l move away
from here!"
"Oh!" exclaimed the pretty girl,
why. I'm sorry. But isn't 1t sudden?
And why didn't you say good-by?"
The old lady's eyes fell and her thin
lips trembled. Eyes, it's sudden" she
replied: Il only knew 1t at three
o'clock this afternoon. l didn't feel as
If could say good-by. And. after
all, there's no one really to care"
''Oh. Miss lehman" cried the girl,
''yes, there is! Well all
care; and well miss you ever so
much!" She slipped her arm about
the dropping, slender figure beside her.
Wont you tell us where you are go
ing?" she asked.
The old lady raised her eyes to the
girls face. They were dark and wide,
and shone. somehow, as though there
were flame beneath them burning her
past all mercy. Her hands suddenly
closed upon the girls. "I'll. tell you
all about it," she said, huskily. She
caught her breath. Then, in a voice
that sounded monotonous from the
force she pressed upon 1t for steadi-
ness, she continued: I'VE have to take
the things that come to us in this life,
and am going to take this thing that
has come to me, without any fuss. /
have a nephew q brought him up)
who has sent me an allowance for
years. He Is married, and has a wife
who does not like poor relatives; and
he has two children who have been
taught not to like poor relatives Late
ly his business has been in a bad way.
I've often had to owe weeks over for
my board at Ryerson's. But now the
crash has come. My nephew has got
TO give up his home. l go to them to-
morrow to help them pack up and get
out, and then I go with them to the
little town where they are going to
live. I will earn my board with them
by working in the kitchen and taking
care of the children"
The girl listened silently, her hands
pressing the hands in hers. 'T"-she
began, gently, "Oh, am SO sorry!"
Its good of you, dear child" said
the old lady. brokenly. Then, in a
tightening voice, she added, "All things
have to end, l guess. And this winter
and spring we're 80 happy! 1t was the
very happiest winter and spring Of my
whole life!" She paused abruptly. Her
voice seemed to catch in her throat.
And then, dropping her head In the
girls lap, she broke into heart-broken
sobs.
The girl softly stroked her hair.
Il can understand Just how you feel"
she said, land I'm so glad you've told
me. Will you write and tell me how
you are getting on? Let's be friends"
The old lady struggled with her sobs.
After a moment, she slowly raised her
head, and her suffering lips parted in
a smile. II wouldn't trouble, you, dear
child" she said, gently.
But 1t won't be troubled" expostu-
lated the girl, cheerfulry. 1T will be
pleasurel"
Half an hour later, the pretty girl
came fitting back to the steps of the