Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-03-13
them out with a dignity that amused

buy a coat for the wedding, and that
white vest is an old one of fathers
/ gave him myself
When New Years day came round.
Nat, grinning from ear to ear, begged
as we were quiet people and did not
receive" that he might hire himself
out for the day to our neighbor, Mr..
Lawrence.
They're going to hab big doings
over dere; gas and ice cream and
white kid gloves, and I'm going to
tend door,"
Late in the afternoon, father rang
Mr. Lawrence's door bell to offer his
New Year greeting and was ushered
into the hall by Nat with an afr that
would have done credit to a French
dancing master. Then, as a fresh
group of callers engrossed that gen.
tleman's attention, father stepped back,
listening with amusement Ito Mats
Compliments OBJ de season, sah!"
But something in that colored gen.
tleman's appearance surprised him,
and the result of his Investigations
was made known to us an hour after
ward, as we sat round the back-parlor
CRATE:
"The rogue had gotten himself up
in my coat, mother-the one you like
so well, and which has been missing
ever since Hates wedding; and l ver-
lily believe he wore that identical
vest of Joe's that disappeared so mys-
teriously about the same time. / re-
member" he added with twinkle in
his eye, that you thought him well
dressed upon that occasion, and 1t is
no wonder | guess, though. you
looked at him without your glasses,
mother!"
The next day Nat was interviewed,
but was quite indignant at the charge
made against him.
81 neber stole in all my life! Why,
l wouldn't steal for no money nor no
body"
Upon being questioned more closely
he explained his conduct in this wise:
81 only borrowed de coat, sab. 1t
was when Miss Kate was married. 1t
was sort of lynn round and didn't
seem to be OBJ no use to nobody, and
l knowed you all wanted me to look
nice, so just borrowed it."
Where did you get that vest?" de-
manded father, sternly.
well, 1t just fitted me and came in
kind O. handy, and ministers always
hab such lot of white vests; | knew
Mr. Joe wouldn't mind letting me hab
one, so l just borrowed it. l was
going to take it back, but forgot it."
We afterward learned that brother
Johns wardrobe supplied the trous-
ers, as we'll as handkerchief, necktie
and perfume for that and other occa-
sions.
Well, his discharge rapers were
made that very day, and Nat was al
lowed to depart, leaving behind him
all his borrowed fnery.
Father talked to him, first, long
and seriously, on the wickedness Of
his conduct; mother, the victim of
misplaced confidence, sought with
tears in her eyes to win from him
promise he would never steal again;
but all the satisfaction they could get
was his repeated assertion: 81 neber
stole in all my life! 1 only just bor-
rowed,y
Three years passed away, but moth
ing was seen or head of Nat.
One night was awakened from
sleep with noises indescribale ringing
in my ears. The changing of bells,
hoarse cries for help, rapid footsteps
rushing down the street, filled me
with error struck a match to light
the gas, but no blaze rewarded my eff
forts; there seemed to be no gas there
l had just lighted a candle and was
rushing to mothers room, when vio-
lent pounding and kicking at thee
front door arrested me.
Rushing down in wrapper and slip
pers l heard a voice I recognized as
Mats;
"Open de door, missis! Open de door
for Gods sake! De whole city am
burnin' up, Come down, quick, all OBJ
you, and I'll carry you to a'safe place.
De water works hab gone, the gas
works am bust, the bridges am burned
and de fire am a-comin'! Dress your
selbs quick, and I'll hab Mollie and
de buggy at de door in a minuhe, II
you'll only glib me de key of the
barn."
Did ever an angel of deliverance ap-
pear at a more timely season? Father
and John 500 miles away, we three
Nora was still with US
were alone.
1t was the work of few moments
only to hurry into our warmest cloth
ing, tie up in sheets our most pre-
cious possessions, seize a small trunk
of silver and valuable papers that al
ways stood at the head of fathers bed,
when Nat re-appeared, his dusky face
pale with new terror.
DE barn am broke open, and Mol
lie am gone, But neber mind. missis-
I'll be de boss! Glib me dat trunk and
bring down de sheets, Nora! Lock up
de house, missis. so nobody else can't
get in and, II de fire don't catch 1t,
we'll come back again and lib in it
ourselbs."
One seat in the buggy was reserved
for mother, who, in red flannel
dressing gown and sealskin cloak.
seated herself, trying hard not to
brighten the rest, though trembling all
~ 49, ha