The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-01-31
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Annihilatin6
an Enemy


Copyright, by Joseph r. Bowlea.o

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Copyright. by Joseph r. Bowleao
They're all but ruined, madam. an
but ruined" insisted Mr.. Potter, In q
storm Of anger that made his lean old
frame tremble. You may Judge Tor
yourself, madam" He pointed a shak-
ing finger as he spoke In the direction
of a bed of hyacinths that, innocent
Of the aspersion cast upon them,
stood forth in peerless beauty OF m
ray.
1t was a curious thing to note III
gusty storm pass onward from h
tall old man to the comfortable, fortd'
looking roman before him, shaking
all her petals, from white sun-bonnet
to ankle ties, in a perfect whtrlw1no
of wrath and indignation.
"And now" went on the old man,
in a voice that sounded very like b
fierce soughing of wind in twisting
branches. 81 want to know, first. last
and for all time, what are you going
to do about it,"
The Widow Graham snapped her
fingers high in air and answered. with
a most unmusical laugh, Nothing"
"You will not trim the tree"
Mrs. Graham cast her eyes up 1t
the special pride Of her heart-the tall
English larch-that cast its shade as
much upon her neighbor's premises Al
upon her own, and said firmly:
mot one branch-not one twig, Tor
the welfare; of a hundred hyacinth
beds. Neither will 1 tie up my dog,
as you have before f~nsinuated, or
cease to cherish a cat, never. until
IVY neighbor ceases to drain his hand
lpon mine, or, more marvellous still.
ceases to be a fault-finding, querulous
old man. a burden to himself and to
the neighborhood."
From all of which may be deducted
that neighborhood difficulties were no
nearer the point Of settlement than
they had been for the past two years.
He's a hateful, mean old thing"
said the widow within her room, land
III not sell out to please him. 20
there"
In the next house q tan old man
threw things at his faithful Jacob,
openly commended his rheumatism to
the prince of dark and supernatural
powers. and in his secret soul writhed
under the lash of his %neighbor's
tongue.
mot a flower In her yard" he
unused contemptuousfy. mot even a
dandelion. Nothing but grass, and
trees, and moss, and shade. and ma
laria."
With which generous reflection he
gazed out at his flower beds-round
ones, diamond and heart-shaped, beds
with borders, beds misunderstanding
what comfort he might from their
well-kept appearance and glowing COL
Ors.
It was just at this time that tho
faithful Jacob, unwittingly playing at
head or tail in the matter, unearthed
something that meant head for his
master. He discovered a big root Of
Mrs. Graham's larch tree on Mr.. Pot
ter's ground. 1t was quickly taken
out at the latter's demand. Then
Mrs. Graham noticed her tree slowly
dying and, learning the cause. con
suited a lawyer. He suggested her
next move. She went away and rent
ed her house to a widow with . large
family.
One morning, as he gravely served
his masters breakfast. Jacob volun.
teered the information.
There's q new family moved in
next door, sir"
Mr.. Potter laid down his knife and
fork and, TRANSMITTING his servant with
a glance. inquired:
"She hasn't sold out, that widow
woman. has she?"
mo, sir" said Jacob ~cheerfully. y
hear she's gone east for the summer
and rented the house."
what kind of a family Is It, j.
cob?" said Mr.. Potter, comfortably re.
Stunning his breakfast.
well, l don't see no man, and she
wears black. She must be a widow"
replied Jacob thoughtfully.
Il don't like widows" said Mr.. Pot
ter, decidedly. "But a change may be
for the better. She can't be worse
than the other, anyhow. Any chill
dren?"
We'll. there's n little boy on
crutches, about seven years old"
Good enough" commented Mr.. Pot
ter, between two bites of biscuit; The
will not be likely to play Indian, OF
climb trees. One boy isn't SO bad. u
cob; lame at that"
Then there's . boy about. ten
went ON Jacob, staring hard at the
opposite wall, that they call Billy;
and q girl of IA. and another boy in
kits, and a baby girl about two, and
. dog, and a parrot. and"
Jacob" roared MI. Potter, "this
breakfast isn't ft for the stomach OF
= cannibal. Take 1t out instantly, and
mind you. don't show your face here
again today"
..Til run q barbed wire fence si1
feet high al around my premises, and
sAss $3.50 80 A>> - HA- n