The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-04-18

me. You Sec" he exn,ainea ~ nav.
AVN. and II he'll eat the rr.ss for mo.
VIII save cutting it,
Madge thanked him and invited,
n'm 70 stay for supper. In view Of the
TACT that he had furnished the simmer
81" co'''d not we'll do otherwise. even
nad she so desired. which most empha+.
icaIiy she did not.
ne looked at Cicely good tlea, while
'hey atc-Ctcely was very good TO look
op"n-but his conversation WINS nd.
dressed for the most part to Nudge
AS matter OF fact. 1t had to liz.
mat way. Cicelys accumulated woes
pressed SO heavily upon her tlat she
was utterly incapable Of anything be.
!ohd an occasional subtlued "Yes'' and
NO"
Nudge. however. chattcd gayly. To
ner mind the situation was decidedly
Venerable and growing more SO every
minute. And when next she looked
upon the bleak vista of rocks that
made up the immediate landscape she
found It almost attractive.
The only hope" observed Madgc.
has come home again"
Cicely Joined her in the doorway.
And he's thinner than ever" she de-
clarcd pessimistically.
Then Mr.. Ellwood came into view.
He was doing an elaborate imitation
OF man who has been running fast.
He got loose" he painted. "And
I've been following
YES" Madge broke In genially. II
know you have. I've been watching
you down the road for the last Eve
minutes" She waved hand toward
the mule. II never in ali my life." she
said. ''saw anybody so reluctant to
take advantage Of handicap. How
on earth did you induce him to get
here first p
Mr.. Ellwood had the grace to blush.
Tits livery warm day" he STAN
mcred. tactfully trying to shift the
conversation to a safe topic, Of general
interest.
| 1T is" Madge agreed. And I don't
believe so much exercise Is good for
the mule. Besides. II will take a lot
Of your time to lead him home with
you every night and dri--follow him
back here every morning. why don,
you bring his meals to him?'
every day?" inquired Mr.. Ellwood
hopefully.
'well. l really think he ought to bt
fed every day. hut I'll leave that Il
you.
Clcely. who wondered miserabiy a
her friends high spirits. had retired
into the other room. hopping her eyes
''ehe doesn't like IT, dadse observed
conndentially to Mr.. Ellwood.
"And no wonder be rejOined sym
pathetically. You're going to stay r
be added.
I'VE must" said Madse. for we'v,
no money to eet away On. And any
way" she added aftsf 4 moment
pause. = believs It Isn't soing to b
half bad"
III / can help Il" said Mr.. Eliwoot
| heartily. ''it'b not"
j H Vas % good % his word. en-
better. For deeay BE- brought I ham
mock ana flowers IN pots and man,
| little comforts that helped to rende
her life more tolefable. He tfeate'
Aee % might m elder brother . lov
able but incapable sister.
Bat MAdee was bic comfade an
| friend. She had assumed the burden
| Ctcely was incapable Of bearing, an
IL very naturally thought her the owr
er Of the farm. He liked her p1uc
that wreeted her hardly won garde
from the rocky soil and her sturdy II
dependence that always returned fave
for favor. His own little place too
IN an added value becnuse she ha
approved It. He gave the house
new cont Of paint and planned whe
the crops should have been harveste
ia build a bigger porch. And b
evolved little conveniences for tn
kitchen, shelves and closets and flou
hin. things Of which his mnsculin
housekeeping had not felt the need. II
whistled as he worked. and before hii
there was ever girls face. laugl
fng face growing daily roster and NOR
sunburned- happier.
.sThe only hope" observed Cicel
compiacently. rs certainly CROWN
fat. 1f we could sell him BY the poun
n they do beef on the hoof.' | thin
they call It. we'd get quite Z lot Il
him."
.ffe's too fat" Madge objected. III
looks stuffed. I think you feed bill
too much. Cicely. II tfr. Ellwood wei
~ home I'd ask him to take look
MIN. TIN quite certain his eyes otgl
NOT to have TINT CLASSY stare
Later In the day the only hope su
| cumbsd.
" don't really blame him for dying
said Cicely. who was weeping over Il
remalns., II suppose be was just ma
orally tired and discouraged and didn
care whether be lived or died--I've e
mat WY myseif-but | do think It VI
m0st inconsiderate Of him.
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