The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-05-23


/ as her father was dead
If Charlie left home his father would
be obliged to hire two men to do what
they had managed between them. with
the assistance OF the mother 1t was
hot SO much that he had anything
against Laurena as that be did not
wish his son to leave him that had
actuated him until now. He had
talked frankly with his son and told
him many things. ali calculated to
wither any budding sentimentalism.
80 now Charlie had entered the par
| Tor with heavy feet He knew what
! was to come. and he knew what had
gone before-yes. only a short half
| hour ago. No wonder his heart was
heavy.
"Well?" said his father eying him
with disconcerting scrutiny.
Charlie held his peace. In fact, he
could not trust himself to speak. His
eyes were cast to the floor and filled
with unspeakable despair. He could
not trust his voice. His father sat
down with his aching feet on the floor
instead of the stool and again uttered
the one word that meant so much:
"Well?'
Charlie was SO handsome. with his
brown curling hair, his gentle brown
eyes. his big frame and tanned cheeks
that the old man felt a thrill of pride
but he never allowed that to check his
determination to have from his son the
last word of what he knew he was
trying to withhold. Finally Charlie
looked up once at his father. whose
sharp glance showed him the misery
in the soft brown eyes of his son
Again he said "Well?" adding that he
was listening. Finally Charlie lifted
his head. saying: a
You need not worry 1t is ar off"
Whats all OFF,. Tell me the hull
thing from first to last"
I've finished our practice, and all
started for home, and the rest hurried
off, but Laurena and |, we walked
along slower. She said she had some
thing TO say that she could not put off,
So we walked along
e.
supposed that you rode along or few
along or sailed along Go ahead"
"Well, you know, father, that l am
fond Of Laurena. I told you from the
beginning
land so you've been and asked her,
you ungrateful boy, after all I've said
and DONE
mo; / haven't asked her nor told
her, but I feel as though should have
done so. We walked among the graves
and didn't talk much at first Then
she said: Charlie / want your advice.
We have been such good friends al
ways"
Yes, see. see. She thinks you
can be caught with such chaff. but go
on, go on"
II said that we had. and then she
continued: You know that folks have
a habit of taking things for granted.
/ am not blaming any one. but we
have been going together so much-for
four years since we grew up-and now
IL think I must say that this can't
go ON any longer. Bert Jumel asked
me to marry him, and | thought |
would ask your advice before I answer
him"
"a trap. a trap" shouted the old
man, land you fell into it like the soft
ninny that you are! Didn't tell you
that I'd searched out her family en-
both sides TO see if they had any de-
scending ailment and that her father
died of decline? Didn't go to their
house and eat myself sick twice to
find out how they cook and set table
sperrits is too oneven. One time she
is full of laugh and the next looks all
in the dumps. She may know how to
sew and keep house, but she cares
more about singing than anything.
She's too Eighty. I won't allow you to
have her. won't, | tell youi What
did she do them
why. nothing" replied Charlie mis-
erably, ''for we stood a minute still
and silent / didn't dare to tell her
how l felt till had seen you, and she
leaned against old Mr.. SANDERS monu-
ment and cried
Eyes, she's artful. sly and smart.
l give her the credit, but she's got me
to deal with. She got tired of waiting |
for you to bite at her bait and just
give it a twitch to make you snap at |
it. | am older than you and know all
about women You have to live all
the rest of your life with the one you
choose and it stands you in hand to
lock about and see them all-weigh |
every ones faults and advantages. 4 |
pretty face amt all, nor is a coed |
singing Voice Now, I've pointed cut
to you the failings Of all the others
from the time you began going out in
society. Jennie Tubs was TOO youne /
and too weakly Annie Stark too silly |
Mary Blake too pretty and vain, and I
SO on, and none of 'em could cook or
take care of a house, and all of 'em
was poor and had raft of poor rela
TONS
The old man stopped to AXE breath /
while Charlie said half heartedly, 81
know you are trying to watch out for T
~nr <.ooI INT fafhnr Ta1frnna hac I