The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-01-08

| unlucky move. 1t was true: Susan
was as good az gold.
They had held their own and no
more. Susan had not expected to grow
rich, and was grateful that they had
not fallen into debt. But the house
had suffered; the furniture began to
show signs of hard usage; the car.
pets were growing threadbare. and
the profits Of the bminess would Ger.
tainly not enable her to replace them
when they were quite gone. And she
had other troubles. She had insisted
upon releasing BurrelB from his en-
gagement, arguing that his salary was
not more than Sufficient for twn She
would not consent that he should be
burdened with the support Of her
mother and sisters, as hundreds Of
BusTe1I, who was superintendent Of
the electric light works, had to admit
that she was right, and. while he re-
leased her. he did so with the clear
understanding that he considered him
self still irrevocably bound, and
should continue to do SO as long as
she lived, or until she married some
other man.
/ And, moreover, he came to board
with them, and found consolation In
seeing her constantly, and helping and
comforting her in a Thousand ways.
He was especially fortunate in be.
ing able to mollify old Mr.. Worthing>
ton, listening patiently to his COM
plants and his interminable stories.
and he even relieved Miss Vantage at
chess, permitting himself to be beaten
with the utmost amiability. hut his
indulgence drew the line at the old
mans criticism Of the house and its
management. Not only did he stop
him, but he intimated pretty plainly
that he was ungrateful. III reckon J
am" he replied, gruhiy, but + haven't
any patience with their fool talk about
their rich kin; don't believe they
have any"
This. however. was to, be at last
proved beyond caviL Mrs. Wilton re-
ceived letter from Jabex Wilton's
agent in San Francisco-he nsReE
wrote. himself; he always telegraphed.
The letter stated that MI. Jabez Will
ton would start east that morning,
and be with them i've days later
Mighty preparations began, at once
Mrs. Wilton insisted upon giving ur
her own room to Uncle Jabez, and
went to the expense of buying new
carpet and new curtains; she also
brought out the fsw remaining relics
of their former prosperity pictures
and bric-a-Ssrc and embroidered
cushions.
The eventful day came. dull and
threatening, with q biting east wind
A fire cracked In, the crate. castine
rosy shadows upon the wall and cell
ing of the cheerful room, which was
in readiness for its prospective cccu
pant. At the last moment Susan had
flied a bowl with splendid yellew
chrysanthemums and placed 10 upon .
table by the window.
The train was due at four O'Clock.
and Burrell and Susan had gone to
the station. hoping to recognize the
expected arrival By some sort a -
tuition.
Mr. Wilton ran upstairs after thA5
had gone to see II any thing nsedfuI
had been forgotten in, the guest cham
Der.
On the threshold she detected -
unmistakable odor of tobacco. SAs
: opened the door and stood transnxea
There sat old Mr.. Worthington in
his shabby dressing gown. l0unginG n
the armchair, smoking his pipe, his
slippered feet on the fender.
Newspapers were scattered abeas4,
and he had been lying on the lounge.
as the disordered pillows made evt
dent
WELL, really, Mr.. Worthinston!"
said Mrss Wilton. her eyes flashing
she knew him to be capable II any-
: thing-"I must say that this u IN
II pardonable."
She was always ladSiiks.
u He turned and glanced at her calm
ly over his shoulder. and did rlok stir.
"Sit down, Arabella." he saia q
length. "and don't excite yourself. "
4 Arabella indeedt Addressing her
; by her Christion name! He had never
been quite SO impertinent as thia
She walked aeross TIE room and
stood beside him. painting with indis-
natinn.
TIVE q right here," ~ said with nm
\ usual mlldness. I'm TIE man you've
fixed up this room fer, and Susan will
! not md me at the station I'VE been
! In your house some time. ~ you'll Il.
) low"
81 Mrs. Wiltea did not IN the least
1 comprehend what ~ was saying; she
u was 80 dazed that she could not
u speak.
al This has been done BEFORE" he
+ went on. I've read about 1t. wanted
!, to make certain as to who and what
!. | you all were before entering into an