Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-08-30

the ashes or the patient, she quickly
fell back into the old position. With
the inherited. dainty deceptiveness Of
generations Of women. who, while they
were vi.tuous. were also charming.
she relinquished her dominion and re-
treated into that EMBODIED maidenly re-
serve and docility which We feel quite
sure was the manner adopted by the
ladies OF the Stone Age when they
felt IT necessary to manage their
lords.
She was as unconscious Of all this
as Dominick was Of his growing alb
sorption in her. II he was troubled
she was not The days saw her grow
ing gayer, more blithe and light
hearted. She sang about the CORR
doris. her smile grew more radiant.
and every man in the hotel felt the
power Of her awakening womanhood.
Her boyish frankness Of demeanor
was still undimmed by the first blur
ring breath of passion. If Dominick
was not in the parlor her disappoint-
ment was as candid as a child's whose
mother had forgotten to bring home
candy. All that she showed Of con-
seriousness was that when he was
there and there was no disappoint-
ment, she concealed her satisfaction,
wrapped herself in a sudden. shy qui-
etness, as completely eXtinguishing OF
all beneath as nuns habit.
The continued, enforced intimacy
into which their restricted quarters
and indoor life threw them could not
have been more effectual in tanning
malicious Fate. There was only one
sitting-room, and, unable to go out,
they sat side by side in 1t all day.
They read together, they talked. they
played cards. They were seldom alone.
but the presence of Bill Cannon,
weeks-old newspaper for company.
was not one that diverted their atten-
ton from each other; and Cora and
Willoughby, as opponents in a game
of euchre, only helped to accentuate
the comradeship which leagued them
The days that were so long to 9TH
ers were to them of a bright, sur
pfising shortness. Playing solitaire
against each other on either side Of
the fireplace was a pastime at which
hours slipped by. Quite unexpected
ly 1t would be midday, with Cora put
ting her head round the doorpost and
calling them 20 dinner. In the euchre
games of the afternoon the darkness
crept upon them with the stealthy
swiftness of an enemy. 1t would
gather in the corners Of the room
while Cora was still heated and
flushed from her efforts to instruct
Willoughby In the intricacies Of the
game. and yet preserve that respect
full attitude which she felt should be
assumed in ones relations with lord.
The twilight hour that followed was
to Dominick's mind the most delight
full of these days of fleeing enchant-
ment The curtains were drawn, a
new log rolled on the fire, and the
lamp lit. Then their fellow prisoners
slowing himself away In one Of the
horsehair arm-chairs, Willoughby and
Buford lounging in from the bar, and
Mrs. Perley with a basket of the
family mending, and the doctor all
snowy from his rounds. The audience
for Roses readings had expanded
from the original listener to this
choice circle of Antelope's elect. The
book chosen had been Great Expec-
tations," and the spell of that great
est tale OF great romancer fell on
the snow-bound group and held them
entranced and motionless round the
friendly hearth.
The young mans eyes passed from
face to face, avoiding only that of
the reader bent over the lamp-illu-
mined page. The old Judge, sunk
comfortably into the depths of his
armchair, listened, and cracked the
joints Of his lean. dry fingers. Will
loughby, his dogs crouched about his
feet, looked into the fire, his attentive
gravity broken now and then by
slow smile. Mrs. Perley, after hear
Ing the chapter which describes Mrs.
Gargery's methods Of bringing up Pip
by hand" attended regularly with
the remark that st was a queer sort
Of book, but some way or other she
liked it." When Cora was forced to
leave to attend to her duties in the
she tore herself away
with murmurous reluctance. The doc
tor slipped In at the third reading and
asked Rose IL she would lend him the |
DOCK In the morning ito read up what |
ne had missed" Even Perley's boy. |
In his worn corduroys, his dirty, |
hands rubbing his cap against |
his nose. was wont to sidle noiselessly |
N and slip into a seat near the door. |
The climax of the day was the long |
evening round the fire. There was no |
reading then. 1t was the mems hour.
ana the smoke Of their pipes and CT |
CARS lay thick In the air. Cut of from |
he world in this Granny Of the noun
aims. with the hotel shaking to the
ouffets of the wind and the snow blan-
get pressing on the pane, their men,
'rles swept back to the wild days of |
heir youth, to the epic times of from
iersman and pioneer.
The Judge told Of his crossing the
plains in forty-seven and the first Nor