The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1922-05-27

| tOunQlnS-Dlll ana departed lOi moI
congenial quarters, which they sool
found on a neighboring side street.
The rest of the visit was, OF course
delightful, only the streets were prett.
crowded and noisy, and they couldn>
sleep very well at night; moreover
Reuben lost his pocketbOOk with t
small sum of money in it; so, on th'
whole, they concluded to 20 home ;
little before the two weeks enued.
When spring came Nancy returned
to her former mistress, and her va
| cant throne remained unoccupied
Little by little the dust gathered OF
the big velvet chairs in the parlor ant
the room was opened less and less
When the first green things com
menced to send tender shoots "
through the wet, brown earth, Reu
ben's restlessness was very noticeable
BY and by he began to go off very
early in the morning, returning III
| noon for hasty dinner, then away
peated questioning he would reply,
sheepishly, "Oh, just loatin', that S
| ALL"
| And Emily was nervous, too. OF
| late she had taken great fancy to a
! daily walk, and it always led in one
direction-down past the little brown
| house OF course she glanced over
| the fence at the roses and lilacs, and
she couldn't help seeing that they all
looked sadly neglected. BY ana by
| the weeds came, grew, and multiplied :;
and every time she passed the gate
her throat fairly choked In sympathy
with her old pets.
Evenings. she and Reuben spent
very happily on the back stoop, talk
ing of their great good fortune III
being able to live in such fine large
house. Somehow they said more than
usual about it this spring,
One day, in passing this same little
house, Emily stopped a moment and
leaned over the gate, that she might
gain better view Of her favorite
rosebush.
She evinced the same interest the
next two mornings, and on the third
she timidly opened the gate and
walked up the old path to the door.
A buxom woman with big baby in
her arms, and bigger one hanging to
her skirts. answered the knock.
How do you do, Mis- Gray. Won't
you come in?' said she civilly, looking
mildly surprised.
mo, thank yOu-yes-I meant
came to see you" stammered Emily
confusedly.
You're very good" murmured the
woman, still standing in the doorway
Your flowers are so pretty" VEN
tured Mrs. Gray, unable to keep the
usefulness out Of her voice
do you think soT' carelessly; II
s'pose they need weedin What with
my babies an all, don't get much
time for posies."
"Oh, please,-would it be too much
trouble to let ME come an putter
around the beds?" queried the little
woman eagerly. "Oh, l would like it
so muchv'
Inc Otner laugned heartily.
"Well. l really don't see how it's
goin' to trouble me to have you
weedin' my flowers; In fact, l should
think the shoe would be on the other
foot" Then the red showed in her
face little. you're welcome to do
whatever you want. Mis- Gray"
ooh, thank you!" exclaimed Emily.
as she quickly pulled up an enormous
weed at her feet.
1t took but a few hours work to
bring about wonderfully happy
change in that forlorn garden, and
then Mrs. Gray found that she had
big pile Of weeds to dispose Of. Fill
ing her apron with portion Of them,
she started to go behind the house in
search Of a garbage heap. Around
the corner she came face to face with
her husband. hoe in hand.
"Why, Reuben Gray! Whatever in
the world are you dOing?"
For a moment the man was crushed
with the enormity of his crime; then
he caught sight Of his wifes dirt
stained fingers
"Well, guess 1 amt doing no worse
than you be-" And he turned his
back and began to hoe vigorously.
Emily dropped the weeds where she
stood, turned about, and walked
through the garden and up the hill,
many things.
Supper was strangely quiet that
night. Mrs. Gray had asked a single
question: Reuben, do you want the
little house back?'
A glad light leaped into the old
mans eyes,
"Em'ly-would you be willin' to-" \
After the supper dishes were put
away, Mrs. Gray, with light shawl
overhead, came to her husband on the /
back stoop.
"Come, dear; think we'd better go
down tonight"
A few minutes later they sat stiffiy !
IN the best room of the farmhouse. |
while the buxOm woman and her hus-
Dand looked wonderingly at them.
You want thinkin' of sellin', was
ye?" began Reuben ipsinuatingly
Inc younger mans eyelid quivered
a little
well. no. can't hardly say that
was. | hain't but just bought"
Reuben hitched his chair bit ana
glanced at Emily.
"Well, me and my wife hoye con.
.luded tnat were too old to TRANSPLANT