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

land village. At the foot Of the hill
buried in liIacs, climbing roses, ant
hollyhocks.
Years ago when Reuben had frs
brought Emily to that little brown cot
tage, he had said to her wistfully
"Sweetheart. faint much of a place
/ know. but Wen save and save, ever!
cent we can get, an by an by We'll &c
up to live in the big house on the
hill :" And he kissed so renderly the
pretty little woman he had married
only that morning that she smiled
brightly and declared that the small
brown house was the very incest place
in the world.
But, as time passed. the "big house
hopes. and penny by penny the say
ings grew. 1t was slow work, though
and to hearts less courageous the
thing would have seemed an impossi-
bility. No luXuries-;ind scarcely the
bare necessities Of life-came to the
little house under the hill, but every
month a tiny sum found it's way into
the savings bank
Reuben never smoked. While other
men used the fragrant weed to calm
their weary brains and bodies, Reuben
ate peanuts. 1t had been a curious
passion of his, from the time when as
boy he was first presented with a
penny Of his very own. to spend all
his spare cash On this peculiar luxury !;
and the slow munching Of this pie
beian delicacy had the same soothing
effect on him that a good cigar or an
old clay pipe had upon his brother
man. But from the day Of his mar
rage all this was changed; the dimes
and the nickels bought no more pea
nuts, but went to swell the common
fund.
It is doubtful II even this heroic
economy would have accomplished the
desired end had not a certain railroad
company cast envious eyes upon the
level valley and forthwith sent long
arms Of steel bearing putting engine
up through the quiet village. A large
tract Of waste land belonging to Reu-
ben Gray suddenly became surpris-
ingly valuable, and sum that trebled
twice over the scanty savings of years
grew all in a night.
One crisp October day, Mr.. and Mrs.
Reuben Gray awoke to the fact that
they were a little under sixty years of
age, and I'm possession Of more than
the big sum of money necessary to
enable them to carry out the dreams
of their youth. They began joyous
at once.
The big brick house at the top of
the hill had changed hands twice dur
ing the last forty years, and the pres
ent owner expressed himself as moth
Ing loath to part, not only with the
house itself, but with many of its
and before the winter
snow fell the little brown cottage was
sold to thrifty young couple from
the neighborhg village, and the Grays
took up their abode in their new home.
"Well, Emily, this is Twin, now,
amt it?" said Reuben, as he carefully
let himself down into the depths of a
velvet covered chair in the great par
lor. "My! amt this nice! 7"
Just perfectly lovely" Quavered
the thin voice of his wife, as she
threw surreptitious glance at Reu-
Den's shoes to see if they were quite
clean enough for such sacred pre-
cincts.
1t was their first evening in their
new abode, and they were a little
weary, for they had spent the entire
lay in exploring every room, peering
INTO every closet and trying every
hair that the establishment con-
aimed. 1t was still quite early when
hey trudged anxiously about the
louse, intent on fastening the numer-
'us dsors and windows.
Dear me-" exclaimed the little
woman nervOusly, I'm most afraid to
20 to bed, Reuben, for fear some one
will break in an steal all these nice
hings"
well, you can sit up If you want
o." replied her husband dryly. but
shall go to bed. Most of these things
lave been here nigh on to twenty
ears, an guess they'll last the night
through" And he marched solemnly
lpstairs to the big east chamber.
neekly followed by his wife.
1t was the next morning when Mrs.
ray was washing the breakfast
fishes that her husband came in at |
he kitchen door and stood looking at |
er thoughtfully.
Say, Emily said he. you'd ought
r have hired girl. 'Tain't your !
lace to be dom work like this now"
Mrs. Gray gasped-half terrified.
alf pleased-and shook her head:
ut her husband was not to be
ilenced.
We'll. you had-an' you've got to.
30. An you must buy some new
lothes-lots of 'em, WHY. Emily
eve got heaps of money now. an we
admit oughter wear such lookin'
1ings."
Emily nodded; she had thought Of
his before. And the hired-girl hint
lust have found warm spot in her
cart in which to grow. for that very
fternoon she sailed forth. intent on
visit to her counsellor on all occa-
ons-the doctors wife.