The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1875-09-09


i've influence, which had awakened him 2
He lay still and listened. The hooting of
an owl was again audible; the curtain of
the window tapped in the breeze. That
was all. No; some object was moving
slowly in the small room. For the first
time in his life, fear, in a mysterious form,
smote him, and the exclamation framed
by his lips died away unuttered. The
him. GeOffry held his breath. Was it
ghost or robber? Like a CLEAN of light
the remembrance of Mr.. Matthew KnOlls
and the yellow dog sinking under the
wagon came to his mind. The shape
moved away again softly, and it seemed
to Geoffry that the door was locked from
the outside. Yes, he was prisoner. At
ter that the silent house became permeated
with sound muffied reverberation. like
the swinging Of massive portal, shook
the walls.
Sunshine chased away every sinister
shadow. In the sparkling, dewy fresh
ness of the morning the farmhouse was a
commonplace dwelling enough, surround
ed by green meadows, dilapidated barns,
cackling fowls, and browsing cattle. Even
the morning brightness could not conceal
traces of poverty, however, in the running
to waste of impoverished land. Geofry's
door opened readily. He laughed at his
fears, and when Mrs. Knolls inquired how
he had slept, made careless response.
He was ashamed of his cowardice. The
girl Milly served him at table. while her
mother talked aimlessly, in rambling
fashion, of the fresh butter, weather, and
scenery. Milly's face, of pearly white
ness, wore a repressed expression, and
there were shadows beneath the eyes. A
curious girl, Geofry reasoned, going about
like an Old woman, or machine wound
up by stern duty 10 task.
Lilac bushes shielded an open cellar door
outside. Geofry, smoking cigarette,
plucked spray, dropped it, and ran down
the steps to recover the flowers. Mr..
Matthew Knolls was dragging bag across
the cellar floor. Milly touched Geofry on
the arm.
s.Would you like to 90 over the farm ?''
,Geoffry retained two vivid impressions
of that day. The girl Milly, in straw
hat bound about with grasses, resembled
Ophelia; yellow hair escaped in tresses on
her neck, and the blue eyes wore startled,
troubled expression. She walked along
quietly, petting the cattle, and followed by
the chickens. When they reached the
brook crimson flush swept over her face
as cheerful voice said,
"Good-morning, Milly."
The speaker, a handsome young man, in
a red shirt, with a scythe over his shoulder,
had So much the aspect of an eager lover
that Geoffry moved up the hill slowly.
He was surprised to see Milly place her
hands over her ears, as if refusing to listen,
and run after him. Geoffry observed hel
closely. Milly's inherent honesty and
goodness were legibly written ON the trans.
parent fairness Of her face.
g Your brother is not farmer; his
hands are too white. What is he ?'s de.
manded Geofry, abruptly.
- He is mothers only son." she replied,
simply.
"Look here; don't believe in ghosts.
you know, but somebody came into my
room last night, and then locked the door
outside"
Milly plucked the daisies = moment in
silence. "Go away she said, suddenly.
6 We did not expect him back when we
advertised" 81 JS
This was the first impression. The sec.
ond was even more startling. Geoffry
spent the afternoon following the brook
above the house with a fishing rod
Watching the sunshine glance through
the nuiverinr leaves overhead. and tRf
brown water swirl about the rocks
where tiny plants dipped their blossoms II
the spray. Geotfry wandered on. until he
discovered . man on the opposite bank
The man. wearing a velveteen coat. sal
with his back to the observer, reading
newspaper. Geoffry was about to hai
him. when the stranger laid aside tht
| newspaper. and consulted a chroHometel
of red gold, with an azure shield on ths
cover. Geoffry again beheld his grandfa
theirs watch! He was so entirely over
come bv this discovery that his wits for
sock him. The watch stolen, forever los
down on the sea-board, worn boldly III
here? Uhe man had moved away. Geof
Efry crossed the brook lust in time to Sc,