The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-01

Uncle Ben made his appearance before
the young couple, breathless and eager.
Trunks packed, ehp"
"All but the last one, uncle;" and
Rachel lifted her pretty head out of the
tray, as you may have seen red clover
blossom rise up from beneath child,s
footstep.
"I'm going to take you down to
Bloomdale myself, my dear" said I'm
Gle Ben. Hugh, l want you to 60 off
to Canterbury with these letters.
They're of importance. I'd go myself
If l were ten years younger; but sud-
den journeys don't agree with old bones
like mine.''
Hugh looked aghast at the proposal.
Rachel turned pale.
"Can not the business be postponed,
sir?" said Hugh, hesitatingly. @
"No, it can't!" replied Uncle Ben,
curtly. "H you don't want to go, say
SO. | dare say l can find some one else
to oblige me!''
"Of course I shall co." said Hugh.
I" But Rachel -"
81 suppose I'm old enough to take
care of q little girl like that, }" said Un-
Gle Ben, in an aggrieved tone. You'll
find us both in the new residence, with
the table laid for dinner, when you
come back tomorrow"
So there was nothing for it but for
Hugh to kiss his little bride half score
of times, and commission Uncle Ben to
take the best possible care of her until
he should return.
"Foolish children!" said Mr.. Bene-
dict, as he saw Rachel sobbing on
Hugh's shoulder. But there was CHEEKY
twinkle in his own keen gray eyes, new
ertheless.
Poor little girl! the atmosphere had
lost somewhat Of its sparkle, and the
world looked less bright, as she journey
ed in Uncle Ben's barouche towards her
new home, with Uncle Ben's newspaper
rafting at her side. As the autumn
twilight began to fall, her thoughts be-
came busy, as q woman's will, at times.
"Uncle,'' she said, turning suddenly
towards the old gentleman, "what sort
of house is it?' Ours, mean!''
"Well," said Uncle Ben, reflectively,
'it's cottage, should say
GA modern cottageP''
"Well, no; rather Of the antique or.
der than otherwise.
"Oh," cried Rachel, "I'm glad.
despise those new, stiff, formal places,
that look as if they were merely to be
admired, not lived in and enjoyed
Uncle, what are you laughing at?''
AT your curiosity, my DEAR" re-
piled the old gentleman.
"Then / won't ask another question, >
said Rachel, resolutely.
But she fully atoned for that depriva
ton by sketching on the tablets of hel
own fancy an endless variety of little
Gothic structures, with bay-windows
| and trellises covered with climbing
roses and honeysuckles; while Uncl,
Benedict watched her from behind tn,
screen of his newspaper, with the queer
est OF expressions on his brown OLE
face.
"I'm almost sorry / commenced thu
thing" he said to himself. ssIf I shoslt
pe disappointed in her! But, pooh! it..
the only way to find out if she is worth
my boys love"
Presently the numbering old chario
came to q stand-still; but, to Rachel
surprise, in front of no fairy cot, or low
eaved edifice surrounded by verandahl
and flower parterres. A tumble-down
unpainted farmhouse stood . little bacl
from the road, with its shutters hang
ing loosely by one hinge, and one o.
two scrubby lilac bushes forlornly toss
! ing their foliage in the wind!
"How dreary it looks! !" thought Ra
chel, with little shudder, as she won
dered whether the coachman had reall,
meant to stop there. But Uncle Ben q
once seized her carpet-bag and um
brella.
| I" Come, my DEAR" he said TO Rachel
Is Is this the placep' she asked.
"This is the place." Uncle Ben an
swered, with . sudden paroxysm 0
coughing. "Gate's little out of or
der,n as that useful mode of ingress be
came suddenly detached from its sol
remaining hinge, and fell with q crasl
to the ground; "but that's soon 90
right with . screw-driver and half ,
dozen screws"
Alas! poor Rachel! What were he
sensations as she looked blAnkly aroun,
the neglected, dismal spet which wa
the sole realization of her fairy dreams
This the home Uncle Benedict had give
themi And for an instant our poor Iii
tie heroine felt Is il she could repel th
unwelcome gift, and tell Uncle Benia
min plainly that she could not spend he
/ davs In q howell like this.
But then came sober second thoughts
Uncle Benedict had meant kindly; the
were poor, and could not afford to dis
pense with even the meanest OF rool
over their heads. No, she must CRATE
4 &,,l1x, ooov,t tho ,,rocouf IN tho anirit (