The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-09-28

identity an invalid, and pretty, Hesn-
looking young girl, rolled up to the
ewes in q fur-lined mantle, and, as we
found out later, the sick mans daugh-
ter. I don't think ever saw SO sweet
g."
"Come, come, Morris, - interrupted
Mrs. Cooper, the Judges wife, don't
90 into particulars, please, or You won't
finish tonight. !" -.
.sCharley had the good luck to get
in first, and of course seized upon the
seat by the pretty girls side, leaving
me to share mine with an old lady who
took snuff, and carried a carpet-bag
upon her lap, poking me in the side
with the brass rod that fastened it;
when she did not crush my feet by let
ting it slide to tbs floor. With the day
light came general STRENGTHENING up,
and putting of ourselves in better
shape, excepting the pretty girl, who
was, from the first, distractingly grace
full and sweet. I g1ared jealousy at
Charley, who was beaming with salts
faction, and already trying to be atten-
tive, in a brotherly way, to his fair
neighbor. WAS she comfortable?
Had she sufficient room?' And l was
delighted to see that farther civilities
were not encouraged by the daughter,
and that the father looked at my friend
over the collar of his camlet coat in q
way to snub q much Drawer lad than
Charley.
"Well, we jolted weary mile after
weary mile, with nothing to break in
upon the dullness Of the still white road.
We would toll heavily up hill, stop to
breathe the horses, and slip down the
other side almost as heavily, the wheels
being held by the stout brakes. Once
in while we would hurl up with great
flourish and racket to the tavern, and
if the hour suited, we stopped for din
ner or whatever meal was due. Some
times we accepted the drivers advice
to get out and stretch your legs'-coun-
sci that poor little Charley would glad
" have realized in person.
"It was on our third days ride, while
taking q brisk walk back and forth on
the road, that I got to talking more
freely with the pretty girls father, and
learned that his name was Gardiner
that he was from Baltimore; that he
was travelling for his health; that he
was now on his way to Newburgh to visit
q married daughter. In return I told
him my name, the same as my fathers
where I lived; where was going; and
in the free and easy confidence of youth
was making long story OF it, when II
was checked by his telling me that IA
ther and he were old friends and class.
mates, and without having seen each
for thirty years, he had no doubt Morris
Cooper remembered him well.
| "Then we we're thrown into the
depths of despair by being told that
they expected to reach Newburgh by
O'Clock that evening. 1 was pretty
nearly frantic with all sorts of desper-
ate thoughts going through my head.
Should I 60 into the house and order
mulled wine for the party, giving hint
to have one made very strong, and Civ
en- in the hope that it might make her
watchful sentinel sleep on postp had
once heard of its being tried with sue
cess, but I lacked courage for it. And
this was to be the end-to shake hands,
say good-by, and go our ways! You
will laugh If talk about my three-days-
old love, though believed it had really
come to that. How / hoped that an &C
cident might happen, that we might
collide with something, though it wasn't
the fashion then to collide; and if q
horse had gone lame or the coach tip
ped over, l should have regarded it as
q special and timely blessing.
+" But fate sometimes will bring us
our desires in q matter f-course way
SO natural and simple that we overlook
it in our high-strung moods; and SC
came my deliverance. / had noticed
that Mr.. Gardiner seemed uneasy and
nervous about something-had loosened
the mighty brass clasp that fastened his
cloak, and had made vain attempts to
unbutton the leather curtain at the side
that he might admit the air. Both fail.
ing, he leaned across to me, and whis-
pered,
"sWould you object to changing seats
with mep 1t disagrees with me to ride
backward, and feel quite ILL.,
"Object! I couldn't believe my ears
and in my eager delight and hasta
sprang to my feet, fearing he nigh,
i change his mind and cheat me of my
blissful chance. / tried to steady my
voice and take little Of the evident JOY
out Of it before saying,
"'C1rtainly. l am sorry you did mo-
speak before And with the most con
siderate and hypocritical carefulnes.
helped him to my place, hoping from
my heart that the air would revive him
sufficiently to relieve his illness, but no
enough to make another change of seats
possible.
1--WE changed just as the day bega1
to fade, and she was to leave the coacl
in q few hours, and should never Sc,
her again! You can imagine my des.