The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-07-13

suitors for her hand. and one of them
| would be her husband. Uncle Dan
knew that as well as Chrissie herself.
The old man had watched the progress
of affairs with great anxiety, and often
prayed that his darling might me guild
ed to make the right choice. He knew
that her life's happiness lay between
those two, either to be made or marred.
His own verdict was decidedly in favor
of Tom Allison, who had grown up un-
der his eyes, and to whom (for many
reasons) he gave the preference over his
gentlemanly rival. His strongest OBJ
lection to Philip Harwood was on the
score of religion. In Dan Renshaw's
creed, the great regulating law of mans
life was religion-not merely profession
of faith before the world, but the re-
ligion of the inner life, influencing
motives and controlling passions. He
had no fear of TOMS simple, genuine
pietv, but Philip Harwoord gave him
uneasy doubts. He had watched him
keenly, and the result was conviction
| that the young man was deficient in all
that he held to be essential in good
husband.
Thus Chrissie and her lovers were a
source of trouble to old Dan Renshaw.
| He turned the matter over in his mind,
viewingit in every possible light, but
arriving at no satisfactory decision ex-
cept that his darling must not be suf-
fered to throw herself away.
ga fair outside was as little to be
trusted in man as it was in watch.
They took the eye, those cheap,
snowy articles, all shine and glitter, but
oftener they were worthless. Give me
Tom! he's like a steady-going lever,
with plain case; no matter if it is only
silver, the metal is real.''
! It was about this time that Tom Alli-
son met with an accident which kept
him from work for several weeks,
thereby causing him much grief and
disappointment, for he could not help
fretting over the thought that Phil Har-
wood would be a gamer by his misfor-
tune, and would not fail to make good
his opportunity with regard to Chrissie.
Dan Renshaw was of the same opinion,
and somewhat anxiously watched the
progress of affairs in the interest of his
favorite. He made up his mind to take
advantage of Toms illness
to try and find out what
chance he had with Chrissie.
But the willful sprite seemed to have di-
vined his purpose, and made up her
mind to defeat it. She managed in the
prettiest way to evade all his ingenious
questioning, and finally led him into the
belief that she cared most for Philip.
Even when unfavorable news came to
them that Tom was worse-news which,
of course, gained in the telling-he
could detect nothing in Chrissie's man
ner, no tell-tale change in her face.
While the worthy matchmaker was
striving to make the best of his disap-
pointment, chance enlightened him on
the subject of Philip Harwood's matri-
monial views. The ice was first broken
in conversation with Chrissie one Fri
day morning. She always devoted Fri
day morning 10 setting out the window
anda general dusting Of the shop-work
which she would not trust to the little
servant-girl. The old man had just put
on his working apron; in which task he
had been laughingly helped by Chrissie.
In spite of feeble remonstrance, she
transferred her attention to Uncle Dan Is
toilet, brushing his coat, and re-arrang-
ed the ponderous silk kerchief, which
he preferred to all fashionable innova-
tions in the form of ties and cravats.
His tormentor insisted that, as he be-
belonged to the shop, she had right
to make him look nice 'sjust as much as
the counter or the window and glass
cases."
"There, now, you'll do, Uncle Dan, .
turning him playfully round for inspec-
ton, and adding, with merry laugh,
"and you ought to feel very much oblig-
ed to me-,
| ibid I, little torment? Well, if
was young fellow like Tom Allison,
suppose I should lose my head under
the honor of the obligation"
i Chrissie looked little self conscious,
and blushed at the unexpected turn
which he was giving the conversation.
She picked up her duster, and turned
her attention to polishing one of the
glass cases, as she asked him if he was
) very busy.
I. .'Yes, for I have some of Toms
work to do: I could not trust it to any
one else He's . rare workman, Chris
; sic. never had one to equal him, and
. he's just the sort Of young man to push
his way into the world. Don't you
think so, my dear?''
! The young lady paused in her worl
: as she listened to this diplomatis
speech, but she adroitly managed te
, avoid passing any opinion on Tom.
81 think he is a great favorite O
yours, Uncle Dan, and think I ough
to get jealous, and I would IT, sh,
abruptly checked herself, and the Ole