The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-29

tuCus dShcU Mis-. Al1cu, udlI III 0drN-
est. "I've hardly been out of doors
the whole winter and spring, and I
should enjoy the ride as well as the
boys.''
Farmer Allen laughed.
"Any more of you want to goP What
would you do with the babyP"
Take her, of course. You don't
suppose weather like this would hurt
her? She needs the air as much as
any body"
"Are you really in earnest, Mother?"
Certainly. 1 don't see why you
can't make pleasure-jaunt out of it as
well as business one. haven't been
SO far away from home for five years,
and guess the house could get along
without me for half day. Becky can
get dinner for the men at noon, and we
should get home by two or three o'clock
at the latest, -
"Well, just as you say, then. I'm
sure I've no objections. Well have to
start pretty early, and, instead of hav-
ing one of the men 60 with US, shall
have to drive.''
So the matter was settled.
At seven o'clock the next Saturday
morning the party set out, all in the
highest possible spirits. Innumerable
charges were left with Becky as to what
to do about dinner and how to dispose
of other household duties, if they should
not return at the time expected. A
huge basket of lunch was placed under
the seat; much to the satisfaction of
Harry and Jack, who had been too
much excited in regard to the journey
to care for breakfast.
It was a splendid April morning, and
but for the brown looks of the fields
and the thinly leaved trees would have
seemed like June. The sun shone and
the birds sang and every thing seemed
delightful. The two boys were con-
stantly finding something new to adj
mire in things about them, and their
merry shouts often occasioned SYM
pathetic 5000" on the part of the baby,
who stared with her big round eyes at
the commonest objects as if they were
the most wonderful things in the world.
1t was after II O'Clock when they
reached the mill. The wagon had been
left at the end of the road, 3 mile back,
the horses taken out, and bag of oats
emptied upon the ground for them.
They were both steady-going old veter-
ans, used to the harrow and plow, and
would stand just where they were left
hours at time. The farmer, however,
had taken the precaution, after putting
the brides in the wagon, to tie the
halter to one of the wheels. a
The. mill stood clsse down to the
waters edge, and in front and all
around it were heaps of blocks, refuse
timber, logs, and shavings. 1t was not
a very romantic looking place, but the
children were delighted with it.
The long ride had given them all a
good appetite. A rough table was made
out of some boards laid across couple
of stumps, and the contents of the big
basket were soon placed upon it. Lunch
finished, the farmer and his son began
their Investigations, while Mrs. Allen
and the children wandered about looking
for arbutus and gathering pine-cones.
There was more to be looked after
about the mill that was expected, and
it was two o'clock before the job was
| finished.
So busy had they all been that the
gradual clouding up of the sky had moi
been noticed, and it was not until the
sudden pattering of rain began upon
the leaves that the little party began te
look about them.
"Tt's nothing but an April shower, >
said Tom. 1--WE shall have to get un
der the shelter of the mill till it passe.
over.' s
/ "Don't You believe it, returned tn,
farmer. 6 We've had rain hanging
]round for o week past, and we've go
| it now, sure enough. Do the best WI
can, we shall be drenched. You rul
on ahead, Tom, and put the horses in
so as to be ready by the time we ge
there. Wen be right after YOU"
i Obedieut to his fathers advice, Ton
hurried rapidly along the path leading
to the spot where the team had beel
left, while the remainder of the part
followed after - fast as they could
I The place was reached at last. Th
wagon was there, the two brides Ia:
just where they were thrown, but th
horses were gone.
/ For moment the farmerstood dumb
founded Then he began to examin
, their tracks. Ia
"It's plain enough" at last he hui
riedly said. g They've slipped the halt
, er and have started back home. YOU
: have to see ii you can overtake 'em
4 Tom. I'll take your mother and th
II children back to the mill. The wind
D rising and it is setting in for q cold, ra,
storm.
: The rain came faster and faster, an
by the time they had regained the she
ter Of the mill they we're thoroughly We