The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-04-20
THE FARMERS DAUGHTER.

Cleve Fairfax drew his tall, well-pro-
portioned figure to its utmost height,
his lip cHrled as he did So
.Yes," said his elder brother, irres-
olutely, feeling his moustache; ssbut,
you see, Charlie is SO set on it, and"
g That makes no difference, one way
or the other" interrupted Cleve, with
that quiet firmness which made one
think he might be nodded in iron. ut
is impossible nothing more nor less!
Your son, my nephew, to marry coun-
try girl-a Wisconsin farmers daugh-
ter-simply because she has a pretty
face and a pair of hazel eyes! Why,
man, it would be lifelong mistake"
And thus saying, Mr.. Fairfax passed
down the broad aisle.
Mabel Thorpe, sitting in the crowd
under the balcony of the Academy of
Music, had heard all of the brief COLO
guy with singing through her veins
and burning flush upon her cheek.
=" Cruel! cruel!'' she thought, as
they passed Oh, "and needlessly so, too.
/ did not care for Charles Fairfax. I
should not have infringed on the digni-
ty OF their race by marrying him. They
need not have been afraid"
And Mabel drew herself UP with
pride no less genuine than that of the
Fairfaxes, if she was "a Wisconsin
farmers daughter .
Miss Thorpe went home thinking
that New York had lost all its charms
for her. She had been very happy in
the great metropolis, with q girls inno-
cent unsophisticated happiness; bat il
was all over now. And when Charles
Fairfax called the next day he was as.
founded to learn that Miss Thorpe had
gone home.
So ended Charley's young dream o.
love, until the next pretty girl should
strike its answering chord. And Clevt
Fairfax thought no more of the Cir
who had given him momentary an.
noyance, save to congratulate himself
on the fact that the danger was over.
An October afternoon, with an atmos-
phere full of bracing vigor, in the wide
chimney Of the long, low, farmhouse
kitchen blazed FIRE of well-seasoned
logs, and Mabel Thorpe, standing in
the leYel crimson light, seemed the very
incarnation of the home deity, in her
calico dress and ruffied white apron.
ss"H How is he now, mother?n she
aaked with slight shadow of anxiety
N her eyes, as \ plump, matronly dame
came down the narrow, winding stair.
way that led up from the chimney
janb. =
"Oh, he's better,'' said Mrs. Thorpe,
briskly. "Hell do well enough now.
don't see how he could possibly have
been so careless as to let the gun dis.
charge itself through his own arm
1t will be some time before he re-
covers, l suppose, mother?''
Your father says he wouldn't be
surprised if it was q month before ht
got well around again.
"A month";" Mabel Thorpe drew q
long breath. OF all men in the world
sne most disliked and distrusted Clevt
falfiax, yet here he was, thrown, as il
were, on their hands for the very boor
q 9. his life. Little had honest old Obet
anorpe thought when he brought home
sne disabled sportsman, upon whom ht
~ Stumbled through the merest chanc,
Y me world, whom he was bearing
ACROSS his threshold. Mabel did moi
luage It best to enlighten him.
we we're never introduced to eacl
%ner,' she thought, 'sand it is not like
Y mat pc will recognize me, or ever
remember my name"
n q, when Cleve began to get better
aOei could not but feel that a new
3aSe was coming over the life tina
sa peen rescued from the grave.
na cleye, watching her, began t,
home goddess.
.l Inc marvel and mystery Of love-
r rno may ever hope to read its enigmas
l0f cleve Fairfax, who had run tn