The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-12-14

fancy of the old classic days seemed too
fantastic or too fair for the spot. The
instinctively kindled into |
pictures, and saw the sea-nymphs sport
ing in the foam; bold tritons winding !
their shells; mermaids playing at hide |
and-seek; mikes and hooking water
sprites peeping from the basins-all
dream-land and wonderland opening,
and the common earth put aside and far
away.
With cries of delight the party made
their way down, and scattered through
the cave. There was room for an army.
1t was hard to realize that with the re-
turning tide the space must fill, the gate
way close, and leave no resting place
for human foot.
"You said the tide was going down,
didn't you. little boy?"
"Ye-ah."
"You're sure?"
"Ye-ah.'
"That's nice," cried Isabel. "Then
we can stay as long as we like Oh!
do, somebody, come here and see this.'
She was lying with her face almost
touching the anemones. Nobody re-
sponded to her call-each had found
some other point of interest. Tom had
fished up sea-urchin, and was exhib-
iting it. Kate and the Captain, in
niche of their own, at safe whispering
distance, were absorbed in each other.
Esther had climbed to the topmost
lodged, and was sitting there alone.
For the first time in six weary months, a
sensation of pleasure had come to her,
and she was conscious of but one long
ing-that they would all 60 away and
leave her to realize it. With some
vague hope she got out her color-box
and portfolio, and began to sketch.
Sketching, she had discovered, kept
people of, and furnished an excuse for
silence. And so an hour or so passed
by. She heard, as in dream, the
chatter of the others, their questions to
the little guide. his short, jerky replies.
The pools were all explored; the ur-
chins and anemones had been tickled
with parasols, and made to shut, open
and shut again; the young people be-
gan to sigh for future worlds to con-
quer, and Mrs. Gray to consider it very
damp.
ssLittle boy, isn't there something
else near by which we should like to
see?"
"Well, what is it? Tell us, please"
"There's the Heads, guess"
"Oh! how far off is that? A mile,
did you say? That's not far. Papa.
the boy says there's place called the
Heads only a mile away, and we
want to go and see it. Can't we goP
You know the way, don't you, little
boy!"
"Ye-ah."
81 think this place is very DAMP"
sighed Mrs. Gray. 81 should be really
glad to 90 somewhere and feel the sun
shine again. begin to have creeping
chills. Suppose we let the boy show
us the way to this other place, father"
"Very well. Get your things to-
gether, girls. Come, Esther, we're 60
ing"
Esther reused herself as from a
dream. go, Mr.. Gray! Must 1 go?
I'm in the middle Of q sketch, you see.
Couldn't you leave me here quietly, and
pick me up as you come back? Ishould
like it SO much"
"Well-I don't know. The tide is
going out, the boy says; there won't be
any trouble of that kind. Are you sure
you won't be chilled, or lonely?"
"Oh! quite sure.n
"Promise me that, if you are, you
will 60 to the cottage at the bend and
warm yourself, or sit on the rocks in
the sun. Well look for you in the one
place or the other. Good-by, nv
dear"
"Good-by, sir.''
"And, 0 Esther, you must have some
lunch. You'll be starved before we
come back" cried careful Helen.
So she and Tom and basket made
their way upward, and a deposit of
sandwiches and port wine was left in a
convenient crevice within reach.
"Good by, dear. I hope the sketch
will be lovely" And they are gone
up the hill-side-Mrs. Gray last, lean
ing upon her husbands arm.
"Poor child!" she said, sit makes
my heart ache to see her look so sad.
Didn't you notice how she was longing
to have US 60, and leave her alone?'
"And the very worst thing for her.
She needs rousing, and all this morbid
thinking does her harm.'
The voice died away. Esther caught
the words, and she smiled at them-a
bitter little smile. That was what all
of them had said since her trouble came.
She must be roused-amused- they
had crowded business and pleasures
upon her until she sometimes felt she