The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-11-09

AAAAA. " SASO A1O SOluc lcCtcIS
OF Introduction to the New York law
offices, and that very morning had re-
celved an answer in the shape of a
large, official envelope, bearing the ad-
dress of the Hon. Mr.. Carleton, an
eminent member of the judicial bench.
Taking up my hat, I straightway bore
tae letter to its destination, and, having
read 1t, the Judge said to me: "In a
few days you shall hear from me, and
think l shall have good news for
you." slt&0 e aii'5 sf'fsl4 !
On the third morning after this inter-
view | had persuaded my sister to take
a walk with me. During our prone.
made we happened to pass before a res
taurant in the neighborhood, whence a
waiter had just issued forth, bearing a
luncheon tray, on which, among other
tempting viands, was a dainty roast
chicken. My poor sister involuntarilv
fixed such longing, hungry look on the
food as it passed before her, that it al
most broke my heart. On our, return
home, 1 found letter from Judge Carle-
ton awaiting me. Apologizing for the
irregular form of his invitation, he said
he should be happy to see me as a guest
at dinner on that same evening. lFi
As the servant announced me Judge
Carleton came toward me, and, taking
me kindly by the hand, introduced me
to his wife and daughter, and then to
several OF his guests who had known
my father. All were so kind and cor
dial to me that in few moments felt
quite at home. The dinner was a brilliant
one. was engaged in an animated
conversation with a charming and yerv
witty lady beside whom was. seated,
when suddenly all my gayety fled from
me. | had just perceived at one end of
the table a splendid roast, fowl that a
domestic had just placed there. The
scene Of the morning and the hungry
look in my sisters eyes rose up before
me, and my heart was wrung by the re-
membrance. The next instant a nor
ton Of the fowl was placed before me.
In the meantime the lady beside me,
finding | had suddenly become taciturn,
gave her attention to my next neighbor,
and left me to my own devices and the
satisfaction of my greedy appetite.
made such good use of the liberty thus
accorded me that in q few seconds
every trace of the food on my plate had
disappeared Dinner was nearly over,
when the conversation turned on q law
suit that my host had gained for one Of
his clients .g.lj lfl7e 20 t!eBagE}f
"Well," said the Judge, laughing,
"the case was one Of my best, ri al
low; but my client deserves a little
mention, too. just look at the hand
some present he has sent me-" and he
drew from his finger magnificent dia-
mond ring, and handed it for inspection
to the lady who sat next him. In the
midst of expressions of delight and adj
miration, the jewel was handed from one
guest to another round the table, and
Mrs. Carleton had just risen and was
proceeding to pass into the drawing
room, when her husband exclaimed:
My dear, have you my ringp"
"No, indeed; Mrs. M. returned it to
you few moments SINCE"
"Bless me! Then, where can it bep"
he said, taking out his napkin, and feel
ing in all his pockets, one after the 9TH
er. No one stirred from the table, and
for some minutes the room was filled
with confused hum of voices and the
jiAgling of knives and forks, china and
glass, brought into violent collision by
the excited guests in their search after
the missing jewel. But the search was
all in vain; the ring had certainly dis
appeared. s5'f ~ 5fs 'sije
81 see how it ISL said the Judge,
jokingly, that ring must be some
wicked fairy who has maliciously hid
den herself away in the pocket of one of
our number. Now, am going to make
a proposal, ladies and gentlemen-an
odd, extravagant, impossible proposal,
if you will-and which you would utter
ly reject if it came from any other
quarter; but which you will accede to,
as coming from an eccentric individual
like me-" -.
Explain! explain!" cried all of the
guests in chorus. 3sJ0 SIS @E3t
81 propose, then," continued our
host, "that before we leave this room
we shall proceed to search each other,
the ladies on this side, and we gentle
men yonfier. Let all who object hold
up their hands," 4Et
! At the word "search," all the blood
in my veins rushed back to my heart,
and cold sweat broke out on my fore
head and trickled down my face, which
l felt had become ashy pale. i stood
there apart, with rush of sound in my
ears, q mist before my eyes, and sway
ing to and fro like man drunk with
wine. And, through it all, l could hear
the laughing voice of my host counting
the votes in favor of his proposal. Sud-
denly he confronted me, and said, in
peculiar tone and. with a significant
glance at my arms, which were tightly
folded on my breast: g And you, sir,