The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-08-24

been imprudent, that had awkwardly |
touched chord in the mans heart that |
was sacred. was sorry, and being
very young and inexperienced in hiding |
my emotions, made failure of it. |
The tears came into my eyes, my lip
trembled and felt wretched. He saw
the state of things at a glance, and said
kindly:
81 beg your pardon, John. I didn't
mean to be rude, but had Just been
thinking of events scarcely six years old,
but such bitter hopeless memories that
it seems as if I had lived a thousand
years since the page on which they are |
written was turned down in the book of |
Fate-turned down forever"
He paused, and / said nothing. ell
have never spoken of these things,n he |
continued, ssbut I think I was some
thing like you at 20; how sadly have
changed since then!"
He stopped again, and then continu-
ed: II don't mind telling you my story,
if you would care to hear it," and as |
eagerly answered, ssdo tell me, - he re-
sumed: 1t is a sad story, my little
friend ; it concerns woman. Some say,
hearts do not break; others:
that women's hearts do some-
times, but that a mans is tough,
and can bear disaster to the affec-
tions without material injury. May be
it is true, generally speaking, but there
are exceptions-the exceptions, sup
pose," he said musingly, ssthat philoso-
piers would tell you prove the rule. You
see me to-day old, and prematurely
gray. have never been dissipated
man. inherited fine constitution
from my father. have lived regu-
larly, and have never suffered from dis
ease, but am as you see me, neverthe-
less. Do you ask if I am heart-brokenp
can not say that, but / have mourned
over the dead and buried hopes for five
years, and Gods beautiful world will
never look so fair and sweet again to
me as the hour when close my eyes
upon it forever"
He moved slightly in his chair, and
said, as if studying on the matter, ssIt
looks like case Of broken-heart, don't
| itpr
Then he was silent for several min
utes, but when he spoke again, his voice
had changed, and he proceeded more
cheerfully than l had ever heard him
speak before:
"Six years ago last August was en-
ployed in an Eastern city. 1 worked
the New York wire, and one day, while
I was sending, an Office boy came up,
and said: MIR. Phipps, there's lady
outside as wants to see YER cleared
my hook, asked New York to wait Sec
ond ,and went out into the vestibule of the
office. A vision of loveliness, such as l
had never seen until then, stood before
me. She was an entire stranger to me,
but we were soon chatting gaily, never
theless, for she had said in the mean
time: Il am Helen Banks, from Say
brook, and, as was passing through
here, on my way to Rockville, where l
am to take the Office, thought it not
improper that should call and renew,
in propria persona, the acquaintance
we had formed by WIRE
81 have burdened you, by inference,
with one exploded theory, SO don't
mind another" he continued, 81 fell
in love at first sight. She was q lovely
creature, small of stature, bright, in
telligent, modest, enchanting, and she
appeared to me as suddenly and unex-
pectedly as Diana appeared to Endym-
ion. How readily l accepted EndYm-
ions role, and with what alacrity
awoke from my sleep of everyday life,
to q new life Of love and bliss, need
not tell you. She staid only a few
minutes, and at parting, she said, gaily:
!, "sI expect to be intensely lonesome
down at Rockville, and that my only
recreation will be that derived from lis
! tening to the birds, and to your musi-
: cal sending. Think of me sometimes,
and when the wire is idle, say q word
, to poor me, won't youp' she went on,
half loosely, half in earnest. And, :
she concluded, when you are too busy
to bid a body good day, please imagine
[ that
ssPretty and pale and tired
She sits in her stiff backed chair,
While the blazing summer sun
3f Shines on her soft brown halr.
+ and all the rest of it. Good Bye and
she was gone.
!, "How dark and dismal the old Office
: looked as l resumed my duties. The
) sunbeams which in my imagination
nestled in her hair and played round
the dimples in her cheeks, lending q
' new and genial luster to the Office,
: blessing every nook and corner in the
D dim old room like visible benediction,
3 went out with her. Twas very thought
: full and pre-occupied that afternoon,
' and felt that / could afford to smile at
/ my companions who sought to tease me
2 by asking if that was the young lady
+ who inquired so often if Mr.. Sixty-six-
s i-Sixty-sixes was in. Well, time passed
= IN and what with chatting on the wire.