The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-09-28

uoVeu WHICH, VIC SoOPROO W p
horses. On getting back again into the
coach, I had the felicity Of holding the
young lady's muff while she adjusted
her wraps. 1 even passed the cord or
string attached to it over her head as
she resumed her seat, which was more
of favor than had been shown Char
ley, in spite of his advantage in point
of time. Then, growing drawer, I fold
ed her mantel around her, that had
slipped from its place, for which she
me in way that was entranc-
ing.
$50 far, you will see, nothing very
original had been said, nor any great
advances made toward intimate &C
quaintance, but it was enough to fill
me with delight, and make me forget
every thing except that time was going.
Papa being safely and soundly asleep
you may depend there was no sleep
in our young eyes-Ye had some very
small talk among ourselves, during
which, I remember, she referred to my
being on my way to school, and max
ing me feel as young as the respectable
butler did David Copper6eld. I. took
special care to say college, with strong
emphasis, and refer to my graduating
the coming summer, in tone that had
a strong flavor Of mannishness in it.
ssIn the meantime we were riding
fast toward the dreaded hour, and /
was wretched with the thought of never
seeing this dear girl again. For three
days we had been together, and it was
the one blessing of the old stage-coach
that hours did the work of ordinary
weeks in the way of making friends or
enemies, for TIM sure I hated the snufy
old woman as much as If / had known
her twenty years. And now q sudden
lurch of the coach forced me into q POI
sition most delightfully."- ;close to her side,
and with my hand resting on her mutt
-an old-fashioned, generous muff, in
which you could lose one of the toy af-
fairs Of the present day. The contact
made me bold, and from the outside /
shyly passed my Land inside the muff,
and I can remember nothing in my af-
ter-life that has made me so entirely
happy as when in that warm covert /
felt her little gloved hand clasp mine.
wished the road would lengthen out
indefinitely, that 9 o'clock could be
postponed for a week or two. The
truth is, / felt like havinga good cry as
I whispered, in . shaky voice, You
won't forget meP' Yes, 1 said some
thing much tenderer than this, but /
can not go on with my story if Mrs.
Cooper looks at mein that savage way. y
ssGo on, dear, tell it all only den t
draw on your imagination too much, !"
said his laughing wife. ss-i3as
.Did say before that we had the
coach to ourselves by this time? The
other passengers had been dropped at
intervals along The road. The old gen.
tleman was sleeping peacefully, Charley
had scarcely spoken for an hour, and l
was awaiting in an agony Of dread the
minute when the driver would shout
the fatal word. supposed the wretched
creature did right to anticipate our ar
rival at Newburgh with q yell loud
enough to wake the dead, rousing papa
to an upr ght position, and knowledge
of his whereabouts.
"sCome, ANNIE he said with q
yawn. Here we are, and with this
uOIIlU10 Ilf0I W ClOSS dH6Aus AdtO
you every thing ready, my dearP'
"sI shall have in one moment, she
said, as the coach stopped, giving my
hand closer clasp before Withdrawing
it forever.
'sMr. Gardiner expressed himself
with great friendliness, sent kind
messages to father, hoped we might
roao% ~os~ chonb houdc ou1 ofonnod
down into the deep snow.
"sIn one moment, papa, she repeat
ed. And then, in q lower tone, that he
might not hear her, Pardon me, Mr..
Cooper, but if you and your friend are
through with my muff, shall have to
trouble you for It. I hope you have
both found it comfortable. Thank you.
No apologies, beg. You were quite
welcome to it. A pleasant journey.
Goodnight And she took her fathers
offered hand-he would not allow us to
leave the coach to assist him-and left
us both stunned.
"Even now, after all these years,
can not recall this, even when alone
without blushing and burning with
shame. Think Of us two boobies sitting
there for three mortal hours squeezing
each others hands! wasn't SO much
to blame, for Charley's hands, as I've
told you, were small and delicate as 3
woman's. But think Of his pressing
such hand as that, and supposing 1
belonged to pretty Annie Gardiner!
had mind to cuff him then and there
for the insult to her, but it was toe
abominably ridiculous for any thing bu,
laugh; and laugh we did, though
there was more noise than mirth in i
We jumped over the seats, and pounded
the cushions like . couple Of 1unatics