The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-10-12

fellow" said, turning to one of them,
and merry dance you made of life !;
and it were to introduce you to this, -
turning to the other, SIT would be
something after this fashion: self to
self's ghost.''
At this moment a most remarkable
thing happened-a most unusual thing
my ofice-bell rang. I laid my pistol
by with a whispered "wait," and an
swered the summons
l recognized the porter of the Darby
House rs l opened the door.
"Yees wanted at the hoose,n he said,
in his Irish brogue, "there's grand
Teddy sick there, an sint for yees.''
"Very well, Tim," I answered, as
nonchalantly as if "grand leddies"
were in the habit of sending for Doctor
Lysle at all hours, "I will be along di-
rectly."
AS I stepped back into my room for
my overcoat, the pistol shining on the
shelf seemed somehow very different
thing from what it had a few moments
before. / even was conscious of lit
tie shudder as glanced that way, and
as walked along over the crisp snow,
the bracing air seemed to rouse me as
from nightmare.
But if I had any vision of achieving a
professional reputation from the diff
Guilty OF this case, they were dissipated
as entered one of the parlors of the
Darby House and saw my patient. New
er was the seal of perfect health more
plainly set on lip and cheek, or display
ed in the full flowing of a woman's
form than in hers who awaited me.
half reclining in deep luxurious arm
chair. 7
Doubtless my face betrayed my as
tonishment, for she said, with a. shade
OF embarrassment in her voice:
/" You are right, Doctor Lysle, am
no more sick than you are. And yet,
for reasons which 1 can not explain, but
which assure you are not in the slight
est degree reprehensible, I wish to ap-
pear SO. If you will only treat me as
nearly as possible as you would if I
were afflicted with violent pneumonia,
will be very, very much obliged.n
hesitated little, more from aston
ishment than from anything else.
81 pledge you my word you shall
never regret it, nor IL she added,
proudly.
just then servant entered. A well
simulated expression of pain crossed
her fair face, and she put her hand
quickly to her side.
There was no time for further con-
sideration; I accepted the situation.
"The pain is almost constant now, is
it not?' said, gravely. Then seating
myself at the table, and remarking that
quite frequently put up my own pre-
scriptions, | prepared a potion, sup
posed to be very powerful, but, of
course, perfectly simple and harmless.
A little CLEAN OF pleasure in her eyes
did not escape me, nor light twinkle
OF merriment, either, as | ordered mus
tard applications in liberal quantities.
81 hope she will insist on applying
them herself,"I said, inwardly; 10 there
is no need of her martyrizing herself to
too great extent.''
At last Miss Howard-so she intro
duced herself f-professed herself some
what relieved, and took my leave,
promising to call on the following morn
ing, unless the case should demand my
presence before that time, (which do
not now anticipate, / said, with pro-
fessional caution.
's'Whatever may be the cause of the
young lady's conduct" I said to myself
as | re-entered my room, sher little
comedy has spoiled my tragedy and
l took down my pistol and removed the
charge. was a different being from
what I had been three hours before.
Death now seemed as foreign to me as
life did then. sf
An orphan, almost from my birth, !
had inherited q large property from my
grandfather, as was the only one of
his kindred living. In the belief that
this property was mine, had grown
up to manhood, a gay, light hearted,
impulsive fellow, who had never seen
aught of life but the sunny side. The
only touch of the practical there was
about me, was passion for the study
of medicine, and this I had pursued to
a really considerable extent for the
mere love of it. ts}
One day as was rummaging among
some old papers in the library. hap
pened to pull out from corner, where
it had been undisturbed for many a
year, a paper, yellow and worn with
age. I unfolded it idly.
soon found it was my grandfather's
will, and bequeathed all his property,
MOTTO me, but to Alicia Orton, a per-
son whose namesswas unknown to me.
Who and where was this Alicia Or
ton? Who would know? Grandfather's
lawyer was dead-the witnesses were
dead. "Oh!" Isaid impatiently, /" ev-
cry body is dead" Then thought of
"Aunt Rhoda;'' she might know. II
locked the will in desk and started in
search of her at lost In hnr o,rr, ,.,nr,a