The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-01-25

silly, no doubt, all his pride and obsti-
macy, but quite the fashion when lovers
are silly enough to quarrel. And Mil
lie and RATE were like all the
rest of mankind or womankind.
What right had she to go where she
was not willing her betrothed should
discover her? And yet he had seen her
several times conversing with a strange
gentleman on the steps of a strange
house in an unfrequented part of the
city: Aye, worse, he had seen Mile
Harrington enter the art rooms of
Strauss on Broadway, in company with
that same man. And he had been too
far off to speak or attract her attention,
and it was doubtful, he fancied, If she
would have recognized him willingly if
he had been near enough for that pur-
pose. He considered that his betrothal
with Miss Harrington gave him every
right to her confidence, and yet this one
thing she withheld from him, for no
amount of argument would compel her
to deal frankly with him.
"No, Rafe," she would answer. 81
do not question you, and you must not
question me. Some day think you'll
be ashamed of yourself, but until then
am ashamed for you!" And that was
all he could get from the naughty lady
love he worshiped so truly. But that
Mile had loved him, he felt sure, and
recalled her many acts of tenderness
and love with such weary pain in his
heart as almost to bring tears
to the proud blue eyes, unman-
" tho it might be. But he had said that
eff he left her in anger he would
never RETURN" and nothing should
cause him to retract his word. So he
dressed for the opera and sat all the
evening before Miles box, growing
more and more jealous as he watched
the beautiful face and noticed her kind
ly manner toward the stranger who sat
beside her. Mile did not fail to see
him, although never had she seemed so
careless and ight-hearted. "Utterly
heartless!" decided RATE, Indignantly,
while Mile knew herself to be more
wretched and sick of heart than ever
before in her young life.
So the evening wore on, and when
the curtain fell for the last time Mile
gladly arose and left the house, only
longing for the solitude of her own
room and the relief of tears. DAYS
passed. Mr.. Rand questioned his ward
as to the cause of the misunderstood
ing between herself and RATE. But, to
his surprise, she refused to explain, and
retired behind that haughtiness she
could don so well, until even
her loved guardian was awed into
silence. "He couldn't pretend to fol-
low all Miles queer whims," was his
reply when the dear old sister who
played the role of propriety and mat
ronized the small family, ex postulated
with him for allowing the girl so much
liberty. "Let her alone, my DEAR, he
would reply; "the child is well enough
if you don't vex her. And bless me if
l know what to do when she lifts that
head OF hers and looks at me as if she
were the queen and I a refractory SUBJ
ject."
So Mile was allowed to have her
own way, and after one more mvsteri-
Gus visit to the strange house she ceased
to offend in that way, and went out &C.
companied only by her guardians Sis
ter.
New Years day was drawing near,
and Rafe Somers dreaded it for the first
time since his first experience of that
days pleasure. He had spent
the last New Years day mostly
with Mile, returning to her
side from his numerous calls, and
gladdening heart and eyes with her
presence for happy time before start
ing on another round of calls, which
propriety demanded he should make.
And he knew just how she would look
this time. Like a young queen in her
royal robes, receiving graciously her
subjects, and dispensing her sweet
smiles alike to each who were privi-
legged to call upon her. And he, the
once dearly loved friend and betrothed
he who had received the secret pres
sure of her small hand, and read his
own sweet welcome in her dark ewes
must remain outside of her presence
forever more, and see her only in his
dreams. No words could tell how he
longed to 60 again to her side and fold
his arms about her. But emo woman
shall make a fool of RATE Somers!n his
lips had said, defantly. And should he
humble himself after all?-not he! So
he bore the cruel pain which fed on his
heart each day, nor dreamed that even
pride could not quite conceal his grief
from curious eyes. There were Whis-
pers among mutual friends concerning
the broken engagement. The pledge
OF betrothal was missing from Miles
white finger. And from Rates. chain
the little golden circlet his clumsy
finger could not squeeze through, had
suddenly departed. But no tongue
dared question either the lady or gen
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