The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-07-12
sI have something for you to do, and
I'll nav YOU well for it.''

elsie, "poor papa promised that L
should marry young gentleman who
ives in England when was grown, and
hat if I did not l should lose my for
,une. Now the time has come and he
IS coming, and can't marry him, Bet
,y, and | want him to refuse me. DO |
you understand"
81 understand" said Betsy, "and if
I were you I'd huff him off quick
enough, and make him glad to go, that
| would"
"And I can't think how to do it,
Betsy,n said Elsie, "and if you csn you
must do it for me. While he stays you
must pretend that you are Miss Sea-
bright; you must wear my clothes, and
take all the airs you possibly can, and
make him as unhappy as possible, so
that he'll have to refuse you-that is,
me, you know. Be sharp as you can
with him, Betsy-never the least bit
kind or nice. You'll try, won't you,
Betsy?''
81 can give any one as good as they
send, MISS said Betsy. "1'm no
mealy-mouth, and you'll pay me well,
MISS
"I'n give you hundred dollars,
Betsy" said the girl, "for you'll save
me freedom and my fortune; and you'll
not refuse him, you know, else all would
be spoiled"
"I'll MANAGE" said Betsy.
Then the two girls left all other work
to examine Elsie's wardrobe, and soon
Betsy was dressed in the most elegant
attire, her hair powdered, as was the
custom, and white gloves upon her
hands.
"And l." said Elsie, "will be your
poor companion, and you must call me
Miss Smith and snub me and order me
about"
Thus all was arranged when the little
letter Elsie had been so long expecting
arrived, and, breaking its blue seal, she
read that Mr. Harrington would pay his
respects to Miss Seabright in an hour.
How Miss Seabright laughed as she sat
waiting in the drawing-room watching
Betsy sail up and down with all her new
assumption of dignity! Betsy, with the
most amiable intentions, would have
been sure of offending; but Betsy, bent
on being unpleasant, would be grand
success.
Just then Betsy herself leant from the
window.
"Oh, miss!'' she cried, "there's a
carriage at the door, and there's gen
tleman coming out of it. Bless us! il
that's him, l don't wonder you want te
be off your match. Deary me! oh, deary
mel"
But before she could explain servant
brought Elsie card bearing the name
of Harold Harrington, and, as she arose
the most extraordinary figure entered
the room. 1t was a very tall young
man, between whose shoulders, never
theless, grew an enormous hump. HI
also, though he seemed to move activel.
enough, walked upon crutches. On hi
head, from which he had removed hi
cap, was black silk skull-cap, such a
entirely bald old gentlemen then wore
Over his ears was big black bandage
which also quite covered his chin. Oh
his right eye was large, green patch
on his left cheek another. All that wa
visible of his face was his nose, whicl
was certainly well shaped, but whicl
was much the color of red flannel; ant
about his throat was indeed flame
muller.
This was Harold Harrington.
, Elsie's surprise was so great that sh
/ sank into chair, and forgot to promp
Betsy as she had intended.
But Betsy needed no prompting. Sh
} was not in the least embarrassed.
, She advanced to meet Mr.. Harringto
!, with grin of supreme insolence on he
face, and burst into loud laugh.
; "Well," she said, $50 you are m
r young man ,are you? Unjust say whoeve
picked you out showed no mighty gres
taste; 'twasn't for your beauty, that
: plain
2 "No, madam" said the new arriva
r 3" it was not for my beauty. Do / az
S dress Miss Seabrightp''
: "Why, who else should I be?'' erie
e Betsy, " 'Twas not for your clevernes
t neither, you were chosen. But, no
e you have come, sit down. Been in tt
t wars, haven't you?"
e "My infirmities," sighed the youn
4 man, " are the result of my rockies
d ness as boy. 1 have most symp
t thizing letter from you upon the ia
d which broke my limb. You rememb
t it! You also condoled with me upe
n the careless shot which cost me my ey
o though you did not know how seriol
= was the result. 1t was while l was {
a trip to Switzerland that broke n
o back, and while endeavoring to drir
e some boiling tea the housekeeper lie
n carelessly upon the table, scalded q
h the hair from my head. This scar upe
b my cheek is the result of having a
temptedt to shave myself with my father
r razor. 1t was injudicious of him not
o tell YOU the result of my injuries, b