The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-09-27

Hamilton my friend, "behold the beau
ideal of my imagination. The perfect
foot which l have in vain looked for in
the Medician Venus, in Powers's Greek
Slave in every work of art illustrating
feminine beauty, is now found!'
1t was gathered in close-fitting gold
en- bronze boot with neat heels like lit
tie walnuts, and as she walked l heard
their nut-like "tap-tap upon the pave.
AS she now came opposite my window
she slightly (the least perceptible mo-
ton in the world) elevated her skirts to
escape possible contact with patch of
coal dust which DR.. Bung, my vis-a-vis
friend and rival had carelessly permitted
to remain after getting down his coal!
Such ankles of grace and beauty were
never Beheld? They were fit mates to
the twinkling feet. AS 1gazed enchant-
ed the fair promenader, whose form was
slight, symmetrical as became such
lovely feet, turned corner and vanish
ed!
am not usually an impulsive man.
My uncle, who was physician, told me
that impulse and excitability were fatal
to the success of a doctor of medicine;
that l ought to cultivate calmness, i'm
perturbability and cool self-possession.
"Gravity and dignity, slowness of gait
and deliberation in opinion, are the high
est qualifications in medical man, he
used often to say.
1, therefore, at my present age, eight
and-twenty, was quite Galen for gravi-
ity and decorum of visage and manner.
But 1 must confess that upon losing
sight of the fair possessor of the beauti
full feet l sprung from my armchair,
tossed my cigar into the CRATE, seized
my hat and stick Ga gold-headed, doc
tor-like cane, with my name, Doctor
J. V. S. Dodwell, Jr.," in full thereon)
and rushed into the hall and made for
the street-door, resolved | would this
time follow her to the worlds end
but that / discovered who she was! Mrs.
Bracegirdle was standing in it, chatter
ing with woman for fruit of some sort
AS crowded past her she looked at me
with amazement, and cried out in alarm,
"Who is hurt? What is it, Doctor?
Is any body run overp"
"No, | am after my wife," Ianswer-
ed; and, leaving her mystifed, 1 pur-
sued at rapid step the course taken by
the twinkling golden bronzes. Upon
turning the corner met her full in the
face, returning, as if she had taken the
wrong street. was so taken aback-
to use a sea term-that l stopped per-
fectly still, confounded at the rencontre,
and she glided past me without even
glancing at me, slightly deviating to
pass by me as she would have done by a
barrel that stood in her path. Her face
was concealed by a brown veil, worn, as
the fashion of young girls is, double
over the face, though for the life of me
how they can see to walk so blindfelded
is a mystery! After she had passed me
/ recovered my self-possession which
this unprepared-for encounter had in a
measure deprived me of, and turned to
follow her, resolved that / would never
lose sight of her until l knew where
she abode, which ascertaining, | de-
termined to take steps to become ac-
quainted with her.
Instead of continuing along Blocker
Street, she crossed, and seemed to be
looking for some number. She slowly
read the signs on the doctors window
shutters (if read she could through her
thick barege mask, and, passing on, l
saw. her linger an instant to glance at
the name on my window-blind and then
lightly trip up the steps and ring the
bell--not Mrs. Bracegirdle' but mine |!
do not know whether surprise OF de-
light the most predominated in my emo
tions at this. My boy Tina red
headed little mulatto-opened the door,
and was about to say was out, when,
catching glimpse of me, he said, loud
enough for me to hear:
"He's coming, ma am-walk in!''
The golden CATERS disappeared lightly
in the hall, and followed with palpi-
tating heart.
1t is not often receive patients in my
room, and never ladies; and the condi-
ton of my apartment with all its con-
fusion, cigar-boxes, old hats, empty Vi
ais, and chaos generally, rushed upon
my thoughts, and | hesitated whether
I should 60 boldly in and "take the re-
sponsibility of all" or quietly withdraw
and keep out of my visitors way. But
curiosity to know why l was thus hon.
ored overcame this hesitancy, and l en-
tered the hall. Mrs. Bracegirdle was
just ending a peep through the ajar door
into my Office at the lady. l saw her
look a little rosy as she said, in a sort OF
apologize way:
81 thought you were out, Doctor.
There is a young lady in your room!'
81 saw some one come in, and re-
turned" l said, with dignity, as if it
were nothing to me were the lady old OF
young.
Upon my entering my Office the visit
or arose, for Tim had invited her to
take chair, and said, in charmingly
dl,la fod Int