The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-09-13

D1Q ne uOuDC JnaC Flora lOVeu MIN!
'sBless you!" he said, fervently. 81
am willing to wait; it is so much better
than despair dealt at one blow" Then
he lighted her candle from his own, and
left her, with blank dismay pictured
upon her face. There was no question
but her matchmaking had succeeded,
and she herself was in love with Clar-
ence Gascoigne! Another woman
might have played false at this unex-
pected crisis, and deemed that all was
fair in love, but Bell Raymond was of
finer clay.
"You dear old go-between, cried
Flora, when Bell made her revelations,
" the Bishop Valentine himself couldn't
hold candle to you. It's too good to be
true. Do l love him? Don't I? sCon-
firmed in a sentiment whose existence
he had only suspected before Mrs. Ray
mond's Illness is he? Well, must
confess l hardly expected such good
fortune. He's so reserved, l suppose,
and-and- Why he has never so much
as kissed my hand, or pressed it, though
he has had plenty of opportunity. Well,
you can go tell him that the adage,
Faint heart never won fair lady, is dis
proved. I'll wait here.''
Somebody knocked family at Mr..
Gascoigne's study door. "Come in,"
he said, mistaking it for the maid.
| "Flora is waiting for you in the par
lor," began Bell.
Waiting for me?-Flora?" repeated
Mr.. Gascoigne.
"Yes. l have told her; she is wait
ing to confirm your hope, Mr. Gas
coigne. She bids me say that the adage,
Faint heart never won fair lady, is dis
proved. When you intimated to me the
other night that you loved her, l sus-
pected that it was not in vain, but /
could not be certain, you know. Now
knoW she loves you with all her heart.
[ am sure of it. Don't let me keep you
an instant; it must seem like an eternity
to Flora. She is waiting for you-in
the parlor. Go! Why do you hesitate?
Don't you believe me?''
Mr.. Gascoigne had risen, deathly pale,
with solemn, wounded look in his
shining eyes, and great circles growing
beneath them; his lips moved without
forming words. His whole attitude was
that of one overcome with unexpected
happiness, it seemed to Bell, as he
steadied himself by grasping with trem-
bling hands the chair beside him.
"You told Flora that loved her?n
he gasped. "You told her that loved
her?''
"Why, yes; told her you had been
confirmed in a sentiment whose exist
ence you had only suspected before you
were thrown together SO much by Aunt
Milly's Illness" repeated Bell.
"And you say that Flora loves me?
You are sure of it?''
I" I am sure. Go and ask her." and
Bell went slowly out; but it was some
time before Mr.. Gascoigne obeyed her.
" He is the oldest lover in the world"
confessed Flora, later. Nothing
spooney or gushing about him. sup
pose it wouldn't be dignifed for cler-
gyman. Why, he only kissed me twice,
if you'll believe it, Bell, and looked as
solemn as an owl, and said he hoped he
should make me happy. Goodness!
I'm happy already, and told him SO.
Do you know, Bell, never had an out
and-out offer before, though I'm twenty
seven?"
Miss Raymond offered thanks when
Mr.. Gascoigne took his vacation
to the White Hills, and Flora
went home to acquaint her
friends with her new prospects, and to
join her lover, with her mother, at the
Mountain House later. Bells summers
work was ended; there was nothing
more for her to do but to sit down and
count the cost of matchmaking. In
the meantime Flora wrote her friend
long confidential letters from the noun
tains.
"Such larks! We do nothing but IN
JOY ourselves. Who do you think we
found here but his highland -mightiness
the heir of Pine Hill, Mr.. Chester Cal
lender, of Haphazard. And such a
swell! He danced with me five times at
the hop last highland didn't the other
women look daggers One dared to say
it was because I'm engaged, and it's SO
safe flirting with engaged girls all the
, fun and none of the danger! Let them
rave! If engaged-who knows?
! Il might fancy living at Pine Hill, with
a retinue of servants, driving in my
carriage, and cracking in my silks. /
/ didn't tell you, did l, that the stocks in
which my money was invested have de-
: clined most shamefullyp So Mr.. Dis
: count, my business man, writes me
: But there's dear old Clarence-do you
: know, he isn't a particle jealous!'
| While later date ran, ''Mr. Calender
7 and | are just in from climb up the
mountain with small party. Clarence
: went with some gentlemen last weel
camping out, and didn't care to repea
: history. We got separated from thu
7 others, Mr.. Calender and l, and los
/ our wav: and we should have beer