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

buU tHe uht ) uUIlcS ltu w bC SoiiC
through, and these were not the men to
shun them selfshly.
ssI suppose we had better settle with
Leslie about his holiday" remarked Mr..
Maitland that afternoon, sending to
summon Tom to the partners room.
He will lose every glimpse of summer
if he waits longer
ssHe should not have postponed his
holiday. He had his choice. Well,
Leslie! when do you wish to start?'' in
quired the senior partner, when Tom en-
tered the room. "You said about the
middle of October, and this is the 2Oth.'
"Thank you, Mr.. Dart! but if it would
make no difference, | would rather take
my holiday from the 20th.''
"Then it is to be hoped you are go
ing on VISIT" remarked Walter Matt
land, pleasantly; "for November days
are not the pleasantest for tourist
9: | am not gong on tour, SIR"
Tom hesitated only moment; then
both of his listeners were conscious of a
new earnestness in his voice: 81 should
like to tell you, gentlemen, why want
my holiday then. The Goth is to be my
wedding-day."
Mr.. Dart returned quietly to his writ
ing. Mr. Maitland arose from his seat
and moved to the fire, turning his back
to Tom Before the eyes of both the
partners there hovercd face which had
led them, too, to dream of possible
wedding g-day-dreams from which they
had so lately been awakened.
1t would be hard, with these memo
ries rising thick, to talk to their favor
ite clerk of his good fortune; yet it was
not in Walter Maitland's nature to let
any selfish feeling prevent him.
Indeed, Lesliei" he said, &C am
surprised; but very glad, of course, to
hear it. 1 prognosticate every happi-
ness for your wife Of course can not
do so for you until l know who she is"
"You know her well, gentlemen"
said Tom, flushing, "Her father, Col
onel Conyngham, is my mothers cousin.
We have rarely visited them except
when they were :lone. becsuse-at my
mothers cottage, of course, we could
not entertain their guests. We have
ALWAYS been-as old friends and rela-
tives should be; and have always loved
Isabel. But it was necessary for us to
wait little. Though it would be diff
ficrlt for you to realize the fact, gentle
men, a marriage is an expense, and
debt"
"You can 90, Leslie,'' remarked Mr..
Dart, without raising his head.
"And the holiday, sir?''
"Take your holiday when you choose,
only don't make such fuss about it.
''And is there nothing more you in
tend to say to me, Mr.. Maitland?" in
quired Tom.
ssI should say" remarked Walter,
, with an angry CLEAN in his eye, I" it is
an irreparable mistake you are making
5 to marry on your income, unless you
had chosen wife in your own position
and used to such a life as your mothers
l Isabel's, at Isabel's age" said Tom
and for moment his face was really
handsome in its flush of honest pride
and I" Isabel has known what my moth
. er's life is for many year past. Woulc
} l marry her under any false pretenses?'
S 81 presume, then, that Miss Conyn
4 CHAM knows the extent of your income?'
e asked Maitland, with compressed lips
/ cor have you, in your foolery, been rep
e resenting yourself as a partner in th'
= bank? Her eyes are open to the foil,
:, of what she is doing, eh?''
e "She knows every thing, SIR" re
Joined Tom, his eyes much puzzled, ant
little angry, "and she does not call i
: folly"
- "You can 60"
e The clerk left the room, closing tn
S door quietly behind him.
5 "They must have been harassing let
It ters,'' he said to himself, trying to &C
Q count for the partners impatience
J. ssThey have good deal of anXiet
|. which we subordinates are spared.
It And thinking this, he took his seat an
n wrote away more diligently than ever
e while his fellow-clerks wondered owe
his mood.
|, ''Leslie ought to co.
# Those were the words which at las
O broke the silence of the room which To1
a had left. III
a eyes"
Then the days work went on to il
S close, and the partners, separating o
W the bank steps, went their several way
thinking very longingly of one to whol
both had been faithful. This was tf
first night for many months which eithe
h had spent without these bright, vagr
'. dreams of what his home might be wit
Y. Isabel at its head and their hearts wei
i. filled with resentment against the vii
a ner of the prize which they had covete'
"You knew this morning that she was
id marry some one else-why should yol
Id thoughts be harder, now that you kno
I aobo has won her?" So a voice SCENE
e. arguing with them, but below all Il
ur angry thoughts surged on.