The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-10-18

yer SAID, fancy1ng 1t would hasten his
death to make a wiltc Foolish2 Well,
yes, but not uncommon. Miss Leda
came home with the body, and remain
ed week, but do. not know what be-
came of her then. The brother was
very unkind-one might say brutal
for he had been jealous of her for years,
and understood perfectly well that it
was only because of his brothers. neg
lect that she was left penniless instead
of inheriting most of the estate If /
hear of her | will let you know certain
ly." iH s.
But thirteen long, weary years passed
by. and no word of Leda reached the
faithful heart waiting and hoping to
have long looked-for tidings. No other
fair face ever took the place in Her.
bert's heart that Leda's face filled. mo
other love ever drove out this one strong
love of his heart; and when he looked
upon the parting gift of his darling
every throb of his heart was as truly
hers as it had been when he Abade her
farewell and tenderly kissed away her
falling tears.
1t was many minutes before he could
control his agitation sufficiently to open
the letter. 1t was postmarked "Lon-
don" and the date was that of the day
previous to that of Mr.. Morrison's fun
tral. sg .s.. .g4 lF 81
When at last he, opened and read it,
tears that were no shame to Herbert
Payne's manhood coursed down his
cheeks. In. humble words Leda told
him frankly the story already familiar
to him, and her own penniless condi-
ton.
q You mdy not care to claim a wife
who knows nothing of her BIRTH" she
wrote, "who stands now utterly alone,
a beggar, But if, as my heart will
whisper hopefully, you, still love me-,
you will find ne here for week longer
Ii you do not come I shall know that
you despise me for my involuntary de-
ceit, and | shall accept position offer
ed by an old friend as a governess to
her children"
"My darling, my forsaken darling!"
Herbert whispered, where are you?
Sorrowing for your wasted love. De-
spising your lover, who deserted you in
sorrow and in lonGliness!s It is too
bitter!" vgsI
But calmer thoughts came at last,
and after a long deliberation Herbert,
decided upon one more effort to gain
tidings of his lost love. In every large
city, for week, pleading newspaper
contained this advertisement:
LEDA-The letter written thirteen years
ago has just reached me. Write again. III.
Waiting, endured for SO many years,
became torture after this notice appear
ed, and once again Herbert Payne re-
signed himself to future uncheered by
loving companionship.
Had he possessed the power of Asmo-
deus he might have been waited over the
broad Atlantic to a home in Paris,
where sweet-faced woman, lovlier in
her gentle maturity than ever in her
girlish bloom, was teaching a.class of
girls the hard words Of the English lam
guage. Accepting the position offered
her by her friend, and refusing the as
1sistance offered grudgingly by her adopt
ed father's brother, Leda Morrison had
travelled with the children under her
charge for nearly six years. Then find
ing herself in Paris, and able to gather
class Of pupils, for English, she had
decided not to return to her old home,
earning more. than was sufficient for her
humble wants in her new vocation.
1t was some weeks after the discovery
of the long lost letter, and the class of
girls were improving their English ac-
cent by reading from "a newspaper,
when one slowly, and hesitatingly,
read: -.-....l FE
yba Of
ago has just reached me. Write again. ii.
% In a moment Leda, white, and trem-
bling, was eagerly scanning the lines.
Leda! 1t was an old name. Could
there be another Leda who had risked
her whole life's happiness thirteen years
before in a letter to F." H. Were there
two Herberts? If it should be! The
young ladies wondered at the perfect
impunity with which they murdered the
English language during the remainder
of the class hour; but none guessed the
tumult of hope and fear in the heart of
their pale, gentle teacher. None saw
her, when she was at last alone, write
few words only: !, s
enclosed advertisement in the paper, he will
find me at No. 2S, Rue -, Paris, ever his
faithful, loving betrothed,
LEDA MORRISON.
Then she put the advertisement in the
letter, sealed and directed it, and sent it
over the ocean to the anxious lover wait
ing and praying for tidings. = .e'1''. -
The English classes were never
neglected, the comfort'of the aged dwidow
who was Leda's companion was never
forgotten, the daily duties Of life were
eonseientiously performed, but it seem
ed to Leda as if her whole life .concen-