The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-06-07

ma fancies | am still a child.''
"Most ladies think their daughters
are always children" | said in my bluff
manner; but it only shows that parents
are fond. of their children
Oh, that's quite true" said the Young
lady, smiling still
She was a nice young creature, could
see that in moment, and had no false
pride in her, or she would not have
spoken so freely to a poor fellow like
myself. So l helped her down as care
fully as if she had been an old grand
mother about to leave me fortune:
and as she stepped on the deck l could
see that she had the prettiest foot and
ankle in all creation.
When we arrived in the saloon, and
she had secured berth for her mother.
and a sofa for herself, she asked me if
| thought we should have a rough
passage.
"Wel," said |, 81 think we NAV have
little sea about mid-channel; but hope
you're good sailor?"
81 think | am," she said; 'but poor
mamma suffers terribly II. is for her |
am anxious"
Well, MISS" said 1, g if may take
the liberty, l should say she would hard
ly have time to be i'll; we shall be over
| so very soOn.h
"That is as bad,' said she, with her
charming manner, as if she were talking
to an equal, but not the least familiarly,
"as when the dentist says it will soon
| be over.''
And without delay she tripped up the
companion-ladder without my help, step
ping as light as thistle-down.
l could not help following her with
my eyes, for prettier figure you would
not see on a summers day.
destined to be fulfilled, and we rolled q
good deal, so that my services were call
ed into requisition pretty freely.
We had fewer passengers on board
than usual, so l could devote myself to
Miss Kate and her mother; and as l
wrapped her in my rough pilot coat,
and drew the hood around her pretty
features, l thought she looked just like a
sunbeam peeping out of a dark cloud.
We soon came into harbor, and |
handed the ladies, bag and baggage,
into the clutches of the Custom-house
officers. gave them, moreover, their
pretty morocco-covered bag, which they
had left under the seat; and / saw in
neat gold letters, inscribed upon it, the
name of ''Kate Travers." 7"
They remained some weeks in Bou-
logne, and as it was the chief occupa-
ton of the inhabitants of that far-famed
emporium of refugees to watch the new
arrivals and departures, l frequently
caught sight of the young lady and
her mother, who | forgot to mention had
thanked me very much for my heedful
attention, and had presented me with a
sovereign on leaving the vessel.
used to touch my hat very respect
fully when / met them, and 1 was al
ways rewarded by kind look from Miss
Kate.
At length, after some days, felt my
self quite on the watch for them, anC
used to miss them when they did MOI
come. l found myself thinking more
about that sweet, gentle voice and smile
than was quite comfortable for me, as ;
steward.
One day was thinking, like the ma1
with the basket of glass in the cara
bian Nights,'' of what | should like tt
do if l had fortune thrust upon me
Miss Kate and a charming place in th'
country, of course, were quite in th'
foreground of my picture. felt hat
need of some one to whom could tel
all my thoughts, and get good counsel
and all that
81 will 90 and talk over the matte
with my old friend, Madame Croche,
I resolved ssShe is real lady and
shrewd woman, and | am sure she will
give me good advice"
So went to see my old friend, ant
said to her, 81 am come to you, Ma
, dame Croche, to tell you of my trou
bles.''
f "Ah, my son." she replied, g / thin]
| can guess them" @
"Can you?" said l. :" You must be
, witch!"
mot So They are SO simple, men
3 troubles she replied. "They aris
but from two causes-either they wan
money, or they are in love. Wome
have many sorrows that only time ca
efface, but mans griefs can general
! be classified under one of those tw
heads. Is it the first, now, or the last? |?
| mot the first, certainly said
ssBut must own, though you must ne
r think me desperately in love, that
I should like some one (who shall b
] nameless) to know me as the gentlema
5 I really am. To you, madame, my birt
r and early life are no secret. | have ne'
/. er, even to you, regretted my presel
r line of life; but there have been occ;
7 sions-and this is one of them-when
!? should not dislike to appear in my trr
@ eolors"