The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-03-15

but would as soon have thought OF
selling my birthright as of giving that
ring away permanently to any man,
woman or child, except my eldest SOB
when have one. .E ...g
Judge, therefore, of my sentiments
when 1 saw Miss. Idelia hold up her
finger and heard her say.
"He gave me this ring as pledge
of his love, and babe me wear it for his
sake. 1t will be but just punishment
for him if I keep it. 1 certainly shall.
1t shall never leave my finger again %
"The ID it won t ~ thought /. And
as 1 perceived the smile of satisfaction
with which she regarded the glitter OF
the diamond lin the moonshine, felt
my love for her oozing out, like Bob
Acres courage, at fearfully rapid
rate.
The opportunity did not come for nee
to explain matters to her, and, in truth,
[ began to be rather glad it didn't.
retired that night without having
spoken to her, and she did not haunt
my visions.
The next day the plot thickened.
Jessie received several letters from
Milestone Centre, directed to her as my
wife and to my care. Endicott and his
friends scrupulously called her by my
name, and, worse than all, Idelia began
to take romantic fancy to her. She
condoled with her in having such a
faithless husband, and poured all her
own poetic grief into the little humbug's
bosom-a flood of second hand Wer-
terrain sorrows, which moved Jessie to
tears-of laughter.
Thus matters stood until the fourth
day, when we were to return. In the
morning got an opportunity to speak
TO ldelia about it, and we had a Jolly
time of it.
She would not listen to any explana-
ton whatever, but abused me like q
pickpocket.. l have been sscolded by a
number of young ladies. In fact,
rather like it generally, and as for my
cousin Jessie, it was as good as sup
per to hear her vituperations. But
Miss Vaughn was one too many for me.
She whined and growled alternately.
She called me highfalutin names. She
turned blue, yellow, and other unpleas-
ant colors. She squealed and Kissed,
and made herself an object of wonder
ment, but hardly of admiration, to quite
a crowd that collected about us-for it
was in an empty parlor she first pitch
ed into me. "Virago'' was written in
every line of her countenance, and rang
in every meditation of her voice.
When she had finished she strobe out
OF the room, leaving me in a condition
OF severe mental prostration.
My previous affection for her, how
ever, had entirely evaporated, and l
recognized the truthfulness of nv cousin
Jessie's description of her.
On the boat, returning that afternoon,
Miss Vaughn avoided me studiously,
as, in fact, did her. Jessie and Grey
were together on the deck during the
whole passage, and 1 amused myself
by smoking cigars, forward, from the
time of leaving the Tide-mill House
pier to the time of landing at Mile
stone. s. 10 T---a-l lid,
| never saw Miss Idelia Vaughn
again. l never wanted to. would
like to have got my ring back, but l
fear my ED st male heir will not wear
the jewel of his ancestors.
l should be very much pleased to
wind this story up with wedding, but
[ can not. There was nobody married
in our party except Endicott's friends,
and they have been married for three
or four years. 80 go
Grey returned to the city the follow
ing week, and went on a series of short
sprees. My cousin stayed at home,
flirting desperately with the village
beaux at evening parties, and singing
mechanically in the day time.
They both feared, as l suppose they
still do, that they never should marry
any body, yet Grey's poverty and want
OF business talent prevented him from
forming any engagement which might
keep better-or rather richer uitors
from stepping in..I 49, g.. .,.4..
l, however, am more hopeful, and de-
voutly believe that one day 1 shall write
another story about Grey and Jessie,
and end it with orange flowers and
white kids. 80 Va 4s+s 81 z E>s