The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-11-14
exposed to the cold light of day. What,

formed girl, that she should attract the
notice of one of whom all the village
regards as the match of the day? And
yet, yet there have been moments when
Reginald Vane's eyes have told her that
for him she is &C the one fair woman be-
meath the sum-" and her heart has leap
ed beneath the vague sweet assurances
which his lips have never yet spoken.
One of those moments came yesterday,
when, too thrillingly glad for ordinary
speech, she turned away, flushing and
quivering, to hide her emotion beneath
careless jest and laughter with honest,
good-hearted Charlie Lester. And this
was the Interpretation that Reginald
Vane put upon her action, Stella thinks,
as, with rounded chin half buried in
rosy palm, she leans upon the window
sill, gazing with unseeing eyes over the
fair sweep of hill and meadow, dotted
with clumps of dark trees and bathed in
the September sunlight.
Aggie is shut up in her own room, has
been shut up there ever since her quar-
rel with Tom. Mrs. Marsh is away on
a three weeks visit, only half of which
has yet expired. Tom? Tom is buried
still in that hateful paper. Stella knows
as we'll as Aggie how bad it is for him,
but Stella's way of dealing with the
difficulty is not the same as Aggie's
Quickly she rouses herself from her Bit
ties dreaming, catches up her hat, and
hastens down stairs.
"Come, Tom,n she says, 81 want a
walk, long, brisk walk, this bright
morning. Will you go with me, or
must 60 aloneP"
Tom glances up wistfully, hesitates,
turns over two or three pages, then
dashes down the paper and starts to his
feet.
"I'll co." he says. 81 know what
you're after, though, Stella,' he adds,
laughing. "You and Aggie go differ
ent ways to work, like the sun and wind
in the fable, you know. You're the
sun, and Aggie's the wind-my! don't
she blow a fellow up, though! aud
much good it does him. 1t comes to
about the same thing in the end, sup
pose, if you both get your way, only
Aggie's way makes a fellow hate her,
and yours-Say, Stella, l s'pose you'd
like it if put this paper in the fire?"
81 should, certainly" says Stella,
laughing, Though should never have
dreamed Of asking the sacrifice. You
know those papers are not good for you,
Tom"
81 know. Hold on about that" says
Tom, laconically, as he marches off to
the kitchen, whence he returns empty
handed. sits gone, Stella" he says;
:" and if the soup for dinners awful pep
perry to-day, youth know the reason. 1t
may taste of gunpowder too, shouldn't
wonder. There was plenty of it in the
story. 1t was boss story, though"
says Tom, heaving sigh to its depart
ed glories.
Tom is happy this afternoon-com-
happy, at least. He has
made a sacrifice which has brought a
smile to Stella's lips, yet there is Turk
ing sadness in her eye which weighs up
on his mind, try as he may to ignore it.
Vaguely and dimly he understands it's
cause, and grumbles to himself, in boy
ish fashion, objurgations and maledic-
tons upon his malicious sister, who, he
knows, has caused it. He could make
it vanish in an instant, he is sure; but
is he not bound by the promise he has
made to AggieP Worse than that, will
she not make him rue it well if once he
break faith with herP Perhaps if he un-
derstood all, even this consideration
would not restrain him; but taking it
for granted, as he does, that Reginald
Vane is his sisters lover, how can he
guess that his reported opinion should
smite SO heavily upon Stella's heart?
Yet the look of hidden pain in his
cousins eyes haunts and worries him,
and he tries to console her as best he
may without compromising Aggie.
People may say what they please,
Stella" he says, +" but you're the best
and jolliest girl going. Never you fret
your gizzard at what Aggie says. Ev-
cry body likes you heap better than
they do her, and that's what's the mat
why she's always so nasty.
Girls are always spitefuI and jealous;
only you, and you're no end of brick.
Vane thinks so too-I'll eat
my hat if he don't-for all he's spooney
on Aggie; more fool he!"
"Oh, Tom! Tom! why will you talk
slang?' cries Stella; and Tom stares at
her in amaze, wondering at the keen ring
of agony in her voice.
"Why, bless your heart, Stella" he
cries, 81 never knew you cared about it
like that. fits going to make you howl
put that fashion, 1 won't talk slang any
if bust for it,
Stella laughs out at tie form of his
Then, because his words
IAN cut closer than she can bear, she
challenges him to race, and speeds
ilone none the less lightly that her heart
les heavy as lead in her bosom. Her
yes are light and her cheeks glowing
IS she comes unon Aopie around q tnrn