The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-06-27

In the back garden, on a green Glow
er-sweet grass plat, stands a broad,
deep basket of newly washed, snowy
white linen; and a hanging-out ma
chine, planted firmly in the middle of
the plat, is industriously raising and
lowering its wooden arms, grasping the
various pieces in its wonderfully con-
structed hands, and hanging them upon
the stout no-clothes-pins line, which is
slowly revolving around it, and to which |
hey adhere without farther trouble.
In the dairy the rosy-cheeked dairy
maid is reading a love poem while the
automatic mixer is milking the beauti-
full white COW that stands outside the
door; in the kitchen the cook is indo-
lently rocking to and fro in low rock
ing-chair, watching the "magic rolling
pin'' roll out the paste tor her pies,
ready to stop its pendulum-like move
ment the moment the crust is smooth
and thin enough; and a small servant
boy, with his hands in his pockets,
lounges against the wall in one corner
near tall stool, ,whistling softly to him.
self as he waits until the pair of shoes
the electric blacking- brush is polishing
thereon attain the proper degree of
brilliancy and mirror likeness.
This is a prosperous place, this do
main of Leon Fishback, Esq, and Leon
Fishback himself is tall, handsome,
energetic, positive man of one-and-thir-
ty-a bachelor. who gives home to his
widowed sister and her four orphaned
children, and in return is taken care of
| by her, with the assistance of the old
| housekeeper-to tell the truth, with a
| great deal of assistance from the old
| housekeeper-as well as any brother
was ever taken care of by any sister.
Still people, as people will-especial-
ly people with grown up single daugh
| ters- wondered that he had never been
married. Itwas not for want of eppor-
tunity he had not done so--oh, no in
deed for dozen lovely girls, half
dozen more or less charming widows,
and several ladies of neither class, had,
since his coming into the property of
his uncle and godfather, Leon Fishback,
Sen. (whose ashes in a solid gold casket
stood in a sort of shrine, made of hum
dred rare woods, in the south drawing
room) intimated to him, in every way
that the shrinking sensitiveness of wo-
manhood would allow, their perfect
Willingness anxiety-to assume
the role of mistress of the Fishback man
sion.
But Leon had walked calmly among
them, dispensing hospitality, kind words
and gracious smiles with the strictest
impartiality, distinguishing none by the
slightest preference, until few weeks
before this beautiful June day when his
young guests merrily called, "Follow-
follow-fo -follow-me, to their highly pol
ished admirers on the closely shaVen
lawn.
Then came to visit his sister an old
school friend, Laura Beardsley by name,
who had been residing in a far distant
State, but with whom the sister had
kept up warm correspondence ever
since they parted at the college door the
day ON which each was publicly hailed
with loud aeclamations as "Mistress OF
Arts
Miss Beardsley is a lovely woman of
ight-and-twenty summers, looking at
least five summers less, with an excep-
tionally sweet voice, an exceptionally
bright smile, an exceptionally graceful
figure and exceptionally winning ways.
And to this bewitching woman has Leon
Fishback, the hitherto apparently un-
impressible bachelor, devoted himself
since the moment he took her slender
little hand in his and babe her welcome
to his home. And it is by her side he
loiters, untempted by the merrinent
without, in the deep, pleasant, vineen-
wreathed bay-window of the library as
the fair-haired girl comes flying across
the garden, pursued by the tinkling
balls.
Laura starts from her seat with 9
blush, and, leaning from the window.
entreats, 'sCoax them away, Bella, dear
They are dancing on the flower-bed. "And
as the girl obediently turns and speeds
in the opposite direction, she draws back
her pretty head. and, looking at hel
companion, says, g How much Rolla il
like her sister Teresa-that is, wher
Teresa was only sixteenth
Is she?'' asks Mr. Fishback.
: Why, don't you remember?" say:
the lady
lido not,'' replied Mr.. Fishback
with emphasis. sa.,.-f ~.s,
J 4 Miss Laura makes two interrogation
polHtS ol HeT SllieH eYeuIo"Ss oPeH
, her mouth to speak, thinks better of it
J closes her red lips firmly, and turns tt
) the window again as the Follow-follow
: follow-me-ers stop playing and gathe
in group, with their eyes fixed upol
a small aerial car, gayly decorated witt
. flags, which is gently swaying between
. heaven and earth, as it slowly descend
toward the lawn. In few moments
| touches the ground. and handsom
young fellow leans out. and is greetel