The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-06-27
Beardsley. $50 soon returned from
Londone Why, he only started few


fastest of the Air Line I heard of her
arrival just after breakfast this morn
ing, when it was shouted by the tele-
phone at the station below"
Thirty miles away!"
"Oh! that's nothing. We expect to
be able to hear news from hundred
miles away before many years are
past"
''May Inot be in the immediate vicinity
when that news is shouted" says the
lady, with an involuntary movement of
her pretty white hands toward her pref
ty rose-tipped ears, for should ex-
pect to be deaf for evermore.'
"Neyer fear, my dear-I mean Miss
Beardsley. Such misfortune as that
shall never occur, even though you
should chance to be at the very side of
the shouter. Edison is at this moment
perfecting an instrument that begins to
deliver its messages in moderately loud
voice, which increases in volume as it is
carried forward, until it reaches the
most distant point it is intended to
reach, thus maintaining an even tone
all along the route. How glorious all
these Edisonian inventions are!" he
continues, with glow of enthusiasm,
"and what humdrum times our ances-
tors must have had without them!
Why! they are the very life of the age.
There's the phonograph, for instance
but 1 beg pardon; you are looking
bored. can not expect you to take as
much interest in these scientific SUBJ
jects as / do. Is.not Reginald coming
this way?''
"He is not,'' answered Miss Laura,
demurely; " he is still holding Bella's.
hand, and totally ignoring all the well
coming hands extended to him."
"Ah! { the old story that is ever
newt" quotes Mr.. Fishback, as he
peeps over the shoulder of his fair guest
at the new arrival; and then suddenly
rising and confronting her he exclaims
6 Tou must have heard that story very,
gery often, Laura-fergive my calling
you SO, but you used to permit it in the
days we went blackberrying together
some 10 years ago, and forgive me
again, but, upon my word, can not
help asking you, impelled as l am by
some mysterious power, Why have you
never married ?'
A blush rises to her cheek, but she
looks up in his face calmly, and replies
81 don't remember the blackberry epi-
sodes, and l have remained unmarried
because l vowed when a young girl
never to marry unless convinced that 1
was the first and only love of the man
whose wife became"
"Laura, have never loved another. -
"Mr. Fishback, you forget my old
friend Teresa, the sister of the girl to
whom your brother Reginald is now
making love on the lawn"
"Good heavens! Laura, how mistak-
en- you are!"
"'Twas with her you looked for black
berries. l never knew you to find any
not with me, SIR" 7ill
sLaura, how blind you were! Isought
her society only to be near you. l de-
clare, upon my word and honor. [ linger-
ed by her side for hours and hours in
the hope that you would join us for a
moment or two during the time, and,
when you did, in that moment or two
was concentrated the joy of the whole
day. You were so proud, so cold, SO
EcScIfcu. L OlO HOt uuIC W apPIodCu
you save through your friend; and
| "And you did not bury yourself in
seclusion for two years after she Tilted
you and married Frank Huntingtone''
she asks, as he pauses.
"Great heavens! how preposterous
Laura, [ ssceGr-n
But, as he is about to, swear, enter 8
procession of small nephews and nieces
| and attendant friends, the leader OF
which carries an odd-looking box.
'sSee, Uncle!" the bright-eyed little
fellow calls out as he approaches. !"
found this old phonograph on the tor
shelf of your closet, where [ was look
ing for your fish-line toplay horse with
and it talks like every thing"
With this he begins to turn the meta
crank, and voice-a somewhat shril
young voice, the voice of Teresa, sistel
of Bella-whilom friend of Laura
Beardsley-begins to speak: o. g
Yes, Leon, my own, | will gran
your impassioned prayer, and breathe
the words you long to hear into thi
magical casket, and then when you ar,
lonely or inclined to doubt me, jealou
one, you can call me forth to bring bacl
the smiles to your dear face, and JOY t.
your dear heart. / do return the low
j you so ardently avow, and l viii MARI
you when mamma gives her consent
Until then no lips shall touch the lip
made sacred by your kiss, no hand shal
: clasp the hand that wears your lovel
diamond ring. But, oh, Leon dear, tr
to love Laura little for my sake.
know she is all that you say she is-ai
, feeted, cold-hearted, naughty, and diss
greeable q am just naughty enough t
, be pleased when you tell me her beauty
so much admired by others, particular