The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-07-18
I liked the prospect at Ingleside.

lage so hidden away from railroads and
steamboats,; besides, Grandfather
Young, as the villagers called him, lived
some little distance outside of the place.
The house was pretty and neat, and the
family, consisting only of Nellie, her
grandfather, and servant, promised to
be just to our taste.
We were soon established at the cot
tage, for already the boys were begin
ming to play with their fire. crackers,
and mother wanted to shut out all such
sounds. Though she had suffered so
terribly she did not darken the cottage,
but was bright and pleasant with Nellie
and Grandfather Young, reading
to the old man, and insisting on
sending for q cottage piano that
Nellie might practice music with me.
Luckily, before it came | had looked
over the girls songs, and carefully hid
den away those that our dear Harry used
to sing. At first Nellie did not like it,
could see that; she colored and insisted
that they were very pretty ballads; but
when l explained that they were only
too beautiful in mothers ears, and would
make her weep and drive sleep from her
eyes, she gave up her songs and prac-
ticed new ones. We were charmed with
her voice, it was not powerful, but
sweet and sympathetic.
Her way of singing is so like dear
Harry So said mother one night, 81
fancy she could sing Good night, fare
we'll, just as he used. My DEAR" she
added, turning to the girl, 81 would
like to have you learn an old song or
two for me; some that my dear boy who
is-who is
All. she had miscalculated her
strength. She could not, would not,
even then, though it was seven years
after, say "who is dead!" The next
night, as we sat in the twilight, we
heard the song "Good night, farewell,
my own sweetheart sung softly and
with wonderful feeling. l expected to
hear mothers sobs, but she listened
with strange pleasure, and when the
music ended went to the piano. Nellie
told me afterward that she said the
singing of that song had given her great
peace-it seemed as if her own boy must
have taught her to sing it.
found that, regularly, three times
week, Nellie was absent from the cot
tage, and that when she returned her
grandfather would always have some
teasing words to say to her, and as |
was dreaming Gloves young DREAM
myself l began to suspect there was
some romance connected with her alb
sence. The Fourth had passed, but we
fingered on. Mother had found out
that Nellie was studying French With
some young people in the village, and
said we had better stay and let her have
the benefit of an hours conversation in
French every day. We were surprised
to find she spoke it fuently. Grandpa
laughed aloud.
"Oh, Nellie, girl,'' he said, "thou'lt
no keep thy secret now! Better bring
thy teacher home the next time.''
Nellie crimsoned so painfully and was
so evidently distressed, that we could
ask no questions, but was too curious
to let the matter drop. The next
Wednesday morning I asked her if
could not go to the village with her
She did not refuse, but said she would
be gone some time, and she could not
invite me into the French class.
sob, don't mind that" l insisted.
81 must call at the minister's some
day; l may as well go there now" So
we walked on, Nellie evidently very un
easy. Just before we reached the vii
lade a gentleman came out and stood
leaning on the gate. He lifted his hat,
but with his left hand; saw in an in
slant that the other sleeve was pinned
| aorocc hic hrooct Nol1;a loft ~, ~, :,
road and stepped to the gate. She
must have said I was going to walk
with her for he only shook his head, and
opening the gate came forward. He
walked heavily and awkwardly, leaning
on cane.
"Miss Beach, Captain Shore" l
bowed and looked at the Captain Gu
riously. I bad found out the sly little
things secret! This lame, one-armed
men was her lover; one could see that
at glance. He was very handsome
and wonderfully polished; surely he
was not one of the native villagerse
We walked slowly, chatting of one
thing and another. "I have heard of
you, Miss Beach," said the Captain,
"and am glad to have met you. Could
not you and Miss Young take tea with
me some evening? l will invite the
minister's wife to chaperone YOU"
Surely, | thought, he knows 1 have a
mother to chaperone me! s'Thank you,"
was my answer, " but never leave my
mother to take her tea alone.''
"Oh, yes; your mother!" The words
were abrupt but not unfeeling.
"I am glad I met Frank frst,'' l
thought to myself, :" or might lose my
heart to Nellie's lover.
I found out that the Captain was the
fnQnhaI. of tho alacc nnd or he :xx-.4A.l