The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-02-21


little hair ring she wore on her finger,
aroun' and aroun', and putting it up
to her lips once an ag'in, when she
thought nobody was looking. I'd a
give my hull stock of 'yaller backs and
prize packages to "a been in that rings
place jist once; tho of course the like
of me had no business to be even watch
in her from behind the stove as | were,
it bein' filter for me to have been think
in OF my own Janey awaitin' for them
words. 4tf5aEa G-3} J3
1.-The moment see that ring l jerks
mine off an slips it into my vest pock-
ct. The moment [ see that ring | ses
to myself. There's mate to mine,'
an says I to myself, Jack, my boy,
you keep right on takin' notice, it be-
ing my opinien theirs something up;'
an | ses to myself, Il hope that there
snarly chap hain't been a-bitin' nobody,
as he'll feel sorry fer it when he comes
to die'-an' then l kept on a takin' no.
tice, might clost.
Well, we kept a goin' on, some git
tin off here and there, and more gittin'
on, an by an bye gittin' off. ag'in, till
along in the afternoon there was only
three or four passengers in the car,
which they were mostly samples or
travelling agents, as allays takes off their
boots an goes tosleep soon's they strike
seat. But this here young lady she
never moved out of her first seat-just
set an set, and got to lookin' tireder
and pitifuler like, every mile. I drop
ped Leslie into her seat once and for
got to take it up ag'in on purpose, but
she never looked at it; and so, tho I
was as sorry fer her as could be, an
knew she'd had no lunch, cos she'd
never got out when the train stopped,
an she hadn't smitch nor sign of
satchel or luggage of any kind still l
was dub'us about offerin' to do any
thing, knowin' she was a real lady and
was only train agent, and orkard
hand at sayin' them kind O. things at
best, am she being all alone and
travelin' might take it i'll. But
at last comm in an out, an
seein' her sittin' there, lookin' so awful
lonesome and tired, and dark lines
a comin' under her big dark eyes, look
in like she would cry but dasn't-and
by Hickory I'm glad she didn't, cos that
would a upset me quicker'n wink, being
one O the things | can't stand no way,
to see a woman cry. So seein' she
would never make no more of herself,
| jist give myself a poke in the ribs to
kinder rile my courage, and goes up
to her seat like / was after the Letlie,
and says, Miss, excoose me num- ses
|, but you do look quite done up, if
you'll eXcoose me num- ses l, and I'vei
got a sister of my own mum, if You'll
excoose the liberty num- ses T, sam
I'd humbly like to. be-of some service to
you mum, if you'd please to menshin'
in what way num- ses [. J alt g
8 "She looked up in way as can't tell
you of, sir, if was to ever so hard, an
she ses: You're, very kind indeed she
ses, 'and | thank you very much,,' she
ses, but | require nothing nothing
an then she looked away agin, out o.
the winder, and see her mouth twitch
an her soft eyes fashin' with tears, and
l thinks to myself, Jack, here's a lovely
good young woman as far above you as
the skies, and as has trouble, and here
you are helpin' to pile it onto her;
you ought to be kicked of1in' the train;
why don't you clear off and quit a
botherin' of her. and SO / did, maxim
her the best bow OF respect knew how,
and raisin' a lump on my eyebrow a
doin' it through inadvertently comm
down too far an hittin' my fore'id on
the seat-back. fg 5t$4 70 = a5t&}Efg
"The next station we stopped at, was
a wood and water,' where we gen'aly
stayed about ten minutes; there was
restaurant there, an so | runs in and
gets slapping big cup o. tea, and four
'am sanwidges, telling the boss / ID bring
back the chiny next trip, an as we was
well acquainted that was all right, and
so, walks into the car with lem, tho
a shakin' all over, and | says, :. l hope
you won't think me a villin, mum, but
i think if you'd have the kindness to
take a little of these here provision you'd
likely feel better.' 4 sfaEr .s F.a<rae
"Well, didn't think she would, but
she took 'em, thanking me in the pref
tiest way-I can hear her yit-(she ac-
tually laughed a quiet little laugh when
she see them four sanwidges which aOas
a leetle overgrown [ spose), and then
she pulled out her pocket book, as was
chuck full, ant handed me a bill, and |
darsn't refuse, tho it went agin the
grain to take pay for such a trife o.
kindness to such a sweet young lady,
even if was little pinched, an she
not lacking, as could well see by her
general get-up.
''WelI, sir, it got to be late in the af-
ternoon, an l was beginnin' to pack
away my books an things, gettin'
ready to leave the. train at the end o.
my route, when we came in sight D.
Stump Station; the engineer (same
ones on to-day bloWed his whistle an ;