The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-04-11

er's death a good deal?n was her next
tremulous remark, thrown out as a sort
of plank to bridge over the silence. +
eyes, father misses her, and | miss
her, said David, crowding the words
out helter-skelter, lest his lips should
close upon them. "Seems IS If we
couldn't get along without mother.
And was wondering, Lovisa--that is,
wanted to ask you What say, Lovisa,
amt you willing to take her place? |
do wish you would There's nobody
would suit father so WE'LL" +
Nobody would suit his father SO well
as a daughter-in-law, David meant, of
course but how was Miss Braun to wrest
this meaning from his wordsP How was
she to suspect that in begging her to be
mother to- him he had honestly in
tended to ask her to be his wife, She
was no clairvoyant, but at that moment
a most indignant woman, with an. un-
wonted flash III her eye. Marry Grand
sir Yopp, indeed! How old did they take
her to bep rn
Father IL hardly look for another
partner; his age and infirmities con-
sidered, you couldn't reasonably expect
it,'' pursued David, in considerate
tone; ssand this obliges US to make some
other arrangement. You see it materially
would, Lovisa." ss #zft7
Whatever she saw, she made no out
ward manifestation, though her anxious
swain glanced toward her deprecatingly
to assure himself that she appreciated
his domestic necessities, and justified
>lot
"We've had no end of housekeepers,
he blundered on, :" and none of 'em
gave satisfaction. Now | want some
body permanent-somebod that's
agreeable, and IL take an interest. You
know / always set great deal by you,
Lovisa Can't make a bargain with
you?"
A matrimonial bargain David intend
ed and desired-nothing less. But his
stupid tongue had this time conveyed to
Lovisa the impression that he wished to
engage her as housekeeper, and she
bridled at once.
i" don't know what you can be
thinking of, Mr.. Yopp, to propose such
a thing!' she cried, vehemently. 81
never did hire out for wages" she was
about to add; but she recoiled from
the mereenary expression to remark,
with severe dignity, g have never lived
anywhere except as friend.'
"Well, I'm sure | don't want you to
live with me if you don't feel friendly y
responded her suitor, very much hurt.
sI'd sooner rub along alone fact
F" do feel friendly, Mr.. Yopp-that
is, did; but as to going to any body's
house in the way you speak of, can't
bring myself to do it,
s'What! do you mean for to say, Lo-
visa, that you have specific objections
against getting married."
1t was yet so dark that David's eyes,
peering at her from beneath their pro-
| jecting buff awnings, could not see the
sudden agitation caused by his words,
and he took courage.
'Beeause, if you've no specific objec-
tions against matrimony generally, and
feel friendly toward me individooally,
and I'm so disposed, Idon'rsee, Lovisa,
what's to hinder our making bargain. y
"Oh, I couldn't, Mr.. Yopp-I couldn't
anyways, though it's very kind in you
to mention it" she faltered, incoherent-
", while her face, usually like wax
yellow wax-glowed a lurid red.
Maybe you're afraid should t make
you good husband, Lovisa, because
I'm getting along in years, and never
had any experience" suggested he,
turning his averted face toward her with
a curvilinear jerk; Z" but I'd do. my
best, and mother always gave me credit
for being willing. Acteoally, now, Lo-
visa, it does pear to me ''twould con.
vene both on US if you was to make uI
your mind to have me.''
Again she shook her head, but more
feebly this time David almost faneied
the motion might be only the dying Vi
bration of her former negative, and
went away not altogether hopeless.
At first, as we have seen, the thought
of matrimony had been to him rather
distasteful than otherwise, but Lovisa3s
| persistent refusal aroused the laten
combativeness of his isnature. The mors
she would not marry him, the more de
sirable she seemed to him, and he neve1
let slip an opportunity for pressing hi
suit till he had wrung from her prom
Use to reconsider his proposal. 8
With this weighty subject on he
mind, she came to visit US and hell
about the eurrant jelly-and precious
little help she wasi
sI feel so exercised, Mrs. Farms
worth" she confessed to my mother
privately. 'sDo you think it woul'
make great deal of talk if should ge
marriedpn The second week she wa
lamenting that Mr.. Yopp was not
professor. Might she not be the chose
instrument to lead him to the lightp B
the end of third her sympathies ha
gone out to blind old fasher.in need {
a woman's care, and she was queryin