The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-01-03

sage across. But l was obliged to spend
some of it, and by the time ] reached
this village l was so tired and discour-
aged that was ready for almost any
thing. E..t..
81 passed this house in the afternoon
of that dreary Christmas Eve, and it
looked SO quiet and peaceful that I.
thought, What a good shelter it might
be for the poor homeless baby!' After
1 had passed down the hill and left the
village away on my right, I looked back
and saw the white house still looking
down on me from the hill, and it seemed
to draw me back. / walked on till
night, but found no place to stay, and
then made up my mind to come back.
i" reached the foot of the hill little
after midnight, and walked back and
forth with the baby in my arms to keep
warm, until near daylight. 1t soon be-
gan to snow, but wrapped the babe so
snugly in its blankets that it kept warm
all the while in its little basket
| where l put it, with few
| things that intended leaving with it.
After had placed it ON the steps, hid
in the grove of oaks outside the gate,
until l saw the smoke curling from your
chimney. Then crept away, and, leapA
ing the village-road, kept in the by-ways
until got some distance into the coun-
try. met some people moving to an
other State, and they let me 60 with
them"
''And where are you going now?,
asked Joanna, looking in her face. :.
sc am going back to my own kindred,
if can live to reach them. l hare
little money, you see, but it is to take me
across the ocean,"
"What was the name of the child's
father?"
His name was Philip Westmore.
" That man." gasped Joanna. "What
have you done, woman?"
The tramp-woman shrank from joan
mas fierce eyes. "What have 1 done pa
she repeated vaguely.
"There isn't living soul,' said Jo-
anna, "who dares to breathe that name
to my mistress. And now-Hush !"
"Joanna!" called her mistress, inn
peratively.
Obeying the summons, she found Miss
Grey sitting by the fire, with little Emily
in her lap. The hoarse, peculiar cough,
never heard by nurse or mother without
thrill of alarm, told that Group had
seized its victim.
Run for DIR. Vincent, said Miss
Grey, briefly; and in another minute
Joanna had thrown a shawl on her head
and was tramping through the star-lit
night. ~ sa..s,ia. = =,
DR.. Vincent was not in his office. He
had been called to a patient several
miles away. Joanna's visit had caused
a little stir in the village hotel, in an up
per room of which the doctor had his
Office and as she was turning away
from the door, a gentleman came out
and said, in a pleasant, courteous tone:
6 If you are in want of a physician,
perhaps can be of service to YOU
"Come on, then, if you please" said
Joanna. YAH
He put on his hat, said few words
to the landlord, and started in the wake
of the woman, who walked at an aston
ishing pace.
"Who is your mistress?" he asked.
"Miss Grey, sir.''
ton, whatever it might mean, the
stranger relapsed into silence that
was not broken until they reached the
house. l.....2.
Joanna opened the door of the sit
ting room, and stood aside for him to
pass.
'"Walk in, SIR" said she. And he
walked into the full glow of the fire.
light, and saw the woman sitting by the
hearth, with the child on her knee It
was sound asleep now. Miss Grey had
administered quantity of alum and SUI
gar, which "acted like charm, and
little Emily slumbered peacefully on,
the bosom which had grown more soft
and womanly since the baby had nestled
there. ~ i..-s --s,s Is
"The tramp-woman" stood behind
Miss Grey's chair. As the tall figure in
the doorway stepped into the light,
there came cry of surprise and terror
from the strange woman, and smoth-
cred gasping sound from Miss Grey.
And then, for the first time in her life,
Joanna thought her mistress was going
to faint, she looked so white and strick-
en-, all at once.
Miss Grey" said the stranger, in
voice that trembled perceptibly, ''per-
haps you recall my name? l was told
that you needed a doctor, and as DR..
Vincent was absent, came to offer my
services. But l was not aware at the
time that / was about to intrude upon
you, madam
Miss Grey lifted her head. 81 thank
you," she said-trying to speak in the
regal tone that was her own-"I be-
lieve the danger is past, and can hap
PLY dispense with your services"