The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-01-30

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her absence.
"Poor creature!" he said presently.
"She acts sometimes almost as if she
loved me, and that is uncomfortable,
Perhaps if would make love to her
little she would stop. It's worth try
ng."
While he sat there in the deepened
darkness, thinking about it, sweet
voice, singing softly and half sadly, was
heard, and beautiful young girl en-
tered the room, bearing an antique sill
yer lamp in her hand. She was John
Hathaway's daughter, the only child
that had ever blessed him, and she had
come to the library to find some book
to while away the evening-this child
whose father had nothing to say to her
on New Years Eve, and whose mother
would not let her be in quietness.
She stopped when she saw her father,
and look, half glad and half frighten-
ed, came into her face.
81 did not know you were here, pa
pa" she said, and her voice had in it the
pathos of child doubtful of welcome
from her own father.
As she stood hesitating, her father
held out his hand toward her with some
show of interest, and at the signal she
sprang gladly towards him, and put her
arm fondly about his neck.
'' That is a very pretty lamp" he
said, Z" and it is a very pretty notion to
light the library with it instead of gas.
You may leave it with me-"
She set the lamp upon the table and
went away without speaking, but with
the bitter tears of outraged love drop
ping from her eyes.
tSilly child!'' said John. /" How her
face lighted up when she thought was
going to fondle her! 1t is not to my
credit to have moping, melancholy
daughter; and it would be to my credit
to have a daughter brilliant and gay as
she would be if / made fuss over
her."
Even his child-and she was good
and most lovable child-could not draw
this mans mind away from himself.
"Yes, yes" he said, sit will add to
my comfort and my credit to treat them
differently. This is New Years Eve,
and will turn over new leaf"
"Any of these old ones will answer
the purpose"
John Hathaway started as he heard
the words, and looked quickly around.
This voice was not the voice of any of
the ghosts that had been haunting him.
Remorse might have spoken those
words, and in that tone, but remorse
had never troubled him. Yet, although
he could not recognize it, the voice had
a familiar sound.
The light shed by the little silver
lamp tempered the gloom of the place,
and John Hathaway leaned forward
and peered into the alcoves and corners.
He could see nothing that was not IA
miliar. He chilled for a second as the
wavering flame of the lamp threw the
heightened shadow of the statuette to-
ward him, but in an instant he had re-
cognized the grotesque thing and laugh
ed nervously.
His laugh was repeated by the same
voice that had spoken, and now the
voice was so like his own that for mo-
ment John thought it was only an echo.
The library was so unused to voices that
its acoustic properties had never been
tested. 1t was not an echo. however,
for the voice went on:
"There is no use in turning over any
new leaves, John Hathaway; as said
before, any of these old ones will an
swer for the purpose
John looked for the speaker close be-
side himself, where he ought to have
looked in the first place, and saw stand
svnr sn% l0a III ~
gentleman, who might be the President
of Savings Bank, the Trustee of a
large estate, or the Director of a Life
Insurance Company, for all his appear
ance showed to the contrary. The gen.
tleman stood by the table, with one
hand resting thereon, and the other
holding somewhat large roll of paper,
and his whole demeanor was courteously
business like.
John Hathaway arose from the chair
and stood before his guest.
"Do you wish to see me, sirP Pardon
me if l do not recognize you," said
John, with some Difference. His tone
and manner toward this stranger were
very different to those he had used to.
ward his wife and daughter.
" 1t is very strange you do not know
me-" said the visitor. sc We have had
dealings together every day since your
business life commenced" m
John looked at him steadily for s
moment. "Ah, recognize you now. >
he said. pray be seated. Does busi
ness bring you herep" He spoke witt
some enthusiasm, for the prospect ot
business, even with this Presence, wa!
the prospect of pleasant change.
The stranger seated himself by th'
table, pushed away the articles thereon
so as to leave clear space in front o
himself, laid his roll Of papers in th'
space thus made, turned in his chair 81
as to face his host, and put one leg owe
the other in a comfortable way, as
settled for prolonged conference.