The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-12


through her eyes and stamped it on her
brain; then she went home and set to
work. A part Of the pattern was made
with narrow strap OF lace-l like tape,
doubling it and curving it backward and
forward, and then working stitches be-
tween the loops with the needle. She
had quantity of this narrow strap
work on hand, and she began at once,
working from early dawn till late at
night. Every few days she would 60 to
the church and take peep at the altar
cloth, generally taking Darwin
with her, for though he left her
willingly for an chronological expedi-
ton with me, he howled like very
demon when left behind by her. She
reported Darwin as always behaving
remarkably we'll at church, holding one
end of her rosary and gazing up at the
lace with his head on one side, till it
was all she could do to maintain her
gravity.
She copied the border of the altar
cloth exactly; but there were two heavy
brass candlesticks standing ON it which
she did not dare to move, and she told
me that she intended to fill in the center
with sprigs of orange blossoms of her
own device. The veil was not finished
when left Santa Maria to continue my
voyage up the river, but | promised to
stop on my return and attend Philo-
mena's wedding, for l was certain from
what had seen of her exquisite work
that the veil could not fail to obtain the
prize.
Her silent intensity of purpose had
filled me with enthusiasm and faith; and
when next knocked at the low door, it
was not with any expectation of seeing
Philomena, for [ was behind my time,
and had called only to inquire for her.
was startled, however, to see her
mother sitting on the ground in the
shade of the hut, her arms locked about
her knees, and her forehead resting
upon them, her lank hair falling about
her, and her whole attitude that of pro-
found detection. When | spoke to her
she burst into tears, and the story which
she told me, after becoming more com
posed, was sad enough. The veil had
been completed in time. Philomena
had tried it On the night before she had
taken it to the convent, to the admira-
ton of the whole household, Darwin
included. Philomena's lover had been
present. They had stood up together,
as they hoped soon to do before the al
tar, and the woman declared that Philo
mena had made far handsomer bride
than Donna Blanca, who had b en- mar
ried it seemed the day before my ar
rival
Yes, the veil had taken the prize, as
we all knew it would. Donna Blanca
had herself placed silk purse full OF
, gold pieces in Philomena's hand; but
the next day the officer of the law had
come, had taken away the money, and
put Philomena in prison.
The reason given was that the altar
cloth had been stolen two days before
The padre had at once suspected Philo
mena; when they showed him the veil,
the stupid creature declared that it was
the missing bit of ecclesiastical fnery
This was all. sat down, quite stunned,
to think it over. A whine of loneliness
came from the interior of the hut.
"Why, that is Darwin!" exclaimed
"Why have you chained himP''
He ran away, and was gone all day,
just before Philomena finished the veil, u
replied the woman. "He knew he was
doing wrong, for he stole into the house
like q whipped cur when he returned
He is in penitence now"
1.-The thing is" said, "to find the
real thief. have heard that monkeys
/ were excellent detectives. If you will
unchain him, will spend day or two
looking up the case"
GET Iot hin, uh;lo r,oc%orJo,, >,
said the woman. "He went to the
church with me to see Donna Blanca
married, and stood upon my head to
have the better view of the sacrament
He was SO gay afterward, with his chat.
tering and his antics, that tied him up
again, the heartless creature--and Philo
mena in prison!'
Darwin remembered me perfectly, and
overwhelmed me with caresses. 1 de.
termined to keep q sharp watch on all
his actions, but while eating my calabash
of farina he slipped away. After the
supper, Philomena's mother told me
that she was going to the church for her
prayer-book, which she had left there
at the wedding. l walked along with
her, trying to cheer her with hopes that
SsAA "ooAe SOA1o iiSA1. AZ tHc pOICu we
met the Baroness, who had been there
probably to pray for her daughter.
"Poor woman!" she said; ''it must
be terrible thing to have ones daugh.
ter carried away for crime.''
"But she did no wrong" cried Ph1lo.
mena's mother, wildly; and explained
in my broken Portuguese that | knew
that Philomena had copied the altar
cloth, and could not have stolen it.
"Who, then, did?" replied the Baron.
ess, coldly.
We had reached the inside of the
church by this time, and the Baroness
} started and seized my hand, for from
the vestry door little figure in trail.
ing white robe fitted up the steps Of the
high altar, and knelt as her daughter
had done the day before. l looked TO,
moment, and then priest entered
and the little bride sprapg up in terror
the white robe dropped, and Darwin
came leaping toward me. The priest
picked up the white thing, and brought
1t to us. 1t was the stolen altar-cloth
H.. ~