The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-08-21

Miss Nora Browne had been left in
charge of her sisters household, while
that lady and her husband travelled
abroad, unhampered by Master divers
presence. Her home was some hundred
miles away inland, and her acquaint-
ances in the city were few and far be-
tween, while even these few were gen.
orally out of town at this season of the
year. However, she was surprised one
morning by call from friend, who,
having become tired of the mountains,
had returned to the city for few days.
"How lonesome you must be, Moral"
said Miss Elphinstone. "You must
drop in upon US often: the horse-cars
run within a block Cf our door. And
we'll have sucb larks! By-the-way, we
are going down the harbor tomorrow
in Cousin Lucius's yacht-he's just
home from Europe, you know-and you
mast join u.s."
"I'm sure l don't know" said Nora,
"never having heard of 'Cousin Lu-
cius's' existence before"
"Never heard of Cousin Lucius!
Well, live and learn. But you'll Gomez"
"Wild horses couldn't keep me at
home, thank you"
The next day Thomas and old Russell
took Miss Nora down to the wharf,
where the Sunbeam was ready to put
cut. What day it was! Not cloud
in the whole wide heavens, and "Cousin
Lucius" on deck, brown-bearded and
white. handed, with great liquid eyes,
and smile that set the pulses beating
when it beamed upon one, and that one
happened to be girl of 20 with an un-
tenanted heart. The party was quite
family affair, Mr.. and Mrs. Elphin-
stone, their sons and daughters, with
one or two friends, making up the list.
This is regular snare, Nora," said
Ellen Elphinstone, when they were
dropping down the harbor. 81 don't
know how you'll feel about 1t, my dear
girl; but, you see, we are not going to
sail for the day merely, but out into the
broad Atlantic, and along the coast, and
Heaven knows where, just as Cousin
Lucius pleases. We may be shipwreck-
ed, or cast on desert shore. But we
shall be away week, at the very least"
"Oh, how superb" cried Nora; and
then her face heightened. "But, Nell,
what ever shall do? l have no things
Providence will provide. You see,
l had no time to notify you after our
change of plan; but I packed up a
double supply of things so don't
worry"
"But there's the housekeeping, and
the servants, and burglars"
"But you've housekeeper?"
"And there's Oliver, and Oh
dear! it's delightful, but ought to be
at home.'
But your nephew has a nurse?'
"Why, he's s years old, Nell. To be
sure, his nurse lives with US still, and
regards him as the apple of her eye, and
Thomas looks after him like detective
still"
ooh, come! throw your conscience
overheard" begged Lucius, coming up
to close the argument.
"I'm afraid it's 50 light it will fioat,'
laughed Nora. ssBut may as well en-.
joy myself;'' which she straightway
proceeded to do, after the most approx,
ed method of Irritation, as Nell called it.
Lucius got out his chess-5oard, and they
played for hours together.
"What ever can you see in that
game?" Nell would harangue. "Lfe
isn't long enough to learn it."
cit is linked sweetness, long drawn
out" Lucius returned.
On wet days they read Browning be-
low, or repeated in turn all the old bal
lads they could recall, or danced to
Nell's violin. So they drifted along the
coast, touching here and there at some
port, going ashore in merry groups for
books, or mail, or garden party. Nora
acknowledged she had never had such a
gay time in her life. s ,.E,...
"Oh, if 1 could live on a yacht forev-
er!" she said, one star-lt night, when
she and Lucius were sitting apart, as
they had contracted habit of doing.
$50 you like sea-faring life?"
Yes; how dull it will be to return
to commonplaces! Just think, Mr..
Elphinstone, fortnight ago had nev-
er heard Of you; aren't you mortifed?'
"Such is fame! And now?"
"Why, now I feel as if l had known
you hundred years or more" and
then Nora hung her head at her own
rash words.
81 regret that the time has seemed 80
long," laughed Lucius. $50 me this
fortnight has seemed like dream. Tell
me about yourself. Miss Nora" he said,
after pause. "How little l know of
you, in spite of our long intimacy! I've
taken you entirely on trust, haven't 1 ?
Continual comfort in face-the line
aments of gospel looks,'" he quoted. =
Flattery, thy name is man. What
can | tell you about myself that you
don't know alreadyp You know my IA
vorite poets and novels, my religious
views, my slender accomplishments !;
you know l live in the country, and am
just now keeping house in the city for
my brother and sister, who are abroad.
Do you like boys, Mr.. Elphinstone?''
What dig ressioni / can tolerate
them. By-the-way, speaking of boys
reminds me of correspondence I've
had with an anxious mother on the SUBJ
ject. l rather think have one of the
precious epistles about me; they're such
sweet-tempered specimens, you ought
to see them. Listen, here's one of
them," as he struck q match and read:
MR.. THURsToN-SHr: 1 can rely i'm