The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-05

fright, with one eye hunting up the 9th
er the way hers was-an allusion to a
slight cast in her eye that was not at all
unbecoming on the whole; of course
nobody would think of falling in love
with Cyclops, and of course nobody
could help loving such rose and lily
piece of beauty as Bess. She was sure,
she thought. she was glad that Bess was
happy; but, for all that, she cried sadly
about it. Yet after any of these secret
crying spells she fought her battle with
herself all the more furiously; and al
though it wruny her heart, she would
insist upon talking about Philip, and
suffer Bessie to sing his praises on every
occasion that offered, in fear and trem-
bling all the while lest voice or face sur
rendered, and took all his small kind
nesses as a matter of course.
The winter wore away at last, and
Marcia might have felt her trouble in
their behalf, her self-denial, and the
money, or rather the eggs. that she had
spent, all repaid in the glossy look Of
her hens, with their red combs and
their nests full of eggs. Those who are
in search of any thing can always find
it, and she has secured, ia one way and
another, eggs of many of the choicest
breeds, the hatchings had all turned out
well, and the result was great flock of
some of the finest looking birds in the
country, among which troop of black
Polanders went about shaking their full
white crests, and hardly able to see out
of their eyes. "I'm sure they're fne,n
said Marcia. Sand as I'm never going
to marry, and shall have to earn my
living in some way, III earn it this
way" And she then announced that
she was going to contribute to the poul-
try show in the city, and waited for
some opposition.
But they had done with opposing
Marcia, in the matter of hens, in that
house. "They treat me with the silent
contempt Deserve" she said, lightly.
But she brlbed Tom to help her manu-
facture set of coops, bribed him with
promise that Bessie should make him
box of cookies to take away with him;
for he had begun his study Of medicine,
while Phil, who thought the learned
professions already full, was looking in
vain for something to do in which to
start himself in life. "Poor fellow!n
thought Marcia over and over again,
4" If he only could get something to do,
then the engagement could be announc-
ed, and by-and-by they could be mar
RED 1t seemed as though she herself
would be easier when it was all over.
But there was. no prospect of it, and
Phil's outlook was dark enough at pres
ent. She meant to ask him at some IA
vorable time, why he didn't go out to
Colorado, and, after he had made
home there, send for Bessie. She fan
cled that, after all, the best thing for
her would be not to be obliged to wit
ness their happiness at last.
But when Marcia had cmptied the bet
ter part of her hennery into the great
she felt it necessary to
go and look after her interests there.
and she sold enough of the common
stock left at home to pay the expenses
OF herself and Bessie in the city. Her
mother burst into tears with the thought
OF the vulgar pursuits of her daughters:
and they left Emily first wiping her
mothers eyes and then making her an
egg-nogg from the proceeds of the vul-
garity.
1t was fine thing, that show, as Mar
cha said, trusting Bessie could make out
what she said in the riot of the chanti-
cheers, each rivaling his unseen oppo-
nent. "Just hear the rumpus those
ROSTERS keep up!" she cried. And
what with the cackling of the geese, the
1uaeking of the ducks, the gobbling of
he turkeys, the clatter of the guinea
iowl, the cooling of the pigeons, and the
screams of the peacocks, the runpus
Das that of Pandemonium itself. But,
except for the unsightly coops, it was
'ather beautiful Pandemonium-
auge Brahmas with their fluff of snowy
like so many arctic owls. the
ct and shining Creve. cpurs. the silver
Hamburgs fine as silk-clad
'ourt ladies, the Cochins with the gloss
II dark green enamel on the blackness
II their plumes, the superb red Game.
he crested, rutfed, and bearded Sultans,
.nd the little Bantams more important
han the whole. Marcia felt all the
,lory OF connoisseur and the wealth of
producer, as she moved through the
Place, and recognized her own, and
to the clarion calls about her.
She found seat for Bessie at last.
nd then went to Gee the Secretary,
Phil will be sure to be here" she said
herself, $50 long as he knew Bess
vas coming. He'll find her, and keep
Ter from being lonely" AS she came
'ack with a radiant face after half
ours interview, she saw that her
ropheey was fulfilled-Phil was there
l1tlng by Bessie, their heads close to-
ether, their backs toward her. Mean.
lg to be as merry as she could, she
tarted to put her face close down be-
"een theirs in order to tell her news, {
nd so it came about that she heard S
hill saying, "Ah, if l only had some
?rt OF business, so that | could speak |
lthout disgracing myself"
"Speak anyway, PHIL" answered
essie, putting Marcia in mind of Pris- :
ia and John Alden, in spite of herself. :
Then the little hen-wom IN drew back.
Id waited half a minute before She
uched them on the shoulders. "Come !,
18th me, Phil" she said; and she led L
M down the lower corner of the y
LII, where, the peacocks having y