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

81 have enjoyed the voyage. 1t is
only the end that is unpleasant. Good
night"
"Oh, what fool" thought Nora, as
she lay upon her pillow, sever to have
written that silly, bad-tempered note to
Mr.. Thursten! 1t did sound spiteful, l
confess. Perhaps l ought to have told
him l was the author; perhaps he al.
ready suspects it. isn't she a Xantippe?
Think of marrying woman of that
kind!'" she quoted. "Who wants him
to-! He needn't have taken pains to as
sure me of his indifference" she groan-
ed, inconsequently, "as if l didn't
know the difference between Irritation
and love-making. Well, we get home
to morrow, thank goodness! But, oh,
dear! it might have been all so NIGEL"
When they parted next day Miss Nora
was cordial in her thanks, but omitted
to ask Mr.. Elphinstone to call and see
her. Nobody but himself observed the
omission.
$50 YOU don't want me to call?" he
asked, deliberately. "Does our &C
quaintance end here?''
If you ever happen to come to Ak
minister, shall be glad to see you y
with blush.
"And why may not see you here?"
81 am going home to Administer"
she evaded.
"Then l shall certainly happen to 60
there
The Elphinstones went to some fash
ionable springs irectly, and Nora lost
sight or them for the nonce. She had
dreaded lest Lucius should inquire her
residence, and in calling establish her
identity with Xantippe, and she was
greatly relieved when Mr.. and Mrs.
Warner returned from Europe, and she
could pack up and start off for Axmin-
ster But fate had not designed that the
affair should end here. The Administer
train was thrown from the track, and
when Nora came to her senses, she was
lying in a cool room, with Nell Elphin-
stone bathing her brow, and racking
pain in her head.
"What is it? Where am IP Where
how did you come here, Nell?" she
cried.
"Hush, dear! 1t was so lucky that
the train came to grief just in the midst
of your friends, so to speak. Now 60
to sleep, that's dear. The doctor says
you are in no danger, but you'll have to
stay here q long time; and nothing
could be nicer than to have you here
And your sister has sent up nurse, as
she's not well herself; SO don't get ex-
cited"
Nora had, indeed, fractured an arm,
and sustained bruises that would detain
her at the Bitter Springs for some
weeks but as she began to mend she
found that her lines had fallen in pleas
ant places, after all. Lucius Elphin-
stone made it his business to entertain
and beguile her invalid hours; brought
in the latest books, the choicest flowers,
amused her with descriptions of the
fashionable follies at the springs, with
scraps from the operas and tidbits from
the burlesques of the day.
"You see, we had a picnic in the
neighborhood at the time of the acct
dent" Neil confded to Nora one day,
"and l insisted upon going with Lucius
to view the wreck, and do what / could
for the injured, and you were the first
victim we stumbled upon. I wish you
could have seen Lucius's face, it locked
so white and strange, as if the iron had
entered his soul.''
"He was very good to care" said
Nora.
"Dear me, how coolly you take it?"
81 am very grateful" Had Lucius
really cared for her, or was he only
shocked? ...... ....s
IL am almost sorry that you mend so
rapidly" Lucius said to her on the fol-
lowing day. 81 hear that you will take
wing tomorrow, and I shall have no
one to listen to my nonsense.
"There are plenty of listeners, Mr..
Elphinstone.
"But none exactly like yourself
"Thanks. Who is that coming up
the lawnP 1t looks like-why, tits Oil
ver!" ~. 1"t.
SOLVER" repeated Lucius, aghast,
seeing the color that trembled on her
cheek, the light shining in her eyes. But
before she could reply, the door opened,
and Oliver was in her arms.
"Why, Oliver, did you rain DOWN."
81 amt pollywog, aunty. No, l
played hockey just to come down and
see you. Mother don It know-and Jack
Thurston he lent me the money"
"Jack Thurston!" .-s.4 /
"Oh yes. Jack and mes all made
up; we amt going to whip each other
no more. Oh, say" turning to Mr..
Elphinstone, "you're Jacks cousin;
ain't you?" ri
"Did you ever see Mr.. Elphinstone
before, Oliver?'' 1 t9.
"Lots of times, over to Jack Thurs
tons. Jack thinks there's nobody like
him, you see. Jack and me got mad
the first thing about you and him. Jack
said he was the best fellow in the world,
and | said you was, and l made his nose
bleed, and he give me black eye, don't
you remember, and then you wrote to
his grandpa?"
Nora caught Lucius's eye.
$50 you are the author of those bill
lets doux?" he said, laughing.
eyes, I am the Xantippe," humbly.
But you are not H. BroWne?"
"My name is Honora Browne"
swell, Miss Browne, since you leave
tomorrow, shall we continue our cor