The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-10-23
THE TWO PATHS.

And the two. paths stretched before them.
In one the flowers seemed each separate
glory. There was the rapture of bird songs,
and permeating all, such glow of light and
color that the eyes were dazzled. The other
was darkened by shade, and barren of all
beauty, yet in the remote distance there was
II bright line of light, not visible on the flow
er-lined path. In fact its own radiance was
quite sufficient, and no one cared to look be-
yond. ,. =. .........
Evelyn Seaton, who had read the above
paragraph aloud, laid down the book
with laugh "Oh, the old-fashioned
parable, mammal / wonder if those
old writer's really thought they We're
mystifying people. OF course any child
can understand that the bright path is
pleasure, and the dark one duty, or vir-
tue. That's the usual meaning of all
these old moral tales, isn't it?''
"And yet it is wrong,n Mrs. Seaton
answered. "The. path of duty may
sometimes be dark, but frequently the
sweetest flowers bloom by its side. How
was it with you, last weekp You re-
member the weather was cold and. disa-
greeable, and you didn't wish to 90 to
school. Duty was dark to you then;
but when at the end of the week you re-
ceived such fiattering testimonial from
Prof. Adams, you were delighted at hav-
ing conquered your reluctance. = @-ss
"Then | presume the old Professor
was the bright line at the end of my
path, laughed Evelyn. Oh, you art
full mamma! You coaxed me to read
the allegory just to point it like a pistol
at my pleasure-loving self. Surely I'm
not such pleasure-seeker, such an ex-
citement-loyer, as you say am"
g have never seen girl of 16 years
OF age more so,'' was Mrs. Seaton's
grave answer. "For an hours excite
ment, sometimes think you would sac
rifice any thing. Laugh as you will at
the allegory, but you have two paths, as
well as every other girl, and 1 fear it
will only be a mere chance if you get
into the right one. }g
Supposs that to please Inc you try
an experiment. 1t will be something
new, land you like novelty. Take up one
or two duties at once, to-day, and try to
be cheerful, though your young friends
have left youn sst
Several of Evelyn's young relatives
had been spending the last two weeks
with her. They had left that morning,
and she had wandered about the house
gloomy and discontented, until the cpl
sode of "The Two Paths had reused
her Il little. -
The young people had had what they
called jolly time at Mrs. Seaton's.
The weather had been fine, and they
had ridden, walked, and played croquet
to their hearts content EVELYN had
thrown herself into the enjoyment of
each hour with her usual impetuosity.
Now that she was alone, the dullness of
the old life was almost unbearable, and
she was actually turning over in her
mind several plans, perhaps objection
able in themselves, but which might
give her a little amusement. She was
not girl who ever paused to ask her.
self, +" Is this rightp'' but, "Will this
amuse me?'' As if an answer to her
thoughts, Molly, one of the servants,
who was sweeping out the hall, gave her
significant look as she was going up
stairs.
go dear, if ain t had time irwin,
to give you this note so no one would
see! Somehow your mar seemed to be
suspicloning something, and kept you
close all the morning. Here it is. He
says to me, says he, Molly, you put it
In her own hands, mind, and tell her
L ii be at the gate, at the end of the
Acacia Walk. Tn bound to see her
this very evening Them was his very
words.''1a :
Evelyn, with the note in her hand.
fled to her room with crimson cheeks.
She hardly knew whether to be shocked
or pleased, for though she had often re-
celved notes from Captain Campbell,