The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-04-01

hC'oi coA0u HoI Will SeIlSo anu long 6X-
plantations, but she was never in his
company without finding herself after
ward thinking about things which he had
said, and looking up little points of in
formation suggested by his talk. He
was so kind-hearted, too-always so
kind! He didn't sneer at her diatribes
against love and lovers, and he seemed
to understand and be little sorry for
her, left cut in the cold, solitary in the
midst of the sisterly circle once so one
in interest and so closely united. Here
was genuine friend at last, she re-
fected-a friend of her own; and COM
forted thereby for her losses, she grew
little more tolerant of the happiness
OF other people; and even when, a little
later, great wave of surprises and
sudden changes broke over the home
and all in it, still the tolerance contin-
ued.
For, first, John Norman had part
nership offered him in South America,
and he and Eunice had to be got ready
at two months notice to sail to their
new home. And while Polly was toiling
over the hurried preparation which was
all that time made possible, Susan Gil
more, her one special friend, called one
morning, and with burst of emotion
quite unwonted in the staid Sue, con-
fided the fact that she was engaged
engaged to 0. o., who was the loveliest.
dearest man that ever was, though Polly
had been so unkind as not to find it out
"a fact she (Sue) was very glad of
'aoac-and they Were to be married in
six weeks, and sail for China directly
afterward. And would her dearest
Polly forgive her, and promise to love
.. Q. all she possibly could, just for her
sake?
" You, too?" was all Polly's reply.
But she put her arms round Sues neck
with a tear and sob, and all was
smooth between them. Sue, who had
dreaded the interview, was amazed at
Polly's forbearance. A change had
evidently come over the spirit of her
dream. Trials, we are told, have a
Christening effect upon the character.
Was it her trials which were thus blessed
to Polly?
After that, all was bewiIderment and
confusion dire till the two weddings
were over. Eunice and John departed
the day after theirs, and lull fell upon
the weary household. Mrs. Patten
went up stairs to lie down. Polly, who
sighed for fresh air, departed for walk
with John Gilmore, who missed his
sister so much, poor fellow! and Amy.
the caoette OF the family, prepared to
celebrate their newly recovered freedom
by adjoining and making beautiful the
dlnlng-room, now rescued from court
ing purposes, and restored again to The
common use of the household.
A busy afternoon indeed did little
Amy make for herself, but it was q
merry one, and she sang as she worked.
Every vase In the room she filed with
violets and wild flowers, or apple
blooms from the just blossomed orchard.
The curtains were pulled to exactly the
ideal angle, the chairs regrouped, all the
horrid look taken away, Amy thought,
as II the room were meant for only two,
and for no one else. 1t was dusk when
she finished, and curling up in the sofa
corner, she awaited with Impotence
Polly's return-Polly, who had hated
the love-making as much as she had.
and would be SO pleased! Polly was the
one person in the house of whose SYM
pathy Amy felt quite sure.
She was long in coming, but she came
at last. Amy heard her step on the
porch, and with it another step, louder,
tirmer. Surely that tiresome John Gil
more was not coming in to spoil every
thing this first pleasant night. No; he
had come to see papa. Amy heard him
tap at the door of the "den," while
Polly ran up stairs. He emerged as she
came down; there was a long confab-
bing in the entry; but at last the front
door SMUT with a delightful emphasis,
and Amy jumped up from tie sofa to
enjoy the effect of her surprise.
"Come in-oh, do come in!n she
cried. 81 want you to see if the dear
old room don't look lovely. I've been
all the afternoon doing 1t, so that it
might be nice for our first evening.
Isn't it pleasant to sit in againp Aren't |
you glad that the wedding is over, and
all the tiresome love-making, and we
can have coy little times at home ike
other peopleP Why, Polly, how queer |
you look! Don't you like it? What
makes you do soPh for Polly, half |
tearfully, was kissing and fondling the
child.
"Oh, I do, Amy darling, do like it
very much," pleaded poor Polly, ssbut
-only-my pet, I'm afraid you'll be
very disappointed; but John Gilmore is
coming here this evening to see me, and
I'm afraid l shah have to ask you to let
us have this room.''
"John Gilmore! Good gracious!
Polly Patten with almost a Shrek
you're not engaged TO him? You don't
mean that?n
"Y-e-e-s,'' faltered Polly. "Oh, ANY
dear, don't look so distressed!'
g | will look distressed; have a
right to- cried Amy, with a bust of
'obs. AFTER all you said! A man
named John, too-three Johns in the
amily! Oh, Polly! And you who de-
dared You hated men named John!
Wen, after this, l never, never will be-
ieve in any body again.
''Amy dear, / talked a great deal of
nonsense. You must forget it. didn't
NOW" But Polly urged in vain. Amy
pushed her hand aside, and rushed away
Q console herself as best she might with
hard fit of crying, and Polly convicted,