The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-03-11
HELEN CHURCHILL'S LOVER.

HELEN CHUkCH1LL'S LOtEk.
The silvery gray of summer dawn
was spreading itself over the landscape,
rendering soft and indistinct all familiar
objects yet, even seen by its dim, un-
certain hgh5, he looked more like one
grown prematurely old by reason OF
hard work or whitening care, than as il
ms ow~-~asSedf from youth to age
and there was stoop in MS snuu,,,v..
which told of hard and continuous toll
yet, notwithstanding these drawbacks
there were the remains of youthful
beauty in the well-shaped head anG
clear gray eyes.
He had arrived at the neighborine
town too late the evening before to catch
the last train to this little out-of-the way
hamlet, too late to do aught but seek a
bed there; but after three or four hours.
the resting craving to complete his
journey SO overpowered him that he rose
and pursued his way on foot. And now
with the delicate light of early morn sill
vering the birches, and dimpling the
waters. of the stream, he stood at length
where his feet had not rested for fifteen
years. But these fifteen years, awful as
they had been at the time, seemed but
as dream now, scarcely to be recalled
on waking, as he stood thus looking at
each well-remembered spot.
With sigh, the wayfarer brought
back his straying thoughts from past to
present, and became aware that the
sun had risen, the birds were chirping
forth an early song, and the dewdrops
We're glittering all around-on the rose
crowned hedge by which he stood, on
the sprays of eglantine, and on the far
away green meadows that lay between
the village of Bythrope and Bvthrope
Manor, halfway up the wooded slopes
opposite.
SAT length am home again. then
he muttered; sat length,1 throwing
his head back with certain ioyful ges-
ture, and stretching out a rough, toll
worn hand, as if in token of greeting
/" at length the years are over-the work
Is accomplished = the punishment
wrought out-and 1 am back to claim
my prize! !''-starting slightly.
as voice addressed him with a brief
A" Good-morning.
"Good-morning-sir." Something in
Inc strangers appearance apparently
brought forth that =" SIR" which had
not formed part of the original sentence.
but was hastily added on as he turned
his head to see who had addressed him.
You are about betimes," the new
conner went on. alt is not many of the
gentry as troubles themselves with the
sight OF summer sunrise.''
They miss MUCH" said the stran-
GER briefly. Though perhaps to us,
Who possibly have seen it nearly every
morning of our lives, it is q common at |
air enough!n
The farmer looked at the speaker in
ome surprise, and he added immedi-
ltely: 81 have not seen it myself for
many years-in England. You belong
o bythorpe," he went on, as if anxious
0 divert the conversation from anv ner,
onal channels.
Man and boy, l have lived here
hese fifty years. That is my farm, -
ointing with proud, possessive air in
ne direction whence he had come.
Manor Farm
Ihen you are" half escaped the
ps of the other; but the words passed
nnoted by his companion.
" DICK Sisted, of the Manor Farm ,,
e repeated. "Mine now, as it was INV
lther's before me, and will, please God.
my sons, by-and-by." {
" A perfect life, Mr.. Sisted. A home. i
wife, and little ones. What could a
an require morePn {
{" You do not possess them > - I
iestloned the farmer, looking nm. s
rrprlsed at the energy in the strangers t
ice.
81 am not married." he replied. t
1ehy. "But," he fastened to add +
arlng his reply might have been '
'rupt, "you know the place, YOU saw: a
en- perhaps you can tell me to whom
longs yonder house," pointing to- t
lrus the distant towers of Bythorpe g
amor. "But it may be am OBTAINING
:. No, no." replied Mr.. Sisted courte- a
sly, "lm not pressed for time J
nder house belongs to Squire Church. n
Inc young squire we calls him O.
.stly about here, seeing that his faith
is dead not so long since.n
9 He is dead?" -
Ay, surely; and young Mr.. Edward st
come into the place, and married a nj
my wife, he has.n r
The old Squire had daughter, had j
Two. You know them 81, RI
M knew of them,'' the stranger re- OF
snnVasively. And then, pointing to
lrougRhite house that was visible no
lat belontrees-" And to whom does f.
IS That? '0 -,
,dy.' to Mrs. Sutton. moor ~
"And why do ' m,
'ity her?'' fol