The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-01-08

ball in the house, and the neighbors
from far and near collected, but for all
| know the rest of the company may
have presented very successful personi-
fications of night, and mist, and cloud,
and Miss Chester, dressed in white
cashmere gown, plain, and low, and
close-fitting trimmed with gold brady i,
with her blonde hair divided over her
fillet of gold, no brighter or more beau
tiful than the two long plaits that fell
behind, was Light; or at least so she
seemed to me.
in the few days that followed there
were numerous excursions about the
country, in all of which, thanks to my
dear cousin Lucy, was Miss Chester's
escort. She's dear girl, this cousin of
mine, though she would torment me
now and then to show her the picture,
and was obliged to promise that /
would grant her request on Christmas
Day. / was shocked to hear that she
had told Di the whole story one day, but
somehow l got the idea that the sweet
child looked a little pensive, all that
evening, and SO, in my heart l blessed
my cousin, who, ignorant as she was,
was helping my cause so efficiently.
When Christmas morning came and
we all started off to church, Di and
were among those who walked. 1t was
short distance, and she decided it so
herself and let me 90 with her. She
had sprig of holly at the throat of her
fur coat, and patch of vivid red in her
hat, and as | walked at her side in the
light of the Christmas sunshine and the
sound of the Christmas bells, surely l
felt happier and better man than ever
l had been before, and made stronger
resolutions for my future life if only this
good and gentle little creature could be
with me, to hold me back from every
evil way, and help me to lead my turbid
mans life up to the pure rectitude of
hers. | had not as yet assured myself
that my life or my future could be any
thing to her, but hoped strongly, and
was determined to tell my story to her
soon.
All through the Christmas music and
the Christmas service, so beautiful and
triumphant, was by her side, and we
knelt together and stood together, and
think the hearts of both of us were
warmed to fervent praise. And after
ward, when we walked back through
the winter woods and over the dry, dead
leaves, offered my arm to my little Di
and she put her tiny hand within it, and
all through the walk her exceeding gen
teness and sweetness carried such COM
fort to my heart that half-formed res
olution that l had made took stronger
hold upon me.
By and-by, when Lucy and Di and I
We're together, after the rest had dis
banded to meet at dinner, my cousin
reminded me of promise in these words ::
"Come, Hal, you must not forget
your pledge to me. Di, he promised to
show us to-day the picture he fell so vio-
lently in love with year ago. 1t was
taken abroad, | hear, and perhaps you
may recognize in it some Venus of the
skylights that you have seen in some of
you travels. If you do, now, don't spare
hlm-out with the crushing truth, for
Hal has definitely informed me that he
will never WOO or wed and other woman
than the original of this-unless he has
lately changed his mind" She said this
last with twinkle in her eye, but an
swered very gravely:
Il have done no such thing, Lucy,
and ! am strongly as ever resolved that
| will never love or marry any woman
but the original of this picture,'' and
then slowly drew the precious little
card from my pocket.
Miss Chester, without any apparent
reason, here sprang up suddenly and
retired to distant part of the drawing
room, and stood with her back toward
me looking out of window. Lucy
stretched out her hand for the picture.
but l held it back.
Miss Chester must see it first,n l
said, "to tell whether she recognizes
it. Miss Chester, will you come and
lookup
Di called out in low tone that she
did not want to see it, and | declare the
great distance made her voice sound
ehoky, and almost as if it had tears in
it. In moment more | had gone to
her side, and fancy my surprise when |
discovered that her great star-clear
eyes were full of large tear-drops. and
she was holding the end of a damp lit
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pearls of teeth, and giving it little Jerks
in her agitation and anxiety to keep
back the tears. My heart gave a quick
throb of joy as delightful thought
shone in upon me. The little DARLING
was Jealous of the picture. Could it be
true?
Don't you want to see the face of
the little woman who had won nv
heart before l ever saw you? Don't
you feel interest enough in me to care
to see the woman that love and hope
some day to marryP" I said.
But she only shook her head, and |
saw the great tears fall and roll down
her beautiful cheeks.
"Ah, but you must,'' I said; 81 will
make you look. See, Di, this is the pic
lure OF my sweetheart, my one love, the
little creature who possesses every shred
and atom of my hearth
And | held the picture just beneath
her eyes.
a look of wonder-a little start-a
glad cry OF happy confusion-and she
vas in my arms.