The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-09-02

"I cannot allow this brava .3o ~ coollv

cannot allow this bravaio," coollv
said Mr.. Marsh. ''You are a scholar,
and L am your teacher. Take your
place in the class. You must do it, or
you must leave the school,"
will not take my place in the class
and will not leave the school at your
Didding!" said Logan, with an insolent
laugh.
For answer, Mr.. March impulsively
took hold of his arm, when Logan drew
himself violently away and pushed the
teacher as he did so. Hastily Mr..
March seized his RATTAN and in the
little struggle that followed, struck him
with it.
had seen Logan fogged by other
teachers and laugh when it was over.
Now he staggered back to the wall,
white and breathless.
"1ou-you coal heaverr' he gasped,
with an oath and seizing his cap, he
rushed from the room. -
| Air. March went on with the recita-
ton, but he scarcely heard word. He
was sickly, weak man and now. he
was terribly shaken by excitement.
| When school was over, went up to
him. g 1t is too much,' sobbed; 6" and
your sister coming, too! All your hap
piness is spoiled"
Not ALL" he said smiling. f"I
must hurry home to meet her, little
Meg?"
went out of the school-house be-
fore him, with the other girls. Logan
was standing by a maple-tree, leaning
against the trunk, his arms folded and
his eyes glaring at the door.
Logan" Isaid, ..come home" But
he did not notice me.
The door opened and Mr.. March
came out. Logan stepped up to him.
Defend yourself!' he shouted.
MIR. March threw up his arms.
The coaldigger fights with his
flsts!' with derisive laugh. "This is
the way the Lashleys defend their
honorr' and raising his hand, he fired
pistol straight at the man before him.
At the same moment phaeton drove
up through the wood road and my
mothers voice called, ''She has come!''
while young rosy girl leaped lightly
down and ran laughing towards the
school-house, crying:
6 Here l am, Charley! Where are
you, Charley!
The terrified children drew back and
she saw their teacher lying on the grass.
Logan was crouching over him.
He is deadr' he said. "I am a
murdererns And the self-reproaching
tone showed that the evil spirit had
gone out of him.
/ watched them carry what seemed
to me the dead body to the teachers
little house. There was now only Lo-
gan and me in the world, thought.
would 60 with him into prison, or to
the gallows. He was my twin brother.
/ found him down in the swamp. His
madness was all lsgone. i There was no
more fierce talk of the Lashley honor:
he was only quaking, stupid boy.
He put his arms about my neck and
cried out, :" | did not think YOU would
come, Meg! I'm Cain! All the world
has turned against me. 0, my God! to
think I'm murderer!''
l stayed with him all night in the
swamp. In looking back at my life that
seems to fill up great black space of
misery. Towards morning l heard |
voice calling. 1t was mother. She was
CHASTITY pale and her dress was torn.
She ran towards us.
80 my poor boyr' she cried; "I
have searched for you all night. He is
not dead. The doctor thinks he will
recover"
He did recover. This all happened
years ago. Mr.. March is now middle
aged man, but he has no stauncher
friend or one whom he values more
than Logan Lashley.
Since that day / have never heard a
word from my brothers lips of the
Lashley honor, or the requisites needed
TO constitute gentleman.-Youth's