The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-08-04
"Why, how is that ?n asked the clerk

| =, .1o euo WiHuef, and ShOutin' til
l m as hoarse as rook; and I'm nearl,
wet through with the drippings from
the husens the caves of the house
out can't get she up. She only lest
put her head out of the winder for .
minute, to tell me 'twor no good for me
TO stand hocketting Tmaking great
noise there; for she'd never take the
trouble to put on her best things and
go out IN that powerin' rain Jest to
marry nae. -
:" Why, Sim! this is rather a. bad be-
ginning for people about to marry.
isn't it2 I'm afraid the gray mare viii
pc the best horse in your team--won' II
sheP" said the kindly old clerk, with a
merry twinkle in his knowing brown
eyes However, I'D better go and
tell Mr.. Howard, or he will be putting
MS surpllce on for nothing. Shall / say
70 him that perhaps, the wedding will
come OH tomorrow, if the weather is
inner. Mary will get up in time p,
T" If she don't,n vowed Sim, glarinp
vengefully, ''she shall never hev another
chance. I'm fairly. sick of her tricks.
We've been keeping company this
twenty year and more, and now. she
don't Know her own mind bit better
than a mawther [young grill in her
teens. But won't stand it no longer
She am t going to treat me like dog,
or mat for her to wipe her feet on.
There's Widow Biggs would Eev me any
day, and glad; and nice comfortable
woman she is, too! The wedding ring
shan lie long in my pocket for want
OF wearer. And there, Master West
ley.'' said poor Sim, almost in tears
over his frustrated plans and disap-
pointed hopes, I'd meant this to hev
been a reg lar jolly day. I'd got in a
barrel of beer, and .spare-rib of
pork, and we wor going to hev pars-
Ties and frawns [pan- cakes] , and a mort
OF good things besides, to make a reg lar
spree of it; and now, it's all knocked on
the head, and everybody knows I'm
made a fool of into the bargain.''
tssCheer up, Simp' said Master West
ley. g 1t is aggravating. I'll own; but
Mary isn't bad sort. though she has
rather cruggy Ecrusty] temper. She
has been very true toyou, and it would
be pity for two such faithful lovers as
you've been to part over little tiff at
last. | believe Mary is jealous of the
little widow. You know people did saw
once you were rather soft on herr
!. 1t was a big story burst out Sim.
" She tried to hook me, but I never gave
her 10 encouragement"
8 Didn't you walk with her from
church last Sunday? I heard that you
did and carried little Joey all the wav
home; and kissed him when. you put
him down at his mothers door,
"Well, he axed me to give him a kiss.
so I could't do no otherwise. There
was no harm in that. sewerly.Y x
Certainly not. Only, YOU see, as
Mary lives just opposite, and saw it all.
she very likely thought you'd better be
engaged kissing her than hanging round
the widows $ door. depend upon It, she's
jealous; and she's got highful spirit
of her own, and is acting like this to
makey you think she doesn' care whether
she has you or no. If she thought there
was real danger Of losing you, she'd
come round in minute, as tractable as
you like" 3e8s Et8t1sfsl
'.But how can make her think soP,,s
swell, you won't be doing any work
to-day, and it's dull tiffling (idling1
about doing nothing. Take and brush
yourself up smart, and go and have a
chat with Mrs. Biggs. Take some
oranges and sweets for joey Don't
look at Mary's house; and mind and
make grand show of petting and kiss
ing the boy in front of the window,
where she can see. it ALL She'll be
more Jealous than ever. But if she
doesn't marry you tomorrow I'll eat
my head.n
s.Ah. Master Westerly, you're a deep
one, you arer' said Simon, regarding
MS astute adviser with admiration.
. But it don't fare to be ezackerly jon,
1ick [straightforward1 to dew so; and
amt fond of smarnnin' babies over
With kisses. Still, if you think it will.
bring Mary up to the scratch, I'll EN-
Try it. If itdon't, marry Sukey, I sCiu,
any more shilly-shallying."
Master Westerly then started for the
'ectory, and Sim paid his visit to the
widow. He remained in her snug little |
house some time, and must have acted
lis part uncommonly well, for he had |
iO.sSLOu IlJilC all w ucu nc was |
7isited by his old Sweetheart. The ec-
centric spinster, ignoring. her own way
ward conduct that day. attacked Sim with |
storm Of reproaches, accusing him of (
ickleness and .falsehood in forsaking
Ter for ''that sly, carneying. little wild, |
Ter; and after keeping company with I
ne for so many yearsp' she plaintively I
su0e0. x @s - - ~ a. IS
"No,". said Sim, stoutly st wor
10 fault o. mine. I was ready to do /
ay part this morning. 1t was you as
un word. But I'll eat humble-pie no
onger. Hyou don't want to hev me,
know one as does. I'll marry you
o-morrow, if you like. If you don't,
II never ak you againr' a
Mary was tall. black-eyed, comely /
ooking spinster of forty or more, re-
orted to have hot temper and
hrewish tongue; but for. once she kept
9th in check. II was evident that
imon meant to be, trifed with no.
5nger. Moreover, she could not help !
ecretly admitting that he was right,
nd admired his spirit and manly de-
ermination. ltswould neverdo TO let
Q good fellow and so faithful lover
ali a. prey to designing Widow-not L