The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-02-24

comfortably with the dear girl. since
you DO not wish me to marry her. /
NY husband sank back in his chair
with an expression of tragic horror.
Marry herr' he calculated. eff T
thought there was the least DANCER Of
1t l should never experience another
happy moment as long as I live
Let her come, by all means,n said
Archie; 6. have the widest curiosity
TO see woman you do not want me to
marry. 1t gives my mind such de-
lclous rest to think of it.'' ste.rF
Our cousin arrived duly, and was so
handsome and stylish that both nv
husband and myself were secretly more
determined than ever that we would Sc
cure her for our brother by fair means
or foul.
"Ihis is our old bachelor brother.n
said the master of the house, pushing
him before him with one hand on each
shoulder, precisely as though through
age and intirmity he was unable to
stand without assistance, and the room
being somewhat dark. the deception
was complete. -
What is his nameP'' asked Violet.
pleasantly. at
Archibald Wyman.'
Indeed! how classical-that is al
most the composers name," she said.
carelessly; then added, in the same
tone: Il dearly love old bachelors. 1
have whole host of them on my list of
friends.n s-e~s. vr
You viii have to speak louder when
you tell him such things said my hus-
band, "for he is very DEAF
dear me! how unfortunately ex-
claimed Juliet. Seating herself she be-
gan voluble strain of small talk, con-
Quoted in key of such surprising loud
ness that / feared Archie would sum-
marily wreck terrible vengeance upon
his audacious brother-in-law. Louder
and louder waxed the conversation, as
she fancied that the bachelor dignifed
reserve was merely the result of his lack
OF hearing. / thought should die of
modification, and fastened to have
lights brought in, hoping that when she
discovered that the g bachelor could
not be over thirty-fve, and really
looked five years younger, she would
pause. | was not disappointed She
turned toward her cousin look of in
dignant inquiry. l knew Archie was
very angry, but he was too polite to
evince it. That night Juliet said to me,
before retiring:
''What made Cousin Charley treat me
so badly?''
''He wished Archie to appear at a
disadvantage, said l. sHe wants you
to dislike him. s....... .s,
"Whyp"
Because he has picked out wife
for him, and does not want you to inter-
fere with his plans q
''Indeedr' sneered Juliet, loftily,
"he has no cause to be uneasy" "a
81 am glad of it," I returned, ssfor
Archie needs wife who can devote all
her time to him, and Of course you
could not spare the time from your
music.'' ..,,...
Certainly not! and if he is such a
ninny that he would expect wife to
follow him around with his slippers in
one hand and his dressing gown in the
other, must respectfully decline, for ]
have no time to waste upon such tri-
fesn s~T sEFf ~ "E ESr &
She turned away with a half sigh.
adding: b
And I did like his FACET is one l
have dreamed of so often
Before Juliet had been in the house
two days my brother had evineed a
marked preference for her society, and
she for his. verify believe in those
days they thought both Charley and me
ubiquitous. If in the first two months
of her visit they enjoyed a single pri-
vate conversation of two minutes dura-
ton, am ignorant OF the time. Char
ley with his book, or l with my sewing,
would invariably drop in upon them,
whether on the front piazza or in the
cool, shady arbor they essayed to have
a comfortable chat. One evening when
we knew them to be sitting on the
piazza, which opened both by doors and
windows into the dining room, Charley
drew me to the window nearest them
and said: sa s -
'sIs it not trihe too much that my
cherished plans are to be frustrated by
that designing womanpp as "a
DO speak lower" said I, in stage
whisper; 1--WE do not know where they
are. sE' "fs sax
..phey started, for walk an hour
ago. She is bent on having him. To
think she has even abandoned music
for the time being. l hoped that that
if nothing else would disgust him. I
wonder with his keen penetration he
cannot see what sham that girl isl
'.For that NATTER said L. I think
she is as badly taken in as he is, for you
know Arch is the most selfish creature
alive. Awife must be his slave ornoth-
ing. He would never consider any
woman his equal. and being so old it is
doubtful if he will ever change
sNever fear" exclaimed Charley, in
a loud key, '.VIolet Hunt will manage
him.. I have known her from child
hood, and l pity him. l will try strata
gem. viii read letter at tea, pur-
porting to be from one of his sisters
who is violently i'll, and writes in haste
for him to come and see her, "a
..But when he gets there and finds
it is false, he will never forgive u.s.
said l.
Little do care, ii I can only save
hlm from this cruel fate.''
Two hours later, when went to call
l.