The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-07-28

| fouI iuOIner VIII ike me-
hobln said that he knew she would
and he thought also that it would be
well Tor Margorie if she had such a wise
counsellor and over the cider and cake
they fell to talking very pleasantly and
very merrily. In the midst of this .
slow clumplng on the broad path of the
road became audible. Suddenly the
pleasant chat was interrupted. Mar.
gore clasped her plump hands and
Silas turned red.
1T is pa,p whispered Mareorie. O.
told you he'd be early. Silas. HIDE
yourself. Run into the store-closet~
run, Poor pa has been taking too much
hard cider-I know it by his walk. He
always does at the agricultural meet
ings- Hell stop at nothing. Hide
yourself-hide in the store-closet."
"4ou see. Robin" said Silas, doubt
!uily, "he promised to kill me if he
found me in his house again-and Mar
gore is nervous about it-come."
THANK you" said Robin, .'go your
| self if you like
And Margorie, who had never ceased
Wrlnglng and clasping her hands, pushed
olias into the closet, and turned to face
| her father, who now stumped in with
rather irregular steps, and with a face
as red as one of his own prize beets
| after good boiling.
90, pa" she cried, hypocritically.
| show nice and early you are! And here
is the minister waiting to see you.''
"How do you do, dominie?' said
Mr.. Garnet. proud, I'm sure. Been
to the agricultural meetin'. One of nv
early dooties. Sit down; sit down.
Glad to see you. Fill your glass. 1
mean get something to eat and drink,
Margorie." !"
II haze, pa said Margorie. "Don't
you see the pitcher?n and she handed
him glass.
"Sweet ciderr' said Mr.. Garnet, con-
temptuously. "Well, boys and girls
and women and dominies like it, / sup
pose. How's religion comm on. Pret-
ty brisk?"
Robin answered as best he could, and
cast an anxious glance toward the store
closet. af8
''Sit down. Sit down, dominic
said Mr.. Garnet. ''Make yourself at
home. I've wanted to talk to you
good while. They say you can drive
the devil out of folks. Now tell me.
how does he get into 'em? Tell me
that"
Mr.. Garnet was very far from sober.
and Robin thought it best to humor
him.
.sWhen Satan enters a mans heart.
it is through sin, of course,'' he said.
What kind of sinP' asked Mr.. Gar
net, in a thick, tipsy voice
''Many. Murder, theft, lying and
drunkenness amongst Others" said
Robin.
Look here. young man." said Mr..
Garnet, trying to rise, "I've got plenty
of hard cider aboard, know. Now If
Satan is IN rue, drive him out. want
to see him. Come now; go at it."
81 think / had better take nv leave.
Miss Garnet,' said Robin.
But before the words were out of his
lips the door of the store closet opened
softly. The lamp was sud lenly blown
out; a smell of birthstone filled the
room, and an awful figure stood before
them. Silas had possessed himself of
box OF matches, dampened the ends,
and rubbed them over his face and
hands, and with two more punches
blazing in his hands stood before the
Mortified Mr.. Garnet, his head tied up
in silk handkerchief and table-cloth
draping his shoulders.
You want to see me, here I am," he
said, in hollow tones. "You reprobate,
look at me" eH
Margorie shrieked; Robin stood be-
wildered; old Mr.. Garnet sank on his
knees.
30, dominic, keep him away" he
cried. go, what am / do?''
''Soften your hard heart" said Silas.
"Don't drink so much cider, and let
your daughter marry the man of her
choice, or I'll come and fetch you next
Christmas;" and, fiourishing the fam
ing matches. he dashed out of the door.
"Get up, Mr.. Garnett," said Robin.
:" Get up. sir; sit in this chair. Miss
Garnet, will you light the lamp? Be
calm, be. calmr' and he held the old
man hand in his.
Dominic, y gasped Mr.. Garnet, "you
won't raise him again! There, don't
speak; listen! Why do you suppose he
came?n
Robin was very wrong; he confessed
this afterward, but he was very young
also, and in love with girl who was
far away. and Silas was his friend; and
instead of making an explanation of the
facts he merely answered:
81 think he told you himself why he
came
II know it isn't right to drink too
much. I'll swear off, said Mr.. Gar
net. "But about letting Margorie have
Silas Weld. whv, his grandfather and |
my father went to law about the three |
acre meadow, and my mother used to
say she'd no opinion at all of Mrs.
Weld, his ms"
They are all dead, I believe" said |
Robin; ''all gone to their ACCOUNT
"Yes," said Mr.. Garnet. Eyes
that's true. A year-the old boy said
he d fetch me in year, if didn't let
Silas have Margorie. Dominic, what's
your opinion of Silasp'' Il
He will be good to your daughter"
said Robin. "I-I-,
o, how wrong he was again. He re-
pented it in sackcloth and ashes; but