The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-06-16
luck', So l Will just have to grin and

Well! Well! How long it is since I
9egan my story. But I suppose since |
olo oegln ltyou will want to know the
rest. But, oh! omuch has happened
SINCE then that l hardly know where to
oeSln: Well, after l received that let
Ter felt pretty badly. But the prepara-
tions Tor our graduating exercises at
school put everything else out of mind.
now we girls did study and practice
until all OF us became quite as ethereal
III appearance as we could wish. At
last arrived 1.-the great, the impor-
tant day, big with the fate'' mot of
Cesar and of Rome, but of a beyv of
sred, expectant school girls, and we
louhd ourselves seated in IA goodly array
on the platform, before crowded
house, and trembling as if we were 90
ing TO be executed. l don't know when
my turn came. | only know I found
myself standing before .ssea
OF upturned faces reading away as
though my life depended on it and with
a great feeling of joy in my heart when
| came to the last page of my ESSAY.
have dazed recollection of sitting
down amidst thunder of applause and
shower OF bouquets At last the ex-
erclses were over, and the people were
going away. was in a whirl of ex-
eltement chatting to the girls, bidding
the Professors goodbye, etc., when a
little negro came toward me and
handed me the most beautiful
basket of flowers | ever saw.
Attached to it was card, and what
do you think was on it? .Compli-
ments and congratulations of Mrs.
Ross 'hired man. P" Now wasn't that
1mpudent? could have crushed the
whole thing under my foot. / didn't
though, it was too pretty. And l was
not exactly mad either, for l was the
only one to whom he had sent flowers.
SO felt little bit fattered. Nav be
you think that was very silly also, but
don t pretend to be anything but a
silly girl just let loose from school, so
that settles it. That evening MRS.
Ross hired man, in other words, Mr..
Frederick Ross, Jr., came over to offer
congratulations. And-I don't exactly
know how it was, but he came quite
often that summer Indeed, things
were going on quite swimminely Il
think he was little bit in love with
me, and am sure | was in the same
condition), when my luck, in the form
OF pretty cousin of his, just spoiled
everything. At least so I thought.
Mrs. Ross had invited aniece of hers to
spend few weeks with her, and of
course Fred said he must pay her
good deal of attention, out OF courtesy.
Butshe asjust awfully pretty, and don't
you think | could see how things were
going? Why Fred was madly in love
with her, as any one with two ewes
could see. He took her out riding, to
parties, concerts, the opera, and in fact
scarcely left her side a moment. tried
to harden myself by saying that he had
never cared for me one bit, but that
would not help me, as l could not con-,
eeal the fact from myself that 1 loved
him. So | just entered perfect whirl-
pool of gayetg. flirted desperately and
finally gained the reputation of being
regular society eoquet. Well, at last
that hateful cousin Il don't call her
hateful now went away, and wasn't I
glad-though no . one . would have
dreamed l cared anything about 1t.
Fred commenced coming to our house
again, but wasn't cool to him! Why,
OF course Twas not going to be the play
thing of the hour, to be picked up and
laid aside when it suited his convenience.
Well, Fred went away to college, and
wrote and requested me 10 correspond
with him. | did not want to at first,
but at last consented, and when he
came home at Christmas we were
quite good friends again. / WON'T
worry you with all our spats and "mak-
ings-up.,'' Fred graduated from the
with high honors and came
home, bringing bis pretty cousin with
him. But this time l was not worried
one bit, Tor Fred had explained all that
in his letters. You see, she was en-
gagged, but her family were poor, ana
her atfianced only moderately well off;
so she was mot much of society girl
and had very few pleasures. Fred,
therefore, wanted her to have splen-
did time, and took her around great
deal. So you may know by reason of
this explanation was made happy. The
evening Fred got home he sent over
note asking permission to call and
bring his cousin, / just wished that he
had left that cousin out of the engage
ment. but replied that should be de-.
lighted, etc. / was in hutter of excite
ment, for you must know had not seen
Fred for nearly year. SO Idressed
myself with great care. Fred and his
cousin came about dusk, and we sat on
the front veranda and had lovely time
for about an hour. By and by began
to see for what reason Fred had brought
his cousin, for she began talking to
and Fred came and sat on the
steps at my feet. can't tell just how
it was, but after awhile Fred and Iwere
way round on the side veranda, and
we'll, | am not going to tell you any
more, may be you'll know yourself some
day When we came round to the front
porch Fred walked up to mamma and
asked her if she could let him have the
pay for cleaning the yard. Mamma
looked up at him in puzzled way and
he laughingly drew me to his side and
said that / was the price that he de-
manded.s Mamma gave US her blessing
am just as happy as can
be, and am to be married next week,
is,t To hn