The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-07-27

ladv S-maid, the girls declared, laughing
I-and looked regretfully after them, as.
with their splendor all shrouded in black
serge cloaks, they hurried down the
frozen road, two merry, feeting shad-
ows.
20, dear, oh, dear, said Polly, aloud,
show wish was going. toor'
And she winked the tears down, and
ran back into the oak-wairiseoted room.
where the lamp still glowed, and the
logs blazed and snapped on the hearth.
| so hurriedly that she never once re-
| membered Amy's farewell caution as to
the locking and double-locking of the
outer door.
Miss Baird was asleep, after her supper
and her medicine. There was no use
going to her for companionship; for she
| s4ored and slept with her mouth open.
and was not in the least an ideal slum-
oere-. And the kitchen was very lone
SOME without Mary Eliza, and even the
cat was too drowsy to purr or frolic
vita a ball of knitting-yarn.
"What shall do?n said Polly. 80.
L know! FL try on the garnet silk dress.
and fancy I'm a grown-up young lady
going to ballr'
She was walking up and down the
floor. trying to see herself in the odd
venetian mirror that hung above the
tall, wooden mantle, when the creakinp
| OF board in the hall startled her. Fly.
ing to the door, garnet silk, train and
all, she came face to face with a man,
II beg your pardon!" he said, apol-
ogetically; 'but you did not hear the
knock and -
''What do you want?" cried Polly, all
IN panic. "Go away, at oncep'
II called to see if the young ladies
Polly waited to hear no more. Vague
ideas of peddlers, tramps, burglars,
midnight assassins, foated through her
brain.
Yes,'' said she with assumed calm
ness, !" they are at home. Please to
walk in
And opening the nearest door. she
motioned him to enter. As it was dark
therein, how was he to know that it was
the coal-cellar or that the next minute
the door would be shut and bolted upon
himp''
"Thereps cried Polly, exultingly. her
dark eyes staring like balls of fire, her
cheeks turned from deadly pale to glow
ing red.
"But stop a minuter' pleaded a stified
voice, from the other side lof the door.
{" There's mistake. ''
Yes" said Polly, there is mis-
take! You are mistaken in supposing
that am to be imposed upon. Now,
stay there until I call the coachman
and the two stable-hands, and unloose
the dog!'
Which four last be it understood.
were entirely a fiction of Miss Polly's
imaginationD ~ s
She stood a second or so to consider.
Miss Baird must not be excited or dis
turbed- at least, so the Doctor said.
Besides of what use could Miss Bair d
possibly be?
tsTn go for the girls said Polly.
II II be at the ball, after all!'' gftEsl
And, folding a shawl around her
pretty, taper shoulders, away she shot,
like an arrow, quite needless of the lace
lined train of the garnet silk dress.
Hazel Hill, where the ball was being
held, was not more than a quarter of a
mile from Stone Tower, and, lighted
from garret to cellar, it presented a very
pretty sight to PollY's wondering ewes.
She posted herself on the verandah.
just where easement had been opened
to cool the perfumed atmosphere of the
dancing and there, with big,
sparkling eyes, and cherry cheeks, half
hidden by the shawl drawn over her
head and ears. she watched to catch a
glimpse of Amy or Mamie.
There they were, dancing. Polly
would scarcely have known them, so ra-
diant they seemed-their exquisite bor-
rowed dresses set off by lights, their
faces flushed by happy excitement land
at last Amy sat down by this very open
easement, smiling and tanning herself,
while her partner hurried to bring her a
glass of iced champagne.
All of a sudden cold little hand fell
on her round, dimpled shoulder. She
started and looked around.
Polly! Goodness me! it can't be
possiblep' she exclaimed. s.What on
earth has brought you herep Is Miss
Baird dead? Has papa come home?''
No. answered Polly, sepulchrally.
"But I've caught burglar! Ca1l Nan
uic duu cOIue uOIue at once, because,
maybe, he II break loose
And SO Amy never got the iced cham
pagne, and Mamie didn't finish her
waltz with whiskered young gentleman
from Montreal. And Harry Sinclair, the
brother of the hostess, accompanied them
back to the Tower, with the tallest of the
walters, two revolvers and blackthorn
stick which would have done credit to
Rory o. More himself.
Thus backed up, Polly drew the bolt,
unlocked the door, and called in stern
accents, to the sequestered victim:
Come out, you villain-come at |
oncer'
And q tall, rather pleasant-looking
young fellow emerged, shivering with |
he cold. and having the traces Of coal
lust on his white shirt collar and light |
I'D gloves.
ssWho are you?" saYagely demanded
Sinclair.
The gentleman presented his card.
s.MY name is Safford,'' said he.
Z Colonel Copely requested me to call