The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-09-21
BELLEVUE, La, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 2L 1882 --9

"AhO Iolu Sippeu MS WINE IN silence
we elders gossiped of the place, the
people and the cooking, though more
than once L fancied that cheerful Mr..
Latimer was more distrat than usual.
and several times [ noticed that he east
anxious glances at Toms thoughtful
countenance
:. Blythe way" he said, after the
waiter had placed the dessert and finally
Withdrawn, g neither of you has in
quired my business here.n
He looked at Tom, and Tom. rousino
himself looked at him. o
Well, SIR" said that young gentle
man. people don't come to Newport on
buslness-at least. not generally-so it
didn't strike me to inquire
Well, my boy" said the elder gentle
man, laughing, "I'll give YOU the in
formation gratuitously, [ have come
down here for a dav to see the lady I'm
about to marry-Miss Seldom. You have
probably met her,
Tom and [ stared at his father in nm
mltlgated surprise, and Tom calculated .
81 say, father, you're not in earnest,
you know
.'Of course am, ,''replied Mr.. Latimer,
rising and laughing; ''and I'm of now
to pay my respects Come over in the
course of the evening. both of you.''
And, while Tom stared blankly after
him, he went away.
Iom looked at me and looked at him.
Tom thrust his hands through his yellow
curls and then into his trousers pockets.
lie then whistled-I whistled
"Such man as that to marrva brown
front and q set of false teeth p ejacu,
lated Tom. "Jove sir, I'm struck
dumb r' Il iii
In proof of which he became slightly
profane.
| do not approve of strong language
l do of hock ); SO, to immediate two birds
with the same stone, | cried:
'' In any case, let us drink her health. -
After which. cheerful resignation came
to Tom, and he was good enough to say I;
"Well, after all, it will be pleasanter
for Bertha and myself than if the governor
had had better taste. [ wonder what
entertainments the old Gree threw around
him p'' ..tr
"Tn tell you what" said Tom, as.
later in the evening, we assembled to the
drawingroom of the bride-elect and hel
lovely niece, "Tll get Bertha out for a
stroll this lovely moonlight night, and as
sure as fate Tll propose. 1t is Just the
evening orthat kind of thing, especially
with those tender, blue-eyed things. /
say, hadn't we better knock, lest we
might interrupt the love-making - a,
But | had opened the door, ana there
was nothing for it but to advance.
The room was but dimiy-lighted, vet
sufficiently so to show Miss Seldom, the
aunt. seated in a distant armchair,
spectacles on nose, the paper she had
been perusing fallen on her lap, while a
gentle sound, like the snore of a fav.
proclaimed that she was wrapped in
slumber, as was also the poodle living at
her feet
Close to the piano stood Mr.. Latimer.
bending tenderly over little sylph in
white tule, whose bright hair floated
over his black coat-sleeve, and whose
white fingers were shyly twisting one OF
the buttons of said coat-Bertha, in fact.
They started as the door opened, and
Bertha would have sprung away, but his
eneircling arm detained her.
=. Here, Tom p he called out, "come
and pay your respects to your future
stepmother. She is but little body.
but no doubt she'll make you a good
one.n
"Good evening, Tom" said Bertha,
smiling half-shyly. "Why didn't you
tell me before that you were going to be
my step-son9 p You are so nice and kind.
[ love you already, and I'm sure well
get on so well together r' ce 9z~
Nice and kind !! ., Tom. my poor
friend!
r. -. y
The last time heard of Tom, he was
safely landed by the skillful and indefati-
gable Godine, and they were spending
the honeymoon in Paris.
10 Mrs. Latimer, his stepmother, is a
most charming little person, and they
certainly do give the most recherche
dinners in town.