The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-03-02
"Wait until have taken a walk in it.
Ihan / will ask her, - la11nhad Elsie

linen Will ask her, laughed Elsie.
''On the principle that healthy roses
make the truest kind of beauty?" ques-
toned Grace, rousing herself with an
effort from the distracted mood into
which she had fallen.
| Then Elsie vanished, and after she
had been away for some time strange
nervousness took possession of Alice.
She started at every unusual sound, and
if the bell rang she would start hastily
for the door in very unusual manner
for such self-possessed young lady.
| Grace had taken away her little
charges sometime before the ring came
which announced the arrival of the Wis
| itor Alice was evidently expecting.
She went to meet him in a futter of
excitement.
"Wayne," she said, sits the luckiest
thing you ever did in your life to draw
that valentine for the youngster who sent
it to my little cousin, for but for that
| should not have known you were here.
Now want you to answer me ques-
ton: Are you still fond of Grace? | ask
because you wrote me such bitter let
ter about her that am sure disappoint-
ed, but faithful love gave it it's sting"
The animation which had frightened
Wayne's face at meeting Alice died out
suddenly-usurped by panied express
sion.
''Don't rake up that old wound, Ally;
it is not sufficiently healed to bear prob
ing. Do what / will / cannot help low
ing the girl, and I wish could hate her!
the heartless coquette! to play with a
mans happiness and then throw him
over for a richer lover"
care you sure she did that, Wayne?"
"Am | sure that / am alive?' he an
swered, bitterly. ''But why do you
ask.n
81 will tell you. Grace is here in this
house, and she loves you as dearly as you
love her. 1t was jealousy made her act
as she did, for she told me SO with tears
in her eyes,
Wayne looked the surprise he felt.
Then it was you she was Jealous of,
Ally he said, after moments thought
ful consideration; ''for now that you put
it in that light. she was never the same
after showed her your picture, saying,
jestingly, that had fallen in love with
the original. She showed no signs of
annoyance at the time, and like fool, I
kept up the delusion. Then I grew an
CRY at her for seeming pleased with Her.
man Lancaster attentions, and we quar-
relied and parted.''
g You did very wrong. Wayne" said
Alice, seriously; ssand you have both
been punished for playing fast and loose
with your happiness; but, unless I am
mistaken, this will be a happy Valen-
tines Day to you and to Grace. Wait
moment"
Alice, after a brief absence, returned.
Grace followed her, with wide wonder
ing eyes.
g | told you I had valentine for you,
Miss Alleyn, and here it is, or rather,
here he is. Twill give him into your
charge, and then excuse myself, as l
have letters to write.''
6 Will you forgive me, Wayne?n said
Grace, looking pleadihgly up into the
agltated face of her lover as she went
toward him, after one incredulous look,
succeeded by burning glow of happi-
ness. which irradiated her face.
'Upon one condition. said Wayne,
drawing her to his heart, and holding
her there in close embrace-s'tha our
wedding take place at the same time
with my Cousin Alice's.''
'That is next month Wayne, and
but | must tell you something before we
renew our engagement. / am no longer
my uncle's heiress-I am poor, and am
earning my own living
''What difference does that makepn
burst in Wayne, impetuously. did not
fall in love with your uncle's money; it
was with YOU"
81 did not mean that, Wayne, but I
shall have to make my own things, even
to my wedding dress and bonnet, and
that wouldn't give me time
'And l say that you couldn't look nicer
to my eyes in any gown than in the very
one you have on now. So that's no ex-
cuse, and I'll not accept it. Well be
married first, and you may afterward
spend months in making things syou
call them" -
Wayne had his way about the marriage
taking place with that of Alice. Grace
was married in white, and looked as fair
and graceful in her simple dress as did
Alice in her rich toilette of satin and
point-lace.
( She would have dearly enjoyed pre-
senting Grace with a rousseau as hand
as her own; but she could not prevail
upon her to accept anything SO costly,
and so she had to content herself with
giving pretty and serviceable tea-set
Of silver for her wedding gift to her new
cousin.
There is martial infelicity in Dead
wood as well as elsewhere. When
wife runs away with an affinity the be-