The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-08-30

sAAo VI 0iliOns uc asSuIeu niIilSelIy was
intended to adorn his new jacket
lie thought the opportunity too good
| 20 be lust an informal kiss would ex-
press half of his formal speech, which
somehow he couldn't remember.
| The kiss was fairly implanted on
| Mary's lips, and SO was astinging blow,
and the print of shapely fingers, ON
John cheek.
How dare youi IA tramp! "a
man in small clothes! a-good gracious!
it's John Redpathr'
The confused and indignant exclama-
tons which burst from Mary1s Hps
| ended in a peal of laughter. IfMary' 8
conduct was not sufficiently dampen-
ing. Mary3s grimaees, as she retreated
TO the farthest corner of the room, were.
For the first time in his life John did
not know what to do with his hands
and feet.
When Mary's enjoyment of the
ridiculous had exhausted itself In ring
| ing laughter, she excused herself, with
a shy look of concern at the red side of
his face, for her rude reception of him;
and ventured to ask what his idea was
for dressing in his, younger brothers
clothes?
Miss Hepworth, said John, with
the sharpness of rising anger, ssdo YOU
really think that /, John Redpath,
would come here in the character of
my brother?n
mot exactly in his character, you
know. But, really" (viewing him
again With@ an ill-eoncealed SMILEY
really, everything is too small but the
hat, and that's too big.''
Look here. Mary, no more nom
sense. haven this suit on for moth
ing. | mean business; will you listenP"
Mary looked expeetant and ready to
hurl another shaft OF ridicule
You must know, Mary, that I've
come to prefer my suit to your father, !"
said John, confident that now things
would be settled in u moment.
swell, you needn't have come for
that, John,' replied Mary, growing
very red, .'for | shouldn't give hair
Of my fathers head for dozen suits of
yours.
Il mean you will let me urge my
suit with your father, won't you, Mary
dear?" persisted John, himself puzzled
and ready to talk plain country talk if
this last effort at formality failed.
1t did fail.
Mary placed distance between them
as fast as the room would allow. With
her eyes flashing anything but love, she
shouted across the room:
John Redpath, you are intolerable
and insultingf A moment ago you had
the kindness to tell me that you pre-
ferred your suit to my father, as if there
was a probability of his being yours!
Now, you suddenly seem to have such
contempt for your suit that you want
him to rid you of it! It is an unheard
Of
Hush, Mary! Dear Mary! Con-
found it, Mary! It's all mistake, =
pleaded John, rushing up to her and
placing his hands over her mouth. 81
don t mean-I mean-you know want
you, Mary-I mean the-my suit for
you. my marriage, wedding that kind
of thing!''
You have courage to present YOUR
self as my future husband In this skin
flint suitp No, John, won't marry
you. As long as you don't show the
sense and stability of man in your
outward appearance / expect less from
the man within, replied Mary, keep
ing her lover at bay with severe look.
John bit his lips. 1t was his time to
get mad at such Womanish ignorance
OF mems style. That's all you know
about style, Mary. Wait till you see
the fellows ape me when
.t0i one of the species Is quite
enough for me to lose my respect for
all. So don't pride yourself on your
noble array of followers. y
That arrow struck home. For q
moment John WINGED perceptibly under
her witticism. Then anger got the
better of him.
His look was annihilating as he said:
- guess you've got some other fellow
in your eye. MaryP'
"Yes, John, / have replied Mary.
thinking of the man she would ike
him to be, and watching the effect of
her words with a little pleasure.
John winced But he hoped the gold
ring in his pocket might yet reverse her
decision won't You take this ring.
1A@t anu lo1 eiiose oeileI BOs NC DeS-
ged, humbly.
mo, John, I'd rather have the
other fellow
It was said SO very quietly and with
such determined 'sthe other fellow
that John knew there was no hope for
him. He would have liked nothing
better than fighting his fortunate rival.
Swallowing his daggers which made
his voice sound harsh and fierce he
said:
IF you I've got some one else, / should
just like to have the presents ] gave
you when / was boy. 1t means mad
for good this time 2
Mary started. She was not quite
prepared to make such sacrifice. But
of course, Mary was too proud now to
recall anything, and she really had
made up her mind not to have John, If
he stuck to his vanities.
After a few minutes absence, in
which John felt himself the most mis-
cradle of men. Mary re-appeared,
with her hand full of strlnkets.
His hope that she would CRY and then
make up, as they did years ago, re-
ceived its death blow in the soft but
n latn