The Bossier banner., 1884-10-02

sinks back into her seat. Tae knock
is repeated. Shall she open the door?
Who can it be? The landlord, per-
hapS. With this thought she rises just
as the knock is again repeated. With
trembling hand and scared face she
opens the door.
Her nerves are unstrung, and she al.
most screams aloud as she beholds Eu-
gene Lawrence, but not quite.
81 have come for some sewing of my
mother S, " he begins, stepping across
the threshold; the light is in his face,
and he has not recognized her.
She closes the door without turning
around, trying to keep her face from
him, but as she has eaten nothing since
the day before, her step is rather un-
certain, and she staggers forward as her
hand leaves the knob; he springs toward
her and catches her arm.
.%Rese Lagrange! Is it Possible?'' he
exclaims, in CONSERVATION. z
SAT your service" she returns, trying
to speak lightly, but sinking wearily in
a chair.
''Has it come to this?" he asks, look
ing around the room.
Il am not ashamed to work., she
says, proudly.
mo, no! not ashamed toi o, but
that you should be obliged! Will you
tell me about yourself and how you
came here?''
s'Be seated. please. If you care to
hear, l will tell you,' and she resumes
her mending inYoluntarily. s'There is
not much to TELL" she begins; she has
been sewing button on Harry's pants;
something drops out of the pocket and
falls on the floor, and as she discovers
hole in the pocket she empties it in
order to mend it. She takes out some
twine, marbles, an old key, nails and
many other old traps, and at the very
bottom a bit of erumpled, dirty paper;
she lays them on the table and resumes
her sewing and her story.
He picks it up mechanically and alb
sently smooths it out. 1t is a letter,
sealed and stamped. Suddenly he be-
comes aware that he is reading the
name of miss Rose lagrange in his
own handwriting. He hastily tears it
open and reads his own letter to her
1 written over a year ago. .
She sis surprised at his behavior.
"Mr. Lawrence, you forget yourself" "
she saws. sge
'sWill you be kind enough to read
that letter, " he eXclaims, excitedly, sit
is evident it never reached you."
She takes it wonderingfy, reads it
slowly, then looks inquiringly into his
eager face. So
9'Do you understand" he asks, i'm
ploringly.
Hardly she returns; then reads il
over; a light seems to break upon her,
for the tell-tale color rushes into hel
face and betrays her.
Had you received it when it was
due, what would you have said?'
''Come," she whispers.
''My darling my darling" he ex,
claims, folding her in his arms.
She falls limp upon his breast.
''What have | done! have killed
her?n he cries in alarm.
'sNo," she answers family. I" 1 an
only faint and weak, it will pass pres
entlyp
ssWhat is it? what is the matter?"
''Nothing, nothing /! have hae
nothing to eat since yesterday, ane
have been working all day, and am {
little dizzy; that is all. -
'tGreaG heavens! that is enough! Yor
shall go to my mother tonight will
not leave you again alone. o, tha
you should have come to this through
me. Fool that was not to have spokeI
when saw you, not to have trusted te
luck"
She smiled at his vehemence.
s'Do you know, darling, it was all !;
ruse, my going away? [ just told yol
that to see ifyou cared, and L thought
you didn't
.'Did you think I would let you see
if did carepn 4.
Sand you missed me?" na
.slt almost broke my heart.'
80, what an idiot l have BEEN"
''I am strong now," she says, releas
ing herself from his embrace.
Sand you will go with me2" he ques
tions.
YES" she answers, confidingly
''But wait, viii wake Harry, we mus
take him.
81 suppose so," he returns, laughing
''the little heather, keeping that lette
| hidden away in his pocket for over |
year" fl
= When they are going home they ques
ton Harry about the letter, but he re
members nothing of it. After mucl
thinking he does recall one mornin,
when the postman gave him letter t
take into the house, and he put it int
his pocket and forgot it.
'1f we had not been so poor" say
Rose, laughingly," those old clothe
would have been thrown away long ag
i and the letter with them--ArEansal
i Rye. p