The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-05-01
THE WEATHERBY "WAVE.n

Ting-a-ling-a-ling, rang the door-bell
at Captain Weatherby's.
The Captail and his wife were sit
ting in front of the coal fire in the back
parlor, waiting till it should be safe to
leave, and seeing many queer things in
the glowing ashes. The ''help"-they
do not keep servants bad gone to bed,
aud the house was shut up for the night.
No one was expected and it was too late
for callers, so there was mutual start
Of alarm on the part of the pair when
the front door-bel rang in that sudden
way.
Ting ing-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling
1t was really quite ghostly; Mrs.
Weatherby said: ''Mercy me, who
is there, do you suppose and the Cap
tain replied Like as not it's telly-
gram.
Then he went to the door. The wire
Of that indignant bell was still vibrating
and the tongue itself had just stopped
wagging and yet when the Captain
opened the door not soul was visible.
The soft, light flakes of the last snow of
the season drifted into his face, and fell
cold and wet on his cheeks. Mrs.
Weatherby was close behind him, and
exclaimed:
"Mercy me! 1t was nobody,"
'Not even the cat," said her hus-
band. ''Old Prim can do a sight of
mischief, but she can't ring door-bells.
It was some pesky boy, | suppose, who
thought he'd play smart and then run
for it.
What's that on the door-step?"
asked Mrs. Weatherby, suddenly.
''lt's drift, " said the Captain. 'I
tell you what, Mary, there'll be nor
easter tonight, nor east by nor, with
WIND that'll make the sails rattle. It's
gettln' up now.n and he drew in his
uncovered head, and was about to shut
the hall door.
There is something there, Silas,
said his wife, fright on the top step.
Looks like bundle
The Captain peered out again.
tits right you are, my hearty. Sure
as you live it's basket" and he
touched it with his foot.
70, it's the groceries for tomorrow;
mat careless boy forgot them. No
wonder he ran away when he rang the
oell' Fetch 'em in, Silas, and leave
mem in the back parlor tonight.
Hannah viii see them first thing in the
morningn'
Better take them into the caboose-
mean the Kitchen" said the Captain.
No; it's locked up. Put 'em on
uiat chair by the door. Ugh! I'm
snlFerln' with the cold air." and the
sooa woman sat down in front of the
comlortable Goals again.
!, we We heap to be thankful for,
wary, said the Captain, thourhtfully.
Yes, l s'pose So" sighed his wife;
sne was thinking just then of two little
grases at Marblehead. They had been
.haae nigh on to twenty years ago, and
1e vacancy in her heart and life had
never been filed.
al that moment queer little wailing
s1y rang through the room. The two
started and looked at each other.
!. oakes alive! What was it?'' asked
Mrs, Weatherby.
a. ~ y came out of that basket said
as captain; that fool of a boy has
'IMeo a hand in the fo'castle-I mean
;srl SlUen' and he stalked over to it and
'erked of the cover.
a,.,y ,Dy the great horn spoonr" he ex-
ta.ned, taa. as he jumped back about four
'eet; Its baby
aia Mercy ! me!' said lis wife; "where
ulo I come from?'
wb.. from !, the skies, should say; that $
sar Sas In. .ne bell rang for. Well, / must
X 1nls Is an imposition"
ons1i drs: Weatherby was looking Curl
rss. ss.s INTO the basket; all she saw was
IttIa' swo @ bright. smiling eyes, and a
6s;s ,e round head covered with dark
alone. o"oy' oeserteu ana
i. III 60 forthe police" saidthe Capt
on;.s S, angrlly; "shiver my timbers if I'm
b. g % have people starving their ba-
urn,;Sa5 ~ my doorstep when there places
f'v''9eQ Tor them as are destitute, The