The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-02-28


clothed. He refused to 90 to bed at
night, and he refused to get up in the
morning. When one took him for a
walk he ran away. He climbed out of
the windows and stood upon the sill.
He tore things for mere mischief sake,
and was as fond of biting as mad
dog; but Linda was cool, quiet and
good-humored. In week or so she
got the mastery over him, and even be-
gan to teach him something. Of the
father she saw nothing, but at night
she heard him pacing the room over
head with long and solemn strides.
''lt's his conscience, my DEAR" said
Mrs. Posset. ''He says he is sure he
wasn't all he should be to his poor
Amanda, and that he broke her heart.
lie never even answered her back, and
I've had him get up in the night and
go everywhere to buy Strawberries
when they were not in season because
she was set on having 'em. She was
Miss Penfeather, and the family de-
spises Mr.. Bellamy; but 1 never saw
such alteration, even when she gave
him black eye with the dusting
brush
Linda grew curious to see this par
agon. One dav she was gratihed. She
had left Master Tommy in the nursery
and gone down stairs to get tub of
hot water for his bath; when she re-
turned he was gone. She hurried about
the house, and soon heard low groans
from the study on the second floor.
The door stood open; peeping in she
saw tall man living on a sofa and
Master Tommy standing near by, pull
ing out his hair by handfulls. With
every tug the sufferer groaned, but
made no resistance,
''1ommy," called Linda, "Tommy,
come here. Really, sir, you ought not
to allow that. ~ ,~.
Tommy obeyed and ran to her. The
martyr lifted up his head Is 15f
Don't disturb him" he said, mourn
fully. "Iwould deny nothing to her
child. I wish to do my duty by him at
least"
That is not the way to do it, SIR"
said Linda. absurd indulgence is in
furious to any child
She led Tommy away.
The next morning, as she was in
structing him in the alphabet. tan
gled head of black hair appeared at the
door; thin, tall figure followed, and
Mr.. Bellamy, with a detected air and
tone, inquired: EEs EF
MAY | come in?'
Linda hastened to place chair. and
went on with her lesson.
The father eyed her with wistful
look.
''You seem to manage him." he said
81 try to, SIR" said Linda.
''He has his sainted mothers face, y
said Mr.. Bellamy
The child, with his blunt nose, and
rough, red cheeks, was not particularly
| saint-like, but Linda, as in duty bound,
bowed gravely.
sit comforts me to see him. said
Mr.. Bellamy. s'May I come often?''
"This is your own house, SIR" said
Linda.
From that day Mr.. Bellamy sat in the
nursery great deal. In the evenings
he took Tommy to walk. At the end
of that month he raised Linda's wages
As the summer wore on, and the
year of his mourning glided by, he be-
| slowed many condolences on his nursery
goVerness. He remembered each cause
of complaint his late, wife had had
against him and desired Linda's opin-
ion. Generally she found him not to
blame. By slow degrees he grew more
cheerful, and at last brought home a
top for Tommy and set it humming.
On the anniversary of his wife s death
he took Linda and Tommy to her grave
and wept there.
"a broken-hearted man is Mr.. Bel
lamy," said Mrs Posset. .sBut it seems
singular to me that he didn't ask me to
take the child instead of you"
The week after Mrs. Penfeather and
one of Tommy's aunts came to make a
visit. There was good deal of whis-
pering in the housekeeper's room; and
one evening Mrs. Penfeather entered
the nursery with a naughty air, and,
seating herself in rocking chair, adj
dressed herself to. Linda:
ST am the late Mrs. Bellamy's &
mother, as suppose you know, and
have come over to see how Tommy is
getting on. can't say / think he is
doing well at all. and I believe can
/ find better nurse-maid for him. So,
| DIS your nOHJH Is u y uoAb mOuuAV, II
pay you now in place of warning, and
you can pack up at once.
Linda looked at the old lady quietly,
paused a moment. said every well. y
and walked out of the room. Her little
trunk stood in the store-room; she
opened it and began to take down her
/ few plain gowns. Suddenly Tommy s
voice reached her, crying:
"Where's my LindaP" and she heard
the grandmother say:
Linda is going away. She's naugh-
| ty."
/ Then she realized that she had come
to love Tommy, and tears fell fast up
on the garments she was packing.
"Crying?" said voice behind her.
''Why, Linda. what has happened?'
'Tm very foolish, that's all, MFR. Bel
lamy. 1t is only leaving Tommy" she
answered, without looking around.
Leaving Tommy? What do you
mean?" cried Mr.. Bellamy.
He came into the store-room and
stood near her, looking down at her. :
''Mrs. Penfeather has dismissed me. y
she said.
But u have not" said Mr.. Ballaany.
/ He bent toward her: he looked at hel