The Bossier banner., 1884-10-02
THE LOST LETTER.

They are standing on the yeranda;
he is bidding her goodnight.
Il am going away, Miss lagrange"
he says, looking earnestly into her face
as he speaks.
.Indeed! for longP" There is no
tremulousness of tone nor heightened
color.
He is disappointed; he has hoped
that she would show some reluctance
to part with him. ssSix months or a
year. perhaps forever, - he adds, little
bitterly. III , ~
She is startled, but she is calm and
quiet when sheanswers: .'We will all be
sorry to lose you.'
fsWills you be sorry, Miss RoseP" he
questions, directly. 1900
"Why, of course; have we'not been
good friends?" .az
'Friendsi yes; but-welk goed-highe.
May | call again and say good bye? |
do not start until Monday" 4'7@ Il
Something seems to fill her throat
and choke her; she does not answer,
but turns suddenly and runs down the
steps. She pauses before white rose
bush, growing beside the walk, and
picks one; when she returns to him she
has gained her self-control., s..-.-a
'Here is rose for your buttonhole :;
what was it you said ? 'shall you come
and bid us good-byeP We should feel
very much hurt if you did not. She
says all this in an easy running tone,
perfectly free from emotion. : s
As she gives him the rose, he takes
the hand that holds it, and kisses it
twice, then hurries away.
Fool that | was to suppose that she
cared for me, " he mutters, as he strides
down the street. s'What am / to do
now?" he asks himself as he unlocks
his door and enters his bachelor quar-
ters. "Will she, or will she not consent
to become Mrs. Lawrence? that is the
question: He filings himself into a
chair and puts his boots on the table.
"My scheme has worked far from salts
factorily nevertheless, if | fail, l will
go away, anyway; / can take vaca-
ton and go and see mother" of
He gets up discontentedly and PAGES
the room. BY JoYe! II haSesitI I'll
write to her."
L
without telling you all that is in my heart.
lis useless for me to say goodbye without
SAYING more, Useless? Nay, impossible! You
can guess what / mean. If you wish me to
call again, send me one word, ''Co1ne." and I
Will be with You Saturday night. If you can
not say more than goodbye, do not reply to
tais' and you will never be troubled again by
Il. LAWRENCE.
''There, that will settle it. III 90
and put it in the Office to-night.n
Saturday comes and goes, but brings
no answer to Eugene Lawrence, wait
ing and watching for one word. He
builds high hopes in the morning, and
feels sure of success, But is with an
exceedingly heavy heart that he. secs
the sun 60 down; still he does not re-
linquish all hope for there may bessome
delay. So he waits as patiently as he
can until Monday, Which wears itself
into night, without bringing him the
welcome message. He waits one more
day. hoping against hope, but to no
purpose. Then he wearily packs his
belongings and leaves towu.
And Rosea Longingly she waits for
the goodbye visit, and wonders much
when he comes not
Time passes, and in the early sum.
mer Mrs. Lagrange, Roses mother,
DIES, leaving Rose and her little brother
Harry to the care of an uncle, in a dis
tant city. Afterthe funeral Rose starts
Tor her uncles, not knowing what else
to do, but feeling sure that she will not
long remain dependent. older father
mas been dead many years, and it is his
brother to whom She is going.
Mr.. Lagrange receives them coldly.
and very soon makes them feel their
dependence. Roses is a sensitive,
high-strung temperament, and she
thinks she could endure anything bet
Ter than the petty Sights and sneers to
which she. is daily subjected in qhei
uhcless house. She lakes q small room
and obtains some sewing; the remuner-
alton is very slight, but as nothing else
oIers she is glad to get anything, by
winch she can earn enough to gel
iood for herself and Harry. But. soon
her rent falls due and She has no means
70 meet it. She is wondering what she
snail do she has just finished some
sewing for Mrs. Lawrence, but it is
saturday night and nine o'clock, toe
iaee Tor her to take it home, so she
aoandons the thought of dinner to-
morrow, and thinks Mondas morning
Sne VIII give all her earnings to the
landlord, which will fall short of what
sne owes, but may perhaps give her a
respite As she takes up Harry's little
sorn trowsers to mend, her eyes tall
upon neatly tied package, marked
mrs. Lawrence" and that name sends
nsa nsr thoughts adrift, away back to an
otner Saturday night when she had
cos mascned and waited in vain, for the
coming of one of that name.
;s lfesently she hears arnan's step com.
nag g up stairs; her heart beats faster
Sns 5np sne holds her breath as it pauses
uslofe the door; O second passes and
s'leh comes a knock, sheis tirniCl about
spensng the door, She half rises, then