The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-08-07

| greatly if it became known.
| But then her silly head was full of
the noble looks and magnificent voice
of the singer, and she thought how
romantic it would be if he should fall
victim to her beauty, and address his
impassioned songs from the stage to
her In the audience. In fact, there is
no telling how many foolish, senti-
mental ideas passed through her mind.
But how was she to win her wager?
There was no possible chance at Water
town Seminary, where the strictest
surveillance was exercised over the
girls, for her to meet the singer, but
Nelly was to return home the following
Friday and remain until Monday morn
ing. There she knew she could do as
she pleased.
| Her mother was a woman devoted to
society, and beyond paying particular
attention to her daughters dress and
manners, did not trouble herself about
her moral training. She would have
been very much shocked had she known
of tho act Nelly contemplated, because
it was an imprudence her world would
censure. But what that world ap-
proved must be right and proper. A
friend of hers once demonstrated with
her for taking Nelly to an opera in
which the moral tone was more than
questionable.
80, take her because it improves
her style of singing so much, and Sig
nora Demont has such charming,
sympathetic voice! / should not be
doing my duty to Nelly if did not give
her every advantage, and the opera is
the best musical teacher. AS for i'm
propriety, everybody goes, and every
body is charmed.
With such mother, Nelly was not
much troubled by any scruples of con
science for deceiving her.
When she reached home, she sat
down and wrote note to Herr Hern-
sheim, which she fattered herself was
a model of prudence and caution. She
paid him some eXtravagant compli-
ments on his voice, touched upon the
mysterious influence it had upon her,
leading her to make request to him.
She wished to express in person the
qualification he had given her, and con-
suit him about some songs she wished
to get for herself. Would he meet her
the following evening, about five
o clock, at Linden Parkp She would
hold bouquet of white roses and
heartsease, and he would know her by
that. She signed herself ''Fairie."
Nelly's heart beat high as the hour
drew near for the interview. She did
not try to analyze her own feelings, but
she could not help wondering what
Herr Hernsheim would think of her,
and if he would be pleased or disgusted.
She wore her handsomest walking
dress and her most becoming hat. She
was allowed to go out when she chose,
and the only comment her mother made
was to say, languidly:
''Nelly, you ought not to wear your
handsomest hat in this damp air. The
plumes will be uncurled; but you are so
careless! Be back before dark, for we
are going to the opera, and it takesNou
SO long to get dressed. "
She reached the park before the ap,
pointed time and promenaded slowly
through it, holding her bouquet of roses
and heartsease very conspicuously
More than one of the habitues of the
park noticed the pretty girl, her cheeks
flushed, and her eyes looking furtively
around, and they smiled to themselves,
knowing what it meant. Some one was
to meet her.
She passed bench where two stout,
comfortable-looking, middle-aged peo,
pie were seated, and the gentleman,
glancing at the flowers in her hand,
said a few words in German to his com-
panion, and then stepped in front o.
Nelly. He smiled and took off his hat
exposing partially bald head.
''Mees Fairie, | tink, from dose, ,
pointing to the flowers in her hand.
She glanced at his bald head anG
homely face and drew back haughtily
He smiled.
"Ah, mees, you recognize me not
but [ am Herr Hernsheim, and dis is
your kind note, is it not?" taking it out
of his pocket.
Nelly felt her head reeling. She
locked at the broad, good-natured
shiny face before her, and the full
middle-aged figure, and fairly gasped
for breath.
"You, Herr Hernsheim!' she STAN.
mered.
II hope so,'' with jolly laugh, .'ii
it is not my 'doppel- -ganger.' Ach,
mees, you haf me only see on de stage
1t is deterrent. De paint and de
powder, and de Wig on my bald head,
dat makes de stage hero. Yees, yees,
it is deterrent, but l am Herr Hern,
sheim all de same-at your service, y
making low bow.
| With one great crash Nelly's senti.
mental card-castle tumbled down and
so overwhelmed her in its ruins that she
was unable to collect her shattered
senses.
''You did wish to ask me about some
songs the Herr went on, quite at his
ease. "Come wild me to my wife, lead
ing her to the bench on which the stout
lady was seated.
"Amalia, de mees wants some songs.
My wife she teach moosic and singing,
and she has many songs at our rooms.
She viii sell dem. cheap. If you viii
come tomorrow Amalia will hear you
sing and know what suits your voice.
Amalia smiled and nodded, and ut
tered some words in deep cultural
tones, which might have been English,
German or Chinese for what bewildered
Nelly could tell She gazed intently
at Nelly, said something in German to