The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-07-02


figured brow, cheek, and chin, and the
skin was withered and faded like that
of very old woman. --.r--z-.
Il did not mean to hurt you, Susan"
said George, going to her, and putting
his arms about her, land really qcoutd
like to have photograph of you"
Susan brushed away her tears with
one hand, while with her other she
pushed back the hair from her brothers.
brow. -s~aig esq - r-.zaEE
mo, no, she said, in a low voice
. "You must not ask it, dear George. /
know you love me too well ever to feel
ashamed of either me or my picture,
but would rather not grant this re-
quest. Say no more about it, dear
brother. u : --s1+ f. aa a.. l+E-
So George turned the conversation to
something else, and speedily forgot all
about the matter.
The most popular teacher in Drink
water Academy was Prof. Reeves, who
had the class in English Literature and
Natural History, and he was particu-
larly kind to George, who took great
and genuine interest in everything per-
tanning to nature. and was an excellent
historian. 1t may therefore be under
stood how great was Georges pride and
pleasure in being asked by the Professor
to make one of small party which had
in view visit to the museum at Beav-
er's Falls.
George had frequently strolled into
the museum when at home and knew
by heart the contents of almost every
case it contained, but he had never had
any one with him who could talk in
telligently about them, or who could
explain TO him the nature of various odd
objects which had puzzed him.
I'm sure to have capital time, he
thought, land perhaps may have a
chance to call on Susan. I'll give her
genuine surprise. !"
Beavers Falls was only sixty miles
distant from Drinkwater, and the natu-
raj history party, taking an early train,
reached the museum at eleven o'clock.
George kept as close as possible to
Professor Reeves, and was deeply in
terested in the discussions which took
place between that gentleman and a
noted scientist who was an excellent
talker and possessed a wonderful fund
of information on the subject of natural
history. But some of the other boys
grew tired, after time, of the learned
gentleman's views, and strolled away
in different directions in search of
amusement of some kind.
George was listening attentively to
the Professors description of strange
species of moth found in Australia,
when he was annoyed by touch on his
arm, and turning, saw John Drake, his
boon companion at the Academy, and
the son of wealthy and aristocratic
parents.
Come along with me-" whispered
John. 81 know you have heard enough
of this sort of talk, and 1 want you to
see the ugliest woman you ever laid
eyes on. She's enough to give fellow
the nightmare for week. Dill and
Manning have been trying to chaff her,
but they can't get word out of her.
Look, there she is noW,'' e-ea
| George turned his eyes toward the
door, and saw, coming slowly toward
him, a heavy basket of towels on her
arm, has sister Susan.
All the boys at the Academy knew
that George had sister, and that she
lived in Beavers Falls, but were not
aware that her occupation was that of
a laundress. He had never considered
| it necessary to mention that fact.
Could he acknowledge it now? Could
he go forward and embrace fraternaHy
this tired-looking, STOPPING, plainly
dressed woman with the SCARED. dis
torted facep What would the boys say
if he did so? And Prof. Reeves.
No he could not do it.
Yet he hesitated a moment, his better
feelings, his love for the sister who had
done so much for him, struggling for
the ascendancy; then, with the thought:
"She will never know" he turned
aside to avoid the meeting.
But he turned too late. Susan had
happened to glance in the direction in
which he stood, and recognized him at
once.
She gave slight exclamation, and
was about to put down her basket,
when suddenly she paused and her face
flushed crimson. In her brothers ex-
preston of modification and annoy
anee, in his attempt to avoid her, she
read the truth-he aods ashamed of her
For an instant she stood motionless:
then with, a long, gasping sigh, which
seemed to George to come from the
depths of her heart, she lifted her
heavy basket higher on her arm, and
with averted face passed by him with
out word.
He saw her stop at desk at the other
end of the room, and give the basket to
janitor, who gave her some money in
return, but saw no more; for fearing to
meet hereyes again, he turned his face
toward a case of butterflies and moths,
and pretended~to- berdeeply interested
in them. y
He was startled by an exclamation of
surprise and pleasure from Prof
Reeves, who broke off in the middle of
a sentence. and started forward toward
the center of the room with outstretched
hand. > @ s. A
|. Susan! Susan Shieldsp" he cried, in
a voice. that was distinctly heard by
every one in the room. ''I can't be mis-
taken! Have Imet you at last, after all
these years?'' Hr 49,. .,..-.....va
1t seemed Go George as if the room
was whirling around him. Could it be
possible that it was Susan, the sister of