The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-09-30

he saw that some remedy must be ap-
piled. He was even thcn--at the
moment the fair reader discovers him
ON the way to apply it. He had
mingled his last last cup of coffee with
cogitation on the subject, and had de-
termined to try a nail. The fork in his
hand, hitherto unexplainable, was in
tended to wrench from its resting place
the desired article. Its head shone
bright as a tallow candle on dark
night when he opened a cupboard door
and dragged out a box filled with black
bottles and marked in big letters
''soap." He smiled and wrenched off
part of the lid to get at it; then he put
the prongs carefully about its neck and
bent downward on the handle. There
was report. howl and an expletive
which, in justice to Mr.. McFadden,
must be omitted. The tempered steel
had snapped short off and pronged
hand struck him in the eye.
'.Now. by my halidom," said he,
when the bright light Of day struggled
into his retina again, II can endure this
bachelors life no longer. must
change it for better"
And Archibald McF Fadden was putting
this rash resolve into execution when
the reader formed his acquaintance.
For MIR. McFadden was a man quick to
act.
Fate steals along with silent tread
Found oftenest in what least we dread,
FrOwns in the storm with angry brow,
But in the sunshine strikes the blow
-CoDper.
As Archibald busted off the seat with
his palm-leaf fan and puffed himself
into it. he noticed young lady stand
ing near the front door, talking very
earnestly with the driver. The mule
resumed operations suddenly, but that
only disconnected the conversation,
without breaking it Off "What is the
matter?" said Archibald to vinegary
looking lady of uncertain age who sat
near him. The lady drew the folds of
her nose slightly but firmly, and re-
| marked, with rather unnecessary vigor
that she was not in the habit of being
spoken to by strange men in the cars.
Then she relented little, if her feat
ures were any indication, and finally
told him that he might find out if he
listened. He thanked her-for he was
never deficient in politeness- struck
her off his list of possibilities and ad
dressed his ear to the young lady's
story. IS a
%''I thought that ticket was all right, "
she said, taking one moment between
each word for an attractive blush, ''but
if you say not / suppose l am mis-
taken"
"Oh oh-h-hr' she shrieked, after a
long look through the glass box. Its
a Turkish bath ticket! Iboughta a pack
age only Yesterday"
Indeed" said the prim lady, with
her nose and infection rising at equal
angles, while the driver impaired the
information that neither he ner the
officers of the company were likely
to need such thing. 81 have afriend,
| however" he was just going to say,
when the mule interrupted and the
balance of the proposition died within
him. ..s.-.-
Il guess you will have to put in an
other ticket he said, when he had
recovered himself. -
s'But haven't one," said the maid
en-, beginning to show the sparkle OF
two tear-drops. Didn't [ tell YOU I
picked up the wrong package?"
'Well, then, some money. Five cents,
please!"
i cssI have none of that, either" she
said, tremulously.
/ SWELL" said the driver, finally-but
Archibald McFadden, as we have seen,
+ was a man quick to act.
! "Never, SIR said he, glancing de-
fiance around the car; mo woman
shall be put out into the cold world
while Archibald McFadden has the
money to pay her car fare. +"
II He had forgotten in his earnestness
about the temperature, but the senti-
ment was all right. Then he put his
honest hand into. his pocket. He
flushed a little and then made the same
effort on the other side; then he tried
5 his vest; then his coat-tails, and then
the pockets where more sanguinary
men carry their revolvers. His hair
stood straight up as the search was
finished and the palm of bis hand still
showed empty air. He would have
said nothing about the cold world if he
had spoken again. 1t was remarkably
warm on his side of the car.
..Well, then," began the driver once
more, Il was just going 20 say, when
that old codger interrupted me, that
would let you ride free. You can pay
the fare some other time.
Archibald breathed harder than ever
and the young lady sat down. There
was something about her he liked. The
fair hair rippled back from her fore.
head like the wavelets on q sunny
brook, and her blue eyes beamed to
ward him like the violets on its banks
"She is better girl than the one
am AFTER" said he, ''even if she has nc
money, and, by Jove, I'll sacrifice my
self. Pll find out, however. he added
prudently, s.before the thing goes toe
far, whether she can sew on buttons Of
not" And then he braced himself uI
in his seat and patted his hair dowr
with his left hand.
s.Ahem, madame" said he. "Ex
cuse me, but was just in the act o.
helping you when that driver coarsely
interfered Can be of any further
service?'
"No. sir. thank you," said the fai