The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-02-25

H.
There was everywhere an air of dilapi-
dation and neglect On all sides there
were broken boards, rag-stuffed win
dows, rickety fences and fallen gates,
proclaiming the habitation of the
drunkard
On looking around I found every
thing in conformity with the first view
from the road. Fields half cultivated,
fruit trees unpruned, fences that had
caught the habits of their master and
had fallen or were staggering to their
fall, gates hanging by one hinge, plows
with broken handles and carts with
broken wheels, manure accumulated
about the barns instead of making the
crops look .'lush and lusty.' The
barns themselves, ventilated by loss of
boards, in the shed Old Paul's wagon,
and tied to post his old horse, appar-
entity looking mournfully forward to
his future prospects in the hands of the
jockey who had bought him for ten dol
lars on speculation.
Going, going at ten CENTS" heard
in harsh. husky voice, ''aH this lot of
pans. once. the pride of Aunt Polly's
heart, bran new only twenty years ago,
going, going and gone to Patrick Nc
Fadden for ten cents 81
Ten cents, then, was the public valu-
alton of what had occupied the thoughts
of Old Paufs wife, to the exclusion of
all'the tender memories OF fifty years, as
she returned to her old home.
At length the house was all cleared
except one room.
This room Old Paul had kept locked
for twenty years, never permitting any
one to enter it but himself. A jury of
neighboring gossips had more than
once had the subject under advisement,
and had brought unanimous verdict
of .'strange and very mysterious.
As no one knew anything about it,
every one felt free to say just what her
busy fancy suggested. Some said it
| was haunted, and one cadaverous old
maid, who had dried up in single bless
edness, threw out dark hints about a
peddler who had mysteriously disap-
peared. Some said lights had been
seen and strangely sweet music heard
there more than once at the dead of
night.
| and, if possible, avoided passing Old
Paul's house in the night, but, # at any
time benighted, their fear wokSd add
wings to their feet and eyes 10 their
! imaginations, and ghost sfSry was
sure to be the result, especially if Old
| Paul's white horse was feeding near
| the house. This room also sdXmed to
possess a strange power over id Paul
4 IL ,koI II
ways left it greatly agitated and COM
monty in tears, and after such visits he
had been known to be sober for weeks
| together.
This mystery, whatever it might be.
was now about to be cleared up. A
group of eager gossips had already
/ gathered about the door, which had to
be forced. as the key could not be found.
/ One of the shutters, which Old Paul
always kept closed, was opened to let
in the light of day, and with it all that
/ mystery vanished. Instead of haunt
| for the revels Of spirits of darkness or
murder spots that would not out. " we
saw only large square room, furnished
with an air of gentility and taste that
the dust of twenty years could not hide,
and in, strange contrast with the rest
| of the house.
/ The mystery had vanished, and with
it all that coarse hilarity. Even the
rollicking auetioneer, stood mute, his
coarse features covered with a shade OF
thoughtful sadness.
| More thanene lip quivered, and more
than one hard hand brushed away an
obtrusive tear, as this dusty old room
called up from its oblivious slumber
some touching memory of the past.
/ There was one old woman who, in
the midst of the hustle, had seemed
busy with her own thoughts, and more
! than once her heart had seemed full as
some little article was sold had no
ticed her, and inquired who she was
and they told me that her husband had
once been Q drunkard worse even. than
Old Paul. but that he had suddenly re-
formed and became respectable man
that they had been miserably poor,
with . large family, but after his
reform ion became quite comfortable
| liyers, and all agreed that she was as
good woman as lived this side o1
| heaven. & s#fis E
/ As she entered the room her feelings
quite overcame her. The tears coursed
each other down the deep burrows on
her cheeks. sxs,. z4.8s.s -
"Yes." at length she said, ..this i.
Nelly's room, just as she left it. What
as sweet creature that was She was
an angel to me in my poverty anc
suffering. Hardly day passed with
out her brin nging over some nice little
things for poor little Willy, who was
sick so long. But he is well. now
thank God, and they are both in heaven
together. And then she had such &
kind way to give anything that it would
make brown crust taste good. Itwas
different times in this house when sht
was in it. always hoped she would
be able to save poor Paul, for she coult
do anything with him; but she savee
j my poor husband, for he never drank :
drop after she talked to him-so like
an angel as she was just before she
died. He could never speak of her te
the day Of his death without crying
She wasn't quite eighteen when she
went away. l always told him she
didn't belong in this world, but wa,
only here on visit. What time tha
-