The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-09-16

Of grass blades, and when it was done |
he gave it to Rhetta. She blushed again |
over it, and went on talking about |
flowers.
II wish could get some slips of
Colonel Porter's geraniums. she said;
"he has SO many kinds. and Ihave only |
this little pink one. And want root |
OF day-lily Uery much, and some tea
rose cuttings, and double Genoese
violet, blue saliva too, and o, Mr..
Calender. look! There is Rose Porter
now driving up the street in her pony
phaeton. Isn't she lovely?"
As the jaunty basket phaeton moved
slowly by. a bright, pretty face glanced
from 1t, smiling cordially at Rhetta,
and then was oVerspread by look of
sudden recognition and pleased surA
prise at sight of Ralph Calender, who
took his hat of respectfully.
why, do you know her?" asked
Retta, amazed.
II find I do. She and my sister
Sally became great friends two years
ago at Newport-or was it Nahant?
And Miss Porter spent the holidays Mt
our house the next winter. l thought
it must be she. when you described
her."
Ralph Calender paused and gazed
rehectively at the ground. He was re-
calling that gay holiday season when
Rose Porter and his sister were the
bellies of their set. He could have
counted his friends by the hundred,
and now "Poverty does make
a difference" he thought, bitter
ly. All who had it in their power to
aid him had turned the cold shoulder.
He was simply poor man seeking en-
ployment, and he felt at odds with the
world. Rhetta, grown suddenly shy,
pulled away the dead leaves from a
pink root and said nothing. Newport!
Nahant! And people like the .Porters
for intimate friends! It seemed to re-
move Ralph far from her quiet, even
life, and to set him where she had no
part
The basket phaeton was now seen
returning down the street with its
pretty occupant, who stopped her ponies
opposite the cottage with such an eyi-
dent intention to speak to Ralph Cal
lender that he at once went out of the
garden and stood in the road at her
side. Rhetta saw them shake hands in
the most friendly manner, heard Rose s
musical laughter and sweet voice,
though she could not distinguish the
words; and in few moments more, to
her surprise. Ralph stepped into the
phaeton, sat down by Rose, took the
reins in his hands, and drove rapidly
away, with . backward glance and
smile, which to Rhetta seemed to say:
.She is an old friend, you seeH'
| But when he did not come home to
dinner she thought it strange. Her
father and Aunt Dorcas made no com
ment, for Ralph had often been absent
at that hour when seeking for employ
ment. Rhetta did not mention that he
drove away with Rose Porter, but a
neighbor, who had watched them,
came in during the afternoon and spoke
of it with great interest. Aunt Dorcas
at once felt great interest too, and
Rhetta found it so trying to listen te
their remarks and surmises that she
slipped out of the house to her garden
and did hard wedding in her flower
beds for two hours without sparing her
SELF But she heard every step tha
passed by on the sidewalk, and knew
that Ralph Calender did not come
The afternoon waned restlessly away
He would surely come back by supper
time; and Rhetta, in fresh gown
with pansies at her belt, hummed little
songs as she moved about setting tn,
table for Aunt Dorcas.
~ -rn,s1dvtt x,y,t IN that dah n
honey" said Aunt Dorcas-.'not til
you see whether he's coming
1 80, he'll come" said Rhetta; but sh'
stopped singing.
/ Mr.. Wood came in, washed his fac
and hands at the sink, and sat down il
his place at the table. Aunt Dorca.
passed him cup of tea.
"Where's Callendere" he asked
looking around.
"Why, haven't you heard?' sal
Aunt Dorcas. 'sHe drove off with Ros
Porter, and we haven't caught sight o
him since. S8N
1.-THE Porters are old friends of his,
said Rhetta, flushing up. 8
Hum! humr' muttered her father
as he drank his tea from the saucer. il
which he had cooled it.
Aunt Dorcas now questioned the gin
as to all she knew about this old friend
, ship. and at the close said, with an al
of one who meant to do her duty by al
no matter how mercilessly, "Wel
like as not they'll make match OF j
, Birds of feather fock together"
Supper was over. cleared away, an
all the dishes washed, but still Ralp
Calender did not come. As it gre
! dark, Mr.. Wood strolled off to ch.
J with the neighbors, and Aunt Dorca'
putting on her bonnet and black sill
) shawl, went to the weekly prayer-mee
ing. Rhetta, left free from commen
! went up into her little garden, an
|, leaned against the plum-tree, with
| strange dull pain gnawing at her hear
! It seemed like days and weeks sint
i Ralph drove away with smiling. prett
|, Rose Porter. And she herself had b
gun to think of him as somehow h
; own. That very morning. under tn
r very tree, there had been in his lool
!, and in his tone touches of tenderne
/ that had filled her heart with subt
happiness. But now it was all owe
;. in an instant she had lost him. ko