The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-10-21
A WAYSIDE FLOWER.
A Rose in 'Love Lane" and What
Became of It.

Ldue III d gays CudtUStlHS pIOCcSSlOu
girls with laurel-wreathed hats,
young men bearing shawls and baskets,
a natron or two; last of all Stephen
Fulton, child on either side of him,
and in his arms little Nanny Forsythe
half asleep. Wherever Stephen went
children followed, led by attraction
Irresistible as that which draws iron
filings to the magnet. Grown people
could not understand this attraction,
but the little ones never mistook about
it. Sleepy as she was, Nanny's small
hand kept patting his shoulder as they
went along, and her voice cooed words
Of drowsy endearment which made
Stephen smile, gloomy as he felt that
day. Each cheerful reply to the chill
dren's questions cost an effort; but he
spoke cheerfully all the same, and tried
to keep his eyes from wandering for
ward to where Captain Hallett walked
by the side of Milly Graves, with his
handsome head very near hers, and his
voice murmuring low sentences inau-
dible to the rest of the party. Many
glances were sent back at this couple
from those in advance, for Neal Hallett
was the novelty of the moment, a hero
and stranger; and the girls, who
were only too well-disposed to pull
caps for him, thoughtit s'quite too bad"
of Milly to absorb his attentions as she
had done all day.
But, after all, what could Milly, what
could any girl, do, when an all-con-
quering Captain takes up his position
at her side in early morning and never
leaves it until late afternoon? 1t is
not in girl nature to resist such
tribute, and Stephanie De Witt, in
front;was partly justified in calling it
"a desperate flirtation," although
fear the pout with which she spoke
was due rather to amour propre than
outraged morals. But on Milly's side
it was not all Irritation. For all her
merry, saucy ways, she was sensitive,
credulous creature, just the woman to
give ''gol1 for DUST and stake her all
in that unequal barter so common in
this world of misunderstood values.
Her fair cheeks were flushed and her
blue eyes full of shy excitement as they
walked along, talking .about-dear me,
what do people talk about when they
are young and of different sexes? Cap
tain Hallett's fine eyes said more than
his tongue; his martial mustache
seemed to give point and value to mere
nothings. He carried 1.-THE little cane
with which he emphasized his SEN
tences; now cutting the air, now be-
heading a MULLEN, in way which
Milly thought fascinating. And then
Love lane was such a pretty spot, the
very place to be eloquentin. Its wind
ing turns were hedged with fragrant
growths-woodbine, brier, sweet fern
and bay. Overhead the trees met and
clasped in shady arches. Here and
there a pink honeysuckle glinted in
the network of green, or a train OF
shlmmering clematis. The pure prim-
rose light of a cloudless sunset sifted
down through the canopy of boughs
allght breeze stirred, full of delicious
smells. 1t was like an evening in fairy
land.
Suddenly turning brought them to
afern-clad bank, against which, set in
o frame work of tremulous verdure,
STOOD one rose of perfect wild wood
PINK, poised at tip of cluster of vivid
leaves. Itwas like an enchanted queen,
Milly thought.
How beautifulr' she cried; but even
as the words left her lips the restless
cane flew through the air, f1icked the
rose from its stem, and sent it into the
austy road, little whirlwind of broker
leaves accompanying its fall.
tarily.
Its only wild rose, you know
surprised.
but don't you like wild roses?''
;, 70, yes; but there are SO many O
lnem that it is hardly worth while tt
waste sentiment on single one," ant
he Captain showed his fine teeth in .
0miie that was the least bit cruel.
Mlily sighed, and cast regretfu
ook tk behind Her gentle nature fel
.oI y. the fair despoiled thing. But
aa al'er all, there were plenty of wilt
uses uses as Captain Hallett said, and pres
ea eaay she forgot her sympathy and it
Muse muse. Another turning in the Ian,
sna s,ought them to the village outskirts
~. au 20 Squire Aliens gate, where tn,
Vs. es. oi the party were waiting. Their,
were good-byes to say. divisions t,