The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-03-15

IooJectlonS ter him on account of his
character
Ever mornin' they used ter 90 fer
ride. an sometimes they would gallon
side by side fer hours through ther
mountains. Often they would visit
furgatory, an one pleasant day like
to-day they drew their, hosses up bout
whar we set now, Felix, an they set an
listened to ther ceaseless gaspin' of ther
water way down thar fer long while
in silence. He looked at her finally
with anespression of sad disappoint-
ment. He he'd been pleadin' with her
| to be his wife, an while she did not re-
fuse, she would not give her consent.
She he'd never told him thet she loved
him, but her preference fer him showed
1t, an it give him hope. No one he'd
ever stirred ther love in her heart afore.
an she struggled hard against yieidin'
to ther feelin'. In her soul she must
hcv yearned ter be his, but she would
not let him see ther truth.
| ''She set on her hoss ez silent an
motionless ez statue. fer long time,
an he looked at her beseeehingly, an
with all his passionate love in his eyes.
Suddenly she seemed ter bc possessed
of desire ter test his love, an ter see
how much power she he'd over i'm. To
think war ter act with her, and turnin'
her beautiful face up to his. she says:
| "'Do yer really love me, dear Lukep'
'.Her words an her tones made him
wild with love fer her. 49,.
." 4 swear by ther heavens above,
worship you! he cried, catchin' her
arm an deyourin' her with his love-lit
eyes.
81 am goin' ter test yer Affection
she says:i
"1'll die fer you, Nancy he replied.
Only tell me how kin prove my love-.
''She didn't withdraw her arm, but
looked i'm straight in ther face.
"You hev boasted thet you ride one
of the best hosses in ther Territory
she says; ride i'm across Purgatory,
bring me thet little bunch of yeller-
jackets over thar. an l will kiss you
an name the day.
| "He was ridin' a fine hoss, one he
was more'n proud of. He only waited
ter give her q long look, and then he
llspurred his boss for ard 'e 97zi BE s.'@
..Mebbe she he'd thought e wouldn' t
try it, er thetg ther animal wouldn't t
jump over; but she war mistaken if she
he'd. Ez he neared ther edge she
seemed ter realize what She war doin'
I-sendin' ther man she loved more'n
any bein' on earth inter horrible dam
ger-an' she called him ter come back.
80. Luke! don't gor
'.Rut it was too late. The boss from
Golden Ranch was no common one.
but one of the fiery, fearless kind, and
when he felt the cruel spurs sink inter
his sides he give wild snorG of pain
and sprung inter ther air a.hyin' over
Purgatory, safe to ther other side.
| Luke plucked ther yellow-j jackets,
kissed '.em an waved 'em to her, an
then remountin' he again urged his
steed ter leap ther terrible chasm. Hoss
an rider hung fer mint in ther air.
1t was awful-itwas awful! You kin
hev no idea of what it war, Felix. Thel
hoss failed to clear the chasm this time.
His forefeet struck the edge. an fer a
mint he struggled ter gain footin'
then his hoafs slipped. off ther rocks,
an. with % cry ithatwas almost human,
he fell back-down. down, down, car
rein. his rider into the dark an terrible
depths below!
| Poor Nancy! Fer long weeks she
laid on her bed with asFraekin'2 fever
ravin' in delirium. an livin' over an
over again thet fearful scene. She
never was conscious long enough tel
be made teas andcrst;,nd thct her lovel
still livcd-thet BY falling on thel
body. of his. hoss he he'd escaped
alive. though he was terribl.
wounded He never was able tel
leave his bed ter see Nancy, an sh'
wouldn't hev knowed i'm ef he he'd. /
was long months afore ther fever lef
her, an then she he'd lost her reason
forever. But ther good Lord tool
mercy ON her. an afere ther warn
breezes war blowin' again she he'd beer
laid hyer ter rest Thet's her grave
Felix. si R SEQ
.srhey call me Old Hopeless an
say I'm crazy. They're not fer wrong
You've guessed it, Felix-rm Luk'
Golden. i rode fine hoss down t
death at ther bottom of Purgatory. fe
Nancy's love 4 couldn't set up fe
over year after ther terrible fall, an
YOU see how They been ever since;
hunchback, Felix. one of the wus
lookin' critters on thef face of the
earth. s8ssq s1 s3ae s g
aI've never been back;9to ther ranch
They give me some money fer it,
don't know how much, an / he
stayed around hyer whar' she used tel
be. Ill die before long Felix. an' the.
: will bury me hyer at Purgatory. besid
Nancy. Poor Nancy!''--Arasur c. Gris
: SOM, in Yankee Blade.
"A colored woman called her twin