The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-09-13

single thought or word, much less
take his life, replied Zip, with an
earnestness unusual with him.
II was only joking, Zip. But you
seem to be awfully in earnest and sol
emn this evening. What is ailing you,
anyway"
Nothing much, only have made
up my mind to go away" answered
Zip, looking aside.
.'Go away?"
"Yes, Melinda"
Where are you goingp"
"Anywhere. 1t makes no difference,
SO I get away"
"And amt you coming back?"
''Some day, maybe. if l ever get to
be of any account to myself or anybody
else"
''You are of some account now, Zip,
and you had better stay right where
you are"
mo; I've made up my mind to go,
! and am sure it is the best thing that
could happen for us all around, SO Til
stick to it, said Zip, resolutely.
Melinda was looking out of the win
dow. When she saw a man coming up
the lane toward the house, and recog-
nized in the conner Ben Button, a
shadow of annoyance fitted over her
face.
Zip had been watching Melinda, and
when he saw the slight frown on her
face, he, too, glanced out, and seeing
who was coming he rose to his feet
ready to depart, saying. '.Tll call in
again before leave, and tell YOU all
good-by. Good evening" -
Melinda glanced reproachfully after
the retreating Zip. There was a sus-
picion of tears in her eyes, and a
little quiver around her mouth, as she
murmured to herself: Fool Zip! He
is going away because he thinks am
going to marry that hateful Ben Button,
/ and is jealous. But can't make him
see, and won't ask him to stay. I'll
die first. There!"
The truth was that serious thought
had at last come to Zip. He was in
love, and he knew it. He had looked
at himself as in a looking glass, and
found out his own worthlessness. More
than that, he had determined to
go away, change his hahits OF shift
lessness, and become a useful man and
citizen. He would not ask Melinda
for her love until he had made himself
worthy of it. If, however, in the mean
time some other man-Ben Button,
perhaps-stepped in ahead OF him,
why, he would still be the gamer by
an ambition for higher things which
in an indirect way, would be gif
from Melinda.
That evening, Ben Button asked
Melinda to become his wife; but she
was in no mood to answer him then, fol
Zips foolish determination to go away
troubled her in no small degree. Sht
knew, too, that her mother favored
Ben above any one else, and that sh'
would be grieved if Ben received cur
refusal, so she told him she would have
an answer ready for him when h
should call again, and Ben was happy
, Days passed away. They were day
of hope to Ben. days of doubt and ir
resolution to Melinda, and busy day
.. for hand and thought with Zip.
The decisive evening came at last
and Ben was on hand with his usua
clockwork regularity to receive wha
he fully expected to be a favorabl
answer to his suit.
: 1t had been rainy day, but the SUI
: had broken through the clouds in tn
evening, and was setting bright an
Iclear, casting its last rays upon Mrs
!. tSpratt, Melinda and Ben Button, a
: they sat on the west gallery of th
house.
! II declare, Melinda" said Mrs
: Spratt suddenly, IF them well-digger
! haven't gone off and forgot to shut tn
3 gap in the fence around the we'll"
81 .sAnd there is Blossie's calf in tn
3 yard now, and going straight for tn
5 well. TIL go and shut up the gal
mother; you sit still, /" said Melinda. 9
!. Mrs. Spratt was about to rise.
Is Melinda ran toward the well, heat
q ing the calf off at the same time. Sh
= was about to close the gap in the fenc'
t when her eyes fell upon the wide opel
n ing in the ground. She hesitated
% moment, then entered the gap. and al
d preached the we'll cautiously. On tt
brink, she peered over and looked I'M
d depth below. She was about to wit
st draw again, but the ground under h
feet gave way, and with loud screa
% she was hurled to the bottom of Il
tt well.
vi Mrs. Spratt and Ben saw what ha
Ii pened, for their eyes had fondly ft
N lowed Melinda in her every movemen
and they now rushed to the scene of Il
ID catastrophe.
ut Stepping carefully upon some plan
" that were lying across the opening
ID the we'll, they peered into the abyss b
of low them. There was no sound e
cept of crumbling earth and pebbl
t. falling from the sides of the well. /
u n H. -,