The Bossier banner., 1892-04-28

81 have told you love you, and 1 |
trust you utterly" he said to me;
when | doubt you or you doubt me,
we had better part could not live in
an atmosphere of suspicion"
He meant every word he said. his
eyes stern and cold, his voice clear and
resolute, and I wondered, looking at
him, how could doubt him.
And yet-ah me! looking over at Ram
says, how often did l see him on the
porch with Alice Hall, talking earnest
ly, as if they were discussing affairs of
importance! How often, when little
late for our drive, did he tell me he
had met Miss Hall and taken her in his
buggy to some distant point, where she
had pupil.
She was very beautiful, this rival of
mine, with face too pensive for her
years, though the expression suited
well her soft dark eyes and the per-
feet mouth that rarely smiled. AS she
came to our house twice week to give
the girls their lesson, L had to show
some friendship for her, and. she was
evidently anxious TO win my favor.
She had shy, coaxing way of talking
to me that, to my prejud iced mind,
seemed an artful effort to disarm my
suspicious; and her pretty face was
never more repulsive to me than
when it was lifted to mine with
pleading smile, that asked for the
affection and confidence | would not
give her.
The winter was an unusually severe
one at Stapleton that year, and just
after New Years Lizzie knit for her
teacher pair of scarlet woolen nit
tens, which she asked me to finish in
pretty fancy stitch she had not yet
learned. Both my sisters were enthu-
siastically fond of their teacher, and
had not carried my jealous fury to the
point of trying to deprive her of their
| love. So, with some show of willing
ness, knit the tops of the mittens in
meshes of scarlet wool and white silk,
and in an odd stitch have never seen
except in my own work.
| 1t was about three weeks after Christ
mas when, looking over at Ramsay's,
as did. oh, far too often for my own
| peace, / saw in the brightly-lighted
parlor Alice Hall and my Frank, stand
ing near the fireplace. talking mere
earnestly than usual. Suddenly, she
covered her face with her hands, and |
could see her shake with violent Sob
bing. For moment he looked at her,
his whole face pitiful and tender, and
then he put his arm around her and
drew her into close EN- brace, smooth
ing her hair and bending over her with
caressing tenderness. The door OF the
room opened, and Alice sped away,
/ while ], shutting the opera-glass / had
long used for spying with a snap. re-
solved to break my engagement Frank
would come the next day to see me for
the last time.
But the next day he did not come. In
his place received brief note:
my father is dangerously ill. I go to New
| York on the next train"
Restless, miserable, l wandered Off,
taking the Stapleton road, and walked
into the village, making some trifiing
purchases as my errand. 1t was at the
store where bought some ribbon that
| heard two ladies conversing, one OF
whom said:
"They have smallpox at Carter's."
This made no i'm preston upon me,
| and l had forgotten it by the time
turned my face homeward. But as
passed Carters lane / remembered il
and looked idly down the narrow foot
way. Suddenly all the blood in my
veins seemed to stand still, for just be
yond the turn lay, upon the ground, 9
little scarlet mitten. 1t flashed upor
me in moment that it was Wednesday
afternoon, when Alice Hall gave the
Carter children their music lesson.
turned down the lane, and took up tbt
red mitten as cautiously as if it ha(
held snake. ~r
| Yes, it was -Lizzie's gift to Alice Hall
with my fancy knitting on the wrist
How proudly Lizzie had told hel
teacher she need not teach again will
cold fingers, and what gentle kis
thanked her! She, this fair, sweet riva
of mine, was on her way to Carter's-
to danger, perhaps to death. Woult
Frank still love her when her face wa
SCARED and pitted? Would all his Low,
be mine if she died? If she died, and
had murdered heri
The thought seemed to be shouted il
my ears and drove away my demon
started at full run down the marrow
} lane. never pausing until before me
saw the slender figure sought, whel
/ sent my voice ahead in ringing
E shout:
tAliee! Alice Halle'
She did not hear me, and already sh
{ had entered the gate O for those me
ments lost in irresolutionl Up tn