The Bossier banner., 1893-05-18

cas-, lnterposing her stout figure be-
tween the hard-featured house hunter
and the door of Mrs Spencer's 0oudoir.
Oats private, dat arp
Anything wrong in the room?"
sharply questioned the woman.
"No'm," stolidly responded Dorcas.
Ceilings cracked? Water pipes
burst?"
Nom
Then why can't I see it?" with a
sudden push in that direction.
She might as we'll have attempted to
charge battery of artillery. Old Dors
cas- stood immovable,
Lady amt we'll, num-" said she.
"Can't nobody go in dat room! Tole
you SO afore!"
"Anything contagious?"
Nom"
"Sure?"
"Yes'm, sartin shuahl"
"Very WE'LL" said the house-hunter,
with forward jerk of the chin. II
shall take no house that / can't see
every inch OFF, and she f1ounced out
All day long Dorcas fought the army
of investigators valiantly and at night,
as she herself observed, "she was jes'
as tired as If she'd done a double days
wash" Stout ladies peered into the
sab-nellar and denounced the drainage;
lean ladies poked their parasols into
the kitchen sink and tore off strips of
the hall paper. Deep-voiced men par
leyed as to the monthly rental; fat old
gentlemen asked questions in husky
accents.
The next morning, however, dove
winged peace once more settled on the
| field of action. The agent came tip and
| removed the bill
1.-The house is taken,' said he.
"Who's took it?'' demanded Dorcas,
who chanced just then to be securing
the brasses. But the agent either did
not know or would not tell. .Dorcas
heaved deep sigh. Den" says she,
we've got to el'ar out"
The landlord sent Selma polite
note In day or two. He had conclud-
ed, he wrote, to accept her offer of the
furniture and belongings as an equiva-
lent for certain portion of the unpaid
rent. = ~
Now said Dorcas, what is we to
do?v Esrf
Poor Mrs. Spencer was all In d flut=
ter. The Newport scheme delighted
her, and she was very busy looking
over her wardrobe with reference to
the coming visit Selma had written
to the aunt of an old schoolmate of
. hers, who kept boarding house in the
fair seaside city, asking her lowest
| prices for comfortable room. Dorcas
was to go with Mrs. Spencer as attend
ant and maid, and Selma had resolved
to hire room in New York and board
herself as we'll as she could.
But this has been dear old home, :"
she murmured. 81. wonder who will
sleep in my room. l wonder whose
| hands will strike the yellow keys of
mammals old piano. and dust my fow-
cred blue china, and arrange the old
fiddlebacked chairs"
The purple sunlight shone softly in;
the scent of stalk of hyacinths in a
glass on the mantel brought back rem
iniscences of the old southern flower
gardens, and all of a sudden a voice
which she had last heard in those very
gardens struck on her ear.
"Selina, have / startled you?"
He extended cordial hand.
perhaps you fancied l could not
trace you out?" said he. but l am
better at hide and seek than you
thought - ..s. 5-...-..s
She courtesied haughtily. His hand
some eountenance fell. Evidently he
was deeply disappointed.
"Are you not glad to see me, Selina?"
he exclaimed "Ah, Selma! / had
counted so much on this interview! /
had planned to renew my suit-to ask
you once again to be my wife"
She drew her Slight figure up.
you are presuming too much on my
very evident poverty, Mr.. Berkeley" +"
said she. 81 refused when I was Miss
Spencer, of Spencer Vale. What sort
of woman should be if / were now to
accept you-simply as a protection
against adversity?"
but, Selma -
Pray excuse me from any further
discussion of the question" said Sc
lima.
May not hope to see your mother9'
he persisted.
81 should prefer not"
do you know, Selma, he said, after
brief silence, that this is q very Bit
ter modification to me?'
"Is it? Then what must it be to me?"
she retorted, almost fercely, looking
up at him. .ss .
He stood second or two gazing sad
ly at her. Stung by his scrutiny she
swept from the room like an angered
princess.
Half minute later she came hurry
ing back, full of sweet, strange misgiv-
ings. But he was gone.
Il have let another opportunity slip
by" she murmured 'Oh, heavens!
where is my life drifting to?"
At that moment Aunt Dorcas ushered
In the landlord--a fussy, bald-headed