The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1893-06-15

of one hundred and fifty-seven dollars,
which l had better return at once.
retorted that | did not know flush
from full and l had never sat in
Jackpot in my life, at which he looked
unutterable scorn.
Then you refuse to return your ILL
gotten gains?" he asked.
Il certainly do
every well; you will hear from me-"
And l did. The story got around that
l played a crooked game of poker, and,
although I carried myself with the
bearing of a man who is innocent, |
could see that was regarded with sus-
picion. Even the young lady whose
company | was keeping at the time ap
parently knew something, for one night
she said with a twinklei in her eye: DO
you play poker, Tom?" Of course de-
MED that I did, at which she looked
grave, and added: "Pshaw! What's the
use in denying it? Why, do you know,
II play sometimes myself"
Naturally l expressed my horror at
this confession and told her that [ hoped
she would reform and that did not ap-
prove of young girls playing cards.
Then she actually winked. "Oh, you
are too good" she remarked. Say,
how do you do it?"
"What?"
Keep those cards up your sleeve?
Please tell me. The girls have been
winning all my spending money lately
and l want revenge. Show me the
trick, Tom, and I'll marry you next
June" l responded Indignantly and
| told her that | was a member of the
| Anti-Pol1er society. She said ''Bosh,
and when l got up to leave she refused
| to permit me to cull from her sweet
lips the customary parting salute. The
misguided young woman actually
thought that l was trying to conceal
my iniquities from her. But there was
worse to follow. A few nights later
when | called she greeted me with
marked coolness. This | attributed to
mere feminine caprice and so chatted
away in happy manner about various
matters to which she listened with a
| sarcastic smile upon her adorable face.
| But | was accustomed to doing most of
| that her persistent silence did not seem
at all remarkable. Among other topics
| | broached was description of tenn
| perance meeting | had attended a few
! nights before. | am a teetOtaler in
every sense of the word and | stated
| proudly that | had been elected secre-
| tary of the new organization. Then
her pretty mouth assumed an express
sion OF scorn.
''Oh, you >hypocrite." she cried.
'My darling!" l cried, in amazement.
Don't call me your dariing!' she re-
torted, with flashing eyes. I've had a
talk with papa and he says everything
must be off,
'Everything off"
''Yes, our engagement. He saw you
last night. He said that you''-sob-
were standing on the street corner
sob-''with your hat in your hand
holding the lamp post with the
other'-sob-''an singing about sob
1--we won't go home till morning.
sob.
l started in amazement. MY dear
Lucinda, there is some horrid mistake
Last night attended meeting at our
Sunday school and"
Here she wiped away the tears and
assumed her indignant attitude once
more. Don't make me hate YOU" she
said. why don't you confess and
well, know boys will be boys, and, if
you said you would never do it again,
why, perhaps, l might overlook this
one fault and-and forgive you"
sprang to my feet in anger. Il have
| been slandered and"
''Is that your repIy?" she asked,
frigidly.
| 1T is
Then there is nothing more to be
said
With that she took the ring form her
pretty finger and handed it to me.
Good evening, sir
| bowed myself out in despair So all
was over? Those visions of neat lit
| tie home were lost forever. The next
morning when my roommate presented
himself fancied that he looked tired
an&sleepy. He explained this by say
ing that he had been up all night with
a bad headache. He noticed my melan-
choly appearance, and, when told him
all about it, he again offered his sympa-
thy and remarked in jocular manner:
Never mind, my boy. There are just
as good fish in the sea as have ever been
caught" | told him there was only one
Lucinda, but he shrugged his shoulders.
He then went out to attend case in
court, and I seated myself in discon-
solate manner in my easy chair in the
inner Office. l had slept little to speak
of the night before and nature asserted
itself in spite of my heartache. l dozed
off. After a time I was aroused by
voices in the outer Office and heard a
woman ask for me.
He is not in" was the reply of my
roommate, and l was about to step out
when few words that followed arrested
my attention and l remained where l
was. listening: IF you have come on
legal business, madam, l viii answer
your purpose just as well. l am author
lied to act for him. | am his partner
as you see by my name on the door. =
His words filled me with amazement.
/ i l. J