The Bossier banner., 1894-07-19

leigh Hunt)
"Will you kindly bring in log, Mrs.
Dawson, and then you may go. l shall
not require anything more tonight"
Every well, sir. I'll put the kettle
on the hob for you; you may like to
have little something hot later on,
and l always think a kettle is such
company"
A grunt was the only response to
this well-meant offer, as Mrs. Dawson,
charwoman and caretaker, went out of
the room.
"Confound that woman's incessant
chatter; thank goodness l shall be
left in peace for the next few hours at
least"
The speaker, a cross-looking, hard
featured old man, settled himself to
the best of his ability among his pill
lows, for he was an invalid, but
somehow the pillows would not
take the curve he wanted, and
at last, breathless and exhaust
ed, he sank back and closed his eyes,
giving up the attempt. A look of
intense weariness came over his thin
old face, and think his worst enemy
would have felt some pity for him
now, old, i'll and alone, with no one to
care whether he were alive or dead.
His loneliness was indeed pitia BILE.
Presently he turned his head towards
the Pickering freight, and had any
one been there to see, they
would have noticed something glisten-
ing IN the old mans eyes suspiciously
like tears, but, as | said before, he was
alone, SO no one brushed those tears
away from his eyes, or tried to turn
his thoughts into a brighter channel.
The fire burnt on fitfully, casting
weird shadows on the furniture of the
room, handsome old-fashioned furni-
ture, that told you the owner was by
no means poor man. In fact, there
was everything in the room that told
OF wealth, but comfort and homeliness
were wanting. The magic touch of a
loving woman's hand might have
worked wonders, but then she also was
wanting.
The old-fashioned black ebony clock
tlcking solemnly was the only sound
that broke the stiffness. Occasionally
red-hot coal fell with dull thud in
10 the fender, and then the fire would
ourn up brightly for a moment or two,
bringing the white face and the white
hands of the occupant of the bed into
nigh relief against the dark shadows
thrown by the heavy moreen curtains
VI the old-fashioned four-post bed
stead. by and by, as the kettle began
70 sing in soft and soothing way,
the WEAKNESS of the face relaxed, as
the eyes closed, and the old man fell
asleep, and Judging from the trans
formation of his face his dreams must
nave been happy ones.
Dandy-boy, be quiet, you naughty
i..ie dog, or you'll wake up my poor
Ola gennlemans"-this with soft ad-
monlshing pat on the head of re-
harkably Misunderstanding fox ter
Iier pup. The voice came from the
NORWAY, where stood quaint little
hgure' In her arms, caught up with a
sooo portion of the little white night
sown' was the puppy addressed. Peep
.nR cautiously round, the little figure
,auSanced few steps into the room,
looking all the time at the bed, and
s,aechlng at the puppy for confidence,
sn.l That long-suffering animal pro-
s oeS'ed with a squeak, only to be again
sehtly patted on the head and told to
aeep quiet. Saal fixing her eyes on
th ie oed' the little girl climbed up into
@g ssst!s4c ay1sohair, in front of
sns ire, scs! siay,,5shing her night
@ 'Sa' ~ ,aq4oa she deposited the
S<sS.s tscse Nsys .Sa1ass himself well on