The Bossier banner., 1894-11-29

~HN' az ehlS tHOugnC ne could have
killed the young fellow
Before his accident he could have
dared to run down into the yard and
look for her, catch kiss and be back
again; but it would take too long now.
Ills mind went back to the day when
he had forgotten his engine in the
wrath he felt for fancied insult.
What fool l wasr he muttered.
What confounded fool! But I've
paid for it. used to be the strongest
fellow knew, if was not the hand
soonest. How can l expect a girl to
like me now?''
Then memory came to him.
once she had told him she loved him
| all the better for his hurt. She meant
it, too; but she had not seen this Ben
Barton when she said it.
The big, dark man, with his face all
blackened with his toll, in his rough
clothes, and with the light of the fur
mace on his face, might have been
taken by romantic stranger peeping
into the engine room for some thing
almost demoniac at that moment.
But his heart was softening very
much at that moment He remem-
bered the soft touch of Sarah's fingers
on his brow when he was ill-her COO
ing voice.
''She can't be false thing" he said,
and he left his window and went to the
other side of the room and peered
through break in the boards Thence
he could see the courtyard and stone
steps, and there sat Sarah alone, eat
ing her dinner; waiting for him, per-
haps. All that was tender in the man
thrilled within him now
Sarah" he said, softly smiling un-
seen upon her. He whistled, but the
sound did not reach her. Little Sally"
he repeated, 81 am jealous beast. I've
frightened you. Why shouldn't you
have dance now and then, child?
Why shouldn't you know you are pref
ty? / could beat myselfr'
Lots of steam on,' said workman.
passing by the engine room But
suppose the fellow knows what he is
about"
| scarcely think the fellow did at
this moment, for he had just seen Ben
Barton run down the steps and come
behind Sarah very softly and touch her
on the cheek with straw he had in
his hand. She started and turned and
blushed
'Was she waiting for him?" asked
the engineer, his face darkening again
twas she waiting for him?"
Sarah had laughed, but her face
grew grave again-grave, but very
sweet; the conflict between conscience
and inclination was over. She had
made decision. She looked at Ben
as he sat down beside her, and thought
how handsome he was. But she re-
membered that same moment that
the memory of which had come into
Charles Arthur's heart and softened it
just now. She had put her arms about
his neck, and told him she loved him
better for his hurt, and she had meant
it from her soul.
1t came to her that this new emotion
was, perhaps, fieeting passion; that
the long, old-time home tenderness
was all Arthur's, and she listened to
what Ben Barton said very quietly.
1--WE been looking for you. Sarah, y
he said. 81 have something | want to
tell you. / can't rest until you know
it. I like you so much l want you to
like me. want you to be my wife,
my dear. Will you?"
Sarah's heart gave one great leap.
Then, to her Joy, she felt that it was
true to its love, after all The words
came to her:
''Oh, do like you, Mr.. Barton, very
much, but only as friend. l am en-
gagged to be married, and, of course, ]
could not like anyone else in any
other way
The blood rushed into the young
mans face
II can't say you have acted much
like an engaged girl" he said.
"Well, perhaps I've been wrong, "
said Sarah, mildly, feeling the re-
proach a just one; "but l thought
every one knew. 1t is Charles Arthur.
We are to be married very soon now.
We've been engaged ever since l was
sixteen. He is very fond of me-"
That's no reason you should marry
him if you like me best" said Ben
land, really, / can't see, since it is
Charles Arthur, why you shouldn't; he
is about the last person should fancy
a girl could like"
"You see" said Sarah, people can't
tell about that" And she had scarce
ly ever felt so lovingly to her betrothed
husband before.
Little he knew it, as he watched heI
through the crevice in the boards, his
face growing crimson with wrath; all
forgotten, but the sight he saw. He
could not hear what Sarah said, and
the attitude of the young man was
very lover-like.
The engine was throbbing like a
mad thing, like his own heart. A
shrewd little boy, with all little
boys observing power, stopped at the
door, feeling that something was
wrong.
'There'll be bust up" he said
Then he called: ''Misterl Mister!" and
at last went in and pulled him by the
coat.
/ But the engineer was an engineer nc