The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1895-07-18
Papa has been writing to him!" she
exclaimed.
tsyr-:4.A~ Ito UUla< fo~os

writing TO MIN? What 1orF
HE has asked him to pay US visit
on the score of relationship, and your
| father"
"WellP" said the young man, ex-
citedly.
"He says he will start immediately
the very next day."
LET me see the date of the letter
Ye gods. it has been delayed! He must
| have got here this morning"
1.-The train has been in two hours"
she said, glancing at her watch.
| 81 must see him immediately" said
| her companion, nervously turning his
horse first one way and then another.
"Who would have dreamed that both
| the old boys would take that cousinship
so seriously?"
II did, sir. l knew from the very
beginning that it would make trouble
some time"
From the very beginping?" repeat
ed the young man, pausing in his ex-
citement long enough to note the force
of this chance admission. 80 you
acknowledge, do you
There's the hotel bus" cried the
girl, hastily changing the subject.
perhaps the driver can tell us some
thing"
A long, empty vehicle was passing
them on it's way up the street. Strong
called to the driver and he stopped.
ibid you bring up tall gentleman
this morning, with white mustache
and goatee and gold eyeglasses?"
Eyes, sir. Your father, don't you
mean?'
The young people exchanged startled
glances.
How did you know"
He was inqniring for you, sir, as
soon as ever he got to the hotel; and
when he found you h ad gone, he went
and hired buggy
"A buggy-what for?'
''He asked the way to Judge Wes-
toms place in the Montecito. He said
the Judge was a near relative of his"
The omnibus proceeded on its way.
I'VE must hurry" said the young
man, squirting his horse to canter.
"the less time they have together be-
fore explanations are made the bet
ter"
"What do you think they will do?"
asked the girl.
II don't dare to think. You see, on
everything except this family tree
business our respective parents are as
far apart as civilized humans can be.
Your father, now, is an elder In the
church. while mine has lost all the re-
ligion he ever had; and he has never
recovered from the habit Of using
swear words acquired during years OF
service in the regular army
"Heavens! Let US ride faster. Papa
will have slain him before we get
there"
Really. Catherine" said the young
man, when they had slackened their
pace to climb the hills, '"it would not
surprise me if they positively refused
to enter into partnership as fathers-in-
law"
Never mind, Richard" said the
girl, smilingly. Father has never
yet refused me anything, when my
happiness was at stake--as it is now.
Strong shrugged his shoulders.
J 'Mine has," he answered. ''He is made
of flint, the old general; and If he
should take it into his head to say no
it would be awkward in ways I DOM
like to mention"
} "Never mind" said the girl, smiling
again and lifting her veil to the rim Of
the jaunty sailor hat.
And moment later the young mar
felt much encouraged, and the gallon
was resumed.
On slight knoll surrounded by {
grove of live-oaks and faced with ar
avenue of old palms, there stood the
ample residence of Judge Weston. A.
the young people came through the
gate and entered upon the gravelee
roadway, they observed two elderly
. gentlemen emerge from a small fores
: of rose bushes and start briskly dowr
the path toward them. Presently the
shorter of the two took his companion'
l arm and they walked along in eviden
> peace and amity.
D 'They haven't found 1t out yet" thu
young man whispered.
Judge Weston assisted his daughter
1 to alight. Catherine" said he, ''thi
Q is Gen. Strong, the father of our young
!, friend"
; The general bent low, in an old
fashioned obeisance, and Miss Cathe
l rine iustinctively made him a courtes,
j out of the minuet.
/ ''Father!'
s ''Dick, my dear boy!"
J. "See here" exclaimed the Judge
D suddenly. You were mistaken, Rich
3 ard, in what you told me about old Ell
q enezer Strong"
8 The young man braced himself for
: struggle.
r "And to think, Dick" cried the gen
l eral, responsibility, that you neve
o once mentioned to the judge that you
great great grandfather, Hezekial
: Strong, married Weston"
o And that brings us even nearer thai
t we had supposed" added the judge
d Fourth cousins instead of fifth"
: ut was stupid of me to forget that,
t said the young man, huskily.
u 'And now that I have seen Mis-
Cofborino cold tho poporol <,1,;~