The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-01-02
BY MUTUAL CONSENT.

SM ILL., against camp |
.x.. kt1M - stool; there were
EXsDH. TT -wo or three gar
.iN1S> den benches stand
W-4NzZIfA3x ing about, but she
MLG said she preferred |
to sit on the grass-it made her feel
more country"
To intensity this feeling she had
clothed her fresh young beauty III
marvellous orgai13T, 50 sheer that her
arms cleaned through it like alabaster'
and had pinned on her bright head
great hat dropping with roses. by
her side leaned a white parasol edged
with lace.
Her companion, young man IN ten
mis- tiannelS, who was stretched atrher
feet, had commented sarcastlcally upon
her rustic attire" and hot discussion
had ensued; a discussion happily inter
rupted by the arrival of servant with
q tray of iced lemonade.
"Ah," said Miss Gresham, helping
herself to one of the frosted glasses,
''if there is one person for whom l en-
terrain an undying affection, it is Bet
tv. | know we are indebted to her for
this. She is one of those rare people
who always do the correct thing
"Betty?' repeated Markland, lazily
slipping his lemonade; " and who is
Betty?"
He has forgotten Betty cried the
girl; land he has no more shame than
to confess it. Betty, who was always
his sworn champion, and who has
helped him out Of know not how many
scrapes. This is the effect, | suppose,
of college and travel and society,""
"Betty!" again repeated MARYLAND.
"Ah!"-a sudden light sprlnging to his
eyes-'your old nurse, of course. Why,
certainly, I remember her; dear com
panion of my giddy youth! But did
not recognize her by SO commonplace
title To me she always seemed: Il be-
netcent genius, good angel, rather
than an ordinary mortal" He lifted
his glass-"To Betty he said; may
her shadow never grow less.
Betty was asking me about you the
other day." said the girl; she wanted
to know if you still rode and swan and
boated like you used to do. l told her
you had given up dancing because OF
the exertion looked at him limo
Gently.
Did she ask you anything a about your
own life?" said MARYLAND, sitting up
"a resume of how you put in your time
during the winter season in town might
be interesting to her, and certainly
profitable.'
"Anything do is interesting to her,
she responded, coolly.
do you know" he said, II have been
marveling over you ever since came.
cannot quite realize that you have been
ten days in the country without being
bored. How have you accomplished it
l thought that the day of miracles was
past"
MY good Tony" remarked Miss
Gresham, patronizingly, you must TO
judge other people by yourself; it is I
very foolish and narrow-minded way
Of doing. Because you cannot exist
happily without your clubs and you
theaters is no reason why can't"
IL never knew you belonged to /
club" observed Marllland, mildly
''Have you developed into that modern
wonder, a new woman?'
"Oh, nonsense. You know | Wa
speaking tiguratively! mean that
am not welded to any particular stat
Of things-that can adapt myself t,
circumstances and enjoy whateve
comes"
Can you? How delightful Blu,
testing aside, has it not been rattle
slow for you here, without any girls TO
you to see through and scorn and b
amused by-nor men to analyze an
lraw out and get interested in?'
"How do you know there have bee
no men?"
IL have your own word for it.
heard you refuse four of your hes
friends permission to visit you dow
here, and | inferred that the commo
herd had been no better treated.'
"Yes," she said, you were right. M