The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-07-23
agony of fear and hope.
Before morning she was q double or

PIldah.
Rose Marsden was dead, and John
Marsden was not there to comfort the
daughter she had loved so well. " hen
they had come to his room in the morn
ing to tell him of his great loss, they
found that it was rather gain. Some
where in the measureless realm two
souls had met.
The servant who went to summon
John Marsden to the cottage came back
with a white face, and there were
hushed comments and whispered con-
sultations as to who should tell the
quiet girl upstairs.
Helen seemed to be living in dream,
trance, out of which she would wake
to find all the sorrow and pain which
were so new to her gone out of her
life. When she was at last told she
did not even seem surprised.
1t was when the funerals were over,
and she came back to sit alone in the
silent house, and wait for Charles Bel
sham, who would be with her in the
evening, that her thoughts turned to
the future, and she caught eagerly
hold of the one comfort that was hers
in the midst of her deep attliction, Bel
sham's love- Whatever storms might
bear upon their heads, whatever sor-
rows might come into their lives, they
two together would meet them.
Poor, foolish girl. she waited expec-
tantly, anxiously. 1t was twelve O'Clock
and Charles Belsham had not come.
She was filled with vague prescience
of calamity. What was it?
At last it was morning. The fire was
dead; the servants were stirring. She
rose chilled and miserable, and went
up to her own room. There could be
nothing serious the matter, and soon
her lover must come to explain away
the trfie.
But as the morning wore away and
he did not come, the doubt and un-
eaSneSS returned. and for the first time
there crept into her heart a feenng Of
condemnation for the man she had
thought could do no wrong.
1t was near noon when the servant
announced gentleman.
"WhO is it, .Jane?'
81 don't know, Miss. He Is an old
gentleman"
When she entered the parlor, she
| recognized in the person who rose to
meet her her uncle's lawyer.
MI. Haverly,' she said, lit is kind
of you to remember me-"
"My dear Miss Marsden, came upon
business, and would rather this NOM
ent be almost anywhere else. l have
bad news for you"
She sat looking at him, unable to ar
ticulate.
Every bad news; but you must try tt
bear it bravely. Your uncle's will can
not be found-I mean, your uncle lef1
no will"
She breathed more freely; her -is
thought had been of Belsham.
Il do not quite understand" sht
said.
He saw that she did not understand.
My dear, if we do not find viii
you will get nothing at all"
She sat silent for long time, ant
when at last she spoke she showed
that she comprehended the whole mat
| ter.
did my uncle know?'
"Certainly. certainly. 1t is an I'll
most objectionable piece Of careless
ness"
INV uncle was not careless man.
"That is what puzzles me-
"Mr Haverly, if my uncle knew wha
the law was, there is will some
where"
Mr. Haverly only shook his head.
"We must be careful what we say,
he said.
'Did you say anything to my aunt:
"Yes, and l found at once that .h
would hear nothing concerning you
claim. | may as well tell you at one
that YOU have nothing to expect fror
, her generosity. If you want any hel
or advice, l will be glad to do all tha
| can for YOU
: She thought he had gone, but h
| was back.
, Miss Marsden, you will not be o
: | 1tDueu-Dul, uO Sou HCSu ohJ hioHNS
immediately l mean|
, The tears came into her eyes. mo
she said. But l thank you. than
r your
Belsham had known this, and he ha
not come to her. 1t was all plal
=: enough now. No mother, no uncle, I
g fortune, no lover! If she had NJ
I been brave, strong nature, she wou
r have been utterly crushed; but prit
r and Indignation came to her supper
S She engaged board in a distant pa
: of the city. with the privilege OF III
=; nishing her room, and removed to it IL
n own room furniture, adding N
: mothers work table and many lit
:, articles of ornament; but there was II
/. room for half the things she would ha'
/ taken, for every article in the old hou
t had it's associations, and to qart wi
Y auy of them was like leaving o
friends. Nevertheless the red flag hi
v been hung out, and they were gon
= All debts were paid, the servants we
d satisfied and discharged, and me
S were a few hundred dollars left, WI