The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-02-04


the ancestral roof.
Besides her grandmother, who was
more unpleasant than the aunts, there
were many cousins, male and female.
OF these, two-second cousins-were in
love. They were Carlos and Ines. In
less than ten minutes Carlos had de-
serted black-browed Ines and was Ian
gushing at Betty with his two soft eyes.
Ines was openly wretched, Carlos open
ly infatuated, Betty openly flirting.
But Carlos did not know that.
Betty and her aunt went back to
Lowell the next day, and the same even
ing Carlos rode over to the post to see
her.
There were six officers calling on
Miss Vaudeville, SO Carlos sat apart
and sulked; but he outstayed them all.
When they had gone, after supper of
canned oyster stew and tamales, he
drew his chair close beside the sofa up
on which Betty was half reclining.
IVY do you like doze ooffeecers bet
| ter dan me?" he asked her.
81 DON'T" said Betty; they're a
bore"
do you moot, truly?"
"Of course don't; how could II"
Carlos was not accustomed to Betty's
| like, and, as even those who should have
known better, had believed her, because
of her round, blue eyes, he was not to
be blamed for his faith. "Would you
raider talk to me?"
| "A great deal rather"
"But dey haf stayed so late dat
must soon CO.
Its not late. It's only half-past
twelve. 1t would be too bad of you to
go just when we begin to get a chance
to settle down to nice, cozy talk"
Carlos persisted coyly. But you
weel wecsh to sleep"
every WE'LL" Miss Vaudeville
shrugged her shoulders, then you had
better go. Ines may get angry if you
stay, and you like her more than you do
me-"
Carlos denied this in words that were
neither kind nor just to Ines; but Bet
ty damned her with faint praise.
She was not clever conversational
ist, nor was Carlos Franquelo, but they
kept each other interested until very
late, and when Carlos went home Betty
stepped out to the front porch with him
and put her hand in his, with the least
bit of a pressure.
Can I KEGS you?" Carlos asked, bald
ly.
II suppose so-because we're cousins,
you know" Betty assured him, as she
raised her innocent face to his hand
some Mexican one.
He whispered: Il lofe you, oh!
lofe you. You are beautiful, beeuti-
full" and Betty laughed a little, and
told him he was silly, when they had
only known each other for two days.
Now, with Betty's beauty and othe:
attractiveness, it was natural that she
should have a great deal of attention
from the bachelors. but Carlos devotion
was so marked that they drew off onf
by one, leaving the field pretty much te
him. They resented Betty's permit
ting the young Mexican to follow hel
about necessarily, even though he were
second cousin. AS for the girl, IN
til it was too late she did not see the
harm she was doing. Then all the Off
GERS had deserted her and there WA:
only Carlos. Well, Carlos was hand
some and good enough game, SO sh'
led him on.
1t was not her fault, surely, that sh'
, didn't know the ways of Mexican
r lovers. She had told plenty o
other men that she loved them
and nothing had happened. Blu
, one night she told this to Carlo
at his urgent request, and the next day
8 at about "stables," as she was swingini
!, lazily in the hammock on the porch
! she Saw three buggies, containing tw
men each, coming up the line. In tn
first sat Carlos and his brother, in tn
O others, remoter male relatives.
! Betty guessed the truth at once, an
, her pink checks turned white. She ra
! into the house, and screamed loudl
/. for her uncle.
"Oh! Uncle Nat" she begged, whe
she found him in his room, Carlos, an
g Jose, and all his nasty old relatives ar
q coming here Send them away, won
r you? Please do.' She clung to HI
f arm.
g "Why shall I send them away? Al
= they going to murder the poor ittl
d girl?'
o NO, no, no. But think they're g
y ing to ask you to let me marry them
"All of them?"
i Betty lost her temper and flew ln'
l. white rage. Stop your fool Jokln
T. and do what I say! You tell them L!
J. sick, and tell that - Carlos that
+. hate him" She ran and hid just
e the bell changed.
1t Carlos found the captain, and mac
his demand In due form. The your
y lady's father not being there, he fe
h that her uncle could take the place
h q parent. He wished to ask the hal
of his beautiful niece, knowing that 81
I'd herself was willing to bestow it.
N How do you know that?" the ca
Ii tain asked.
ID "She tell me So"
ae "When?"
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