The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-12-30
1obn bubert'$ luck.
BY Helen Beekman.


nOOR John Hubert! III luck had fol-
lowed close at his heels for many
n long year until it seemed as natural
sequence to his every undertaking as
rood fortune is to other men. But
deep within his honest breast was
Well-spring of hope, bubbling to the
surface in ne'er-ceasing ripples, and
giving to his face its sunny smile, his
tyes their happy outlook, spite of mis-
fortune and disappointment. 1t fairly
overran its boundaries when he wooed
and won pretty Meta Allen for his
bride, and the year they spent together
was year of perpetual sunshine, spite
of the dark cloud of poverty which hung
over their humble cottage, and made it
30 hard to provide even their simple
wants. But Meta sung over her work
Ike some bird building its nest, and
John found labor pleasure, with the
memory of his bright fireside before
him.
But there came day when the poor
girls song died on her lips, as they grew
white and pale, leaving only sad, lin
gering smile about them, and the CHEEKY
fire burned low, unheeded, and shadow
mot of poverty, but the great, grim
terror, which broods over the palace
alike with the hovel-shut out the sun
shine, and sweet Meta Hubert's eyes,
with one lingering look of love in their
fnpfh he for Nh a CT ma n cn,hinrr ILL n
O child at her bedside, closed for the
last time, while the feeble fame of life
fiickered and went out. For a little
while black darkness entered into John
llubert's soul. Even the waters of the
spring seemed dried up, but, 10! his
young wife had not left him uncom-
forted. Baby fingers clutched at his
heart string; a baby's cry stirred the
waters of hope once more, and as the
months grew into years and he traced III
the little ones eyes the same look which
had shownin her mothers, his very soul
ter and wife both, and the well-spring OF
hope once more bubbled and sang. II
was for her dear sake, 12 long years
after his young wife had been laid t.
rest, that he determined to leave the
grave kept ever green, and turn his face
westward. His farm was mortgaged
his struggle hard one Little Meta
deserved something better. so he sold
oil he had, and with her by his side Sc
out for their new life to the wonderful
gold country.
1t bore little evidence of its hidder
treasure when it at last was reached
Meta looked dismayed at the rough mer
who formed the settlement, when
clinging close to her fathers hand, the,
entered among them. She could not un
derstand the amazed looks they cast OF
her. She did not dream that with he,
golden hair falling in curls below he
waist, her great blue eyes timidly up
raised or dropping with the long, brown
ashes, fringing the delicate cheek, j
was rs though an angel had suddenl,
appeared in their midst. Some of then
had wives and children of their own a
hcme, and tears sprang to eyes whicl
had known no moisture for years.
This is no place for such as she,
growled forth one man, indicating tn
Child with glance, but John answered
not without dignity:
Her place is by my side. She know
no other friend Her mother is il
Heaven"
So no more was said, and John Hu
berts claim was marked out with tn
rest, and the little girl was soon as mucI
at home as though she had known n
other life. But the feeling with whic
she had impr issed the men never die,
away. To tham she seemed more ange
Than child, nd when her yellow hal
came floating in the breeze and sh
would suddenly dance up to any grouI
The coarse Jest about to be uttere
would be silenced-the muttered ours
Dc sent back to its fountain head.
. so the years went by until Meta gre,
from childhood to girlhood, almost t
WomanhooG, pure. sweet flower in thi
lar-otf wild. No better luck fell to Joh
iuoert's share. The nugget whic
would have made his fortune he passe
oy, while those on right and left of hil
gathered it. But the old smile, the OLE
accomplishing honesty, made him
general fayorite, and no one felt even
pang OF envy when at last, after five p;
uent years of toll, the rumor sprea
through the camp that success ha
crowned hiS efforts; that John Huber
aao struck gold, and carried enough
as h., httie cottage to enable him to G
M cN rich man to his home agail
.,;s snsy had no \ otis, no locks, in this rud
aaa asaslct Each man was to the other
sV'uef--a bsothAtr marked, perhap