The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-07-29

W his dinner.
Mr.. Follott was very rich man, and
his cook had once been a pupil of the
great Soyer, SO that the meal, al
though unostentatious in every respect,
was of the best and choicest. The as
raragus soup. a delicate young baked
shad, roast ham with champagne sauce,
n salad, coffee, sweets-all these things
Mr.. Foliott enjoyed because, in their
way, they were perfect. And he was
Just culling out few monster straw
berries from among their green leaves
when footstep sounded on the ver-
hnda.
He looked quickly up. A tall child OF
13 stood there, her face flushed, her
hair dsheveled, and her thick boots
powdered with the fine dust of the
roads.
81 am so hungry" burst involuntari
ly from her lips. Cant l have one of
those cakes?'
Mr.. Folliott frowned and shook his
head.
''lf you are beggar," he said, "yon
had better go around to the back door.
Mrs Hanford will give you something,
dare say"
The child blushcd deeply, and drew
herself up with something of uncon-
scious dignity.
I'm not a beggar," she said. Cant
girl be hungry without being beg
gar? have come here to look for Paul
FoIliott."
That's my name," said the old gen
tieman, little suspiciously.
"Then,' said she, composedly, 81 have
come here to be your little girl. l am
Oracle BeIaire. My papa was Col.
Bruce Bellaire, and when he died he
said that you would take care of me.
Here are his letters. And, now, please,
let them give me something to eat"
And this is the way in which Grace
Bellaire came to the house of her ia
theirs distant kinsman, Paul Folliott.
She was pretty child when the dust
was washed out of her dmpIes and the
shining brown curls were brushed into
something like shape. She had Bruce
Bellaire's large, dreamy eyes and ex-
quisite Greek profile, and Mr.. Folliott
even while he experienced a thrill OF
CONSERVATION at this new charge, felt
his heart warm toward her.
My dear" said he, you are a nice
little GIRL but what can do with you?"
Il could stay here and play, couldn't
IL" said Oracle, innocently.
but there is something else in the
world for little girls to do besides play.
ing" said Mr.. Folliott-and so he TOOK
counsel with Mrs. Hanford, his house
keeper.
Dear heart, SIR" said that kindly
parsonage, lit seems to me plain
enough. Why don't you send her to
Mrs, John Folliott? Don't you remem
Der last summer, when she was her.
and you helped her out with the debts
that troubled her so badly, she de
cared she would do anything in the
world to show her gratitude? And shes
got daughters of her own, hasn't she
who is there in the world that coult
Drlng Miss Oracle up better than she?'
Mrs. Hanford. you are a genius!'
SAID Mr. Folliott. why on earth didn',
think of that myself?"
Mrs. John Folliott came to the Grange
at once-a portly, smiling matron.
The darling!" she cried, enthusias
: ucally, embracing Oracle, who looked
rather awed at the sight of so much
sp'endor. Il shall love her as dearl,
US II she were my own! Poor, dea,
cousin Bruce! How we'll | remembc
him! You sweet one, you are the YER,
picture of your papa!"
SO Mrs. John Folliott, greatly re-
3oielng. returned to the brown stone
Rouse in New York, whose rent was un
: PAID, and to the daughters whose ex
penslve dresses were yet written u,
on the wrong side of Mile. Surlitor!
books.
Its positively providential," sait
mrs. Folliott. "A thousand dollars :
year clearly added to our income!"
But there is that great, awkward
shiia to bring up" said Madalena Eel
hott, handsome brunette, who ha,
Just lnade her debut in society.
Vai thai does not s.gnity," said ,h