The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-12-04

tuty
Louise Siggers and Tom Wedding
ton."
"Umph! Nothing should be easier
than to avoid them, and"
ooh! Is it!'
81 have found no difficulty"
Perhaps not. But then you are
aos the object of Louisa's tender re-
gard"
"Are your"
"Alas! 1 aml'
81 condole with you, my dear chap.
You must find it deuced embarrassing
especially in view of that other little
affair."
"Ah, you're right! When my chief
object in paying this visit was to be
under the same roof with Amy Bill
inghurst. Then to be Swallowed by
this confounded Louisa, and to have
all my tete-a-tetes with Amy interrupt
ed and spoiled-well, it's the most ir-
ritating thing 1 ever knew!"
cit must be. But in what way does
Tom manage to interfere with your
happiness? He is bit of bore, no
doubt. But have not noticed that
he has cottoned on to You particularly"
''Nor has he. do not complain of
the fellow on that score 1t is as a
sportsman that 1 object to him-at
least, when / am posted las I have
been the last three times) the next
gun on the fellows left.
SIS he very dangerous, then?"
deadly dangerous. You know, of
course, that he is as blind as bat.
Can't distinguish any object at more
than ten yards"
'I thought he was good shot"
"He is. He sees confused blob,
pots at the middle of it and hits it. A
bad blind shot is awful enough, in all
conscience. A good blind shot is too
terrible for words"
"Has he ever shot anybody"
''I believe he has been known to
wing beaten, and I understand he
once took the crown off somebody's
beadkeeper's hat"
''But why does our host ask such
manslaughterer out?"
"Oh! Business obligations, I'm
told. And you will have noticed that
he never places himself within range
of Wellington. But here he comes!
1t was in the billiard room Of Sir
Thornton Thorndale's country seat,
near Ilkley, where he was entertain
ing large party for the grouse shoot
ing; and the speakers were Charlie
Buckley and the Hon. Horace Sturti-
want, two of the younger men among
the baronet's guests. Louisa Siggers
was a cousin of Lady Thorndale, and
possessor of anot insignificant fortune.
She had attained the age Of forty-one
and was spinster still.
Just now she was desperately sweet
on Charlie Buckley, q fellow guest,
aud it appeared that she was under
the delusion that Buckley entertained
tender regard for herself. OF Amy
Billinghurst all that need here be said
is this: That she was young, we'll
born and very pretty and charming
also that she took no steps whatever
to repel Bickley's attentions.
Later in the same evening Horace
Sturtivant strolled into Bickley's bed
room to have quiet chat with him
There was grin on the formers face
as he entered, the grin of a man wht
is fresh from the effects of some gooe
joke.
.I say, Charlie, he remarked aftel
he had taken an easy chair. "I'v'
lust heard such funny thing from m.
man. 1t will be of special interest u
you, too. 1t is about your sweet
heart. !"
'sAbout Amy?"
"No! About Louisa.
s.P-i-s-h."
ssThe dear girl has been reduced Il
state of frenzy tonight. She ha
actually committed assault and batter.
upon her maid"
.sFor why?"
because in undressing her, o
rather in taking her to pieces, the mai
nlaced Louisa's best golden bun to-
near the candle. There was draugh
from the window, it appears, whicl
blew the fame onto the arrangement
and hey, presto it caught fire and wa
reduced to ashes before You coai
wink. Lopiss was In such . rage ~