The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-12-30

Il great thrill of horror and amaze shook
the little community to it's center when
the day after John Hubert's luck had
come to him he was found cold and life
less in his bed, smiling as though he had
had no time to awaken from some hap
| Ply dream, but with the cold steel
through his heart.
Who had done this thing?
No need to ask why it had been done
The missing gold proclaimed the mo-
tive. The murderer had been thief as
we'll. No stranger had entered the
camp; none of their number were miss
Ing. Each man feared to look in the
others face. Silently, sadly, they laid
the poor body in the ground. A rude
burial; but few, whate'er the outward
pomp. receive such silent need of grief.
Six months later, and Meta Hubert
and young Roger Rollins walked side
by side on the outskirts of the camp.
Her face was pale, her eyes had in them
an expression born there since her IA
Tiers cruel death, and she listened with
resolution already formed to the young
mans words.
"Will you not marry me, Meta? Have
I not loved you ever since you came
among us little girl? True, darling,
the wealth for which have so patient
ly toiled has not yet come to me, but it
will come, Meta. | know it feel it,
and then will take you away from all
these sad associations, but while you
must be here, let my love cheer and com
fort you"
ut does, Roger; it does I will con-
fess to you tonight what have never
before acknowledged. l do love you,
or, rather, l would, had room for love
in my heart-room for any other feel
ing than the determination to bring my
fathers murderer to justice. How do 1
know but that you," speaking with sud-
den impetuosity, "are the man?"
Roger Rollins face grew ghastly pale
as he almost whispered:
Metal"
"Forgive me-oh, forgive met" she
cried, noting his pallor. Il did not mean
that, Roger, except that we know not
whom to suspect, and | am almost mad
dened with suspense and grief. Poor
|
i'll luck ever pursuing him, and when
at last the tide of fortune turned
Roger! Roger, who could have be-
grudged him at the end?'
God only knows, Meta, darling
Leave vengeance in His hands. BE my
. wife and forget your misery in our hap
, piness."
, Il cannot-I cannot" she answered, a
, dry sob in her throat, as the bright fu
ture she pictured faded before her. 81
) might doubt even you, Roger-even
, you!"
The words came back to her us a
, prophecy-a prophecy she little meant
! she only realized when verified
I when, one short week after, the men
came to her with triumph in their
{ eyes and voices and told her they had
t discovered her fathers murderer. Nc
s need to question whc. The name rang
, like Il clarion through the camp, tC
p her ears like dirge, since it was the
9 name of the man she had loved ant
/. trusted-Rogers Rollins.
a Working in his claim he had cried ou
/ that he had discovered gold, and the men
t rushing to the spot, found his word:
i indeed true; but on further investiga
ton, the gold was found to have beer
n placed there, and when removed from
|. its temporary bed-so unskillfully de
n posted as to male detection almost in
|. esitable-John Hubert's long-lost treas
V IRE was revealed. The murderer, by hi
l. impatient greed, had betrayed himself
n lie had only looked aghast when tolt
+ bound awaiting his speedy trial-hi
y certain death.
n Meta listened shuddering to thei
e words, each falling like a dull blov
V Oh her unprotected head; then with
n moan as of some stricken animal, sh
It buried her head in her hands, refusing
h to be comforted. The memory of hi
pallor at her idle words again rose be
:" fore her, his certain hope that forum
c " ould come to him, but over all an
/, through all a something in her inner
most soul declared his innocence.
s 1t was nightfall. The camp slep'
IL save when the little guard, alert an
wakeful. surrounded the prisoner
l. when suddenly a ghost appeared upo
e the scene and a challenge rang out O.
il the night air.
70 ut is l." replied a voice. 'May
h say word to the prisoner" and Met
d Hubert stepped in their midst.
ell YES" they answered, and withou
ir further parley she approached the spc
le where he lay fettered in chains.
p. You here?" he questioned, raising
d haggard face to hers.
Sc Eyes, Rogers" she answered, vcr
gently. Il am come to tell you l bt
w leve you innocent. Nothing can say
to your life, I fear, but ! want to Civ
is you proof of my words. I want to b
IN your wife before you die
n Metal" exclaimed the young mai
ID THANK heaven!s Not as my wife, da
m ling. You shall be no felon's wido
d, even in mans sight. In Gods sight
a am innocent. He only knows that gol
a vas placed within my claim, but as
a soon shall be summoned to His pre-