The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-06-24

ranked so long and sOWed the first seed
OF doubt, she shrank at the idea of talk
ing the step from which there was ITO
withdrawal.
"Nhy are you so anxious, Nelson ?"
she at last said to him. "Think of the
long years we are to spend together
Absolutely it is appalling! You will
get tired of me soon enough"
Tired of you, darling. Does one tire
Of the sunlight, or voluntarily seek
the shadow? 1t seems to me since |
have met you that | have only for the
first time realized what a great boon
life may prove. l have waited long and
patiently, dear. Give me the promise |
ask tonight. Let the June roses bios
som for my bride, and the robins song
echo our happiness"
"Where shall we spend the summer,
Nelson?"
Il have chosen a little cottage far
away from the noise and hustle of the
world. 1t is perfect in its every ap-
pointment. and we can spend the long
summer days in forgetfulness that
there exists the seething, surging cur
rent of human life, from which we have
so separated our own. Do yea wonder
am impatient, dear?'
"Oh, but Nelson, | hate cottage life.
and am sure our society would become
mutually unbearable in such monot-
ony."
What do you mean. Marion?" and
Nelson Ellis lips grew white. do YOU,
| who have promised to spend your whole
! life with me, talk of it already as be-
| yond forbearance? Is this the fond
picture I have painted of my home?
Pause, Marion. Think while yet on the
threshold. If your life is mine. it be-
| longs not to the world. If it is the
worlds, then in it have no claim.
| offer you, darling, all | have. ask of
YOU only yourself, but ask it as a free
boon and one which is placed willingly
| III my keeping. You must decide, Ma
! rion, for yourself. | had hoped your
decision long since irrevocable, but once
more | place the choice in your hands"
| "You say you ask of me only myself.
l. it not all | have to give? | cannot
give up the world to lead the life of =.
recluse, even though you so selfishly
make the demand. One would suppose
| was a child to be dictated to at will.
| It has all been mistake. Mr.. Ellis, and
we may truly congratulate ourselves
that our eyes have been opened i'll time
| to redeem an otherwise fatal error. We
! part as friends. | hope"
"Friends? Who has been at work ?
Whose hand may | thank for having
| laid this network of worldliness and
suspicion in the mind of a girl, who, a
few short months ago, harbored no such
thought? You could not trust ne.
then, with your beauty. You feared
would guard it beyond the reach Ct
other eyes. True, I might have held ii
as sacred shrine, but its bloom, its
radiance would have been undimmed
till death robbed me of both. You give
Inc up, then? So be it. Go back to
your world. Glory in it; revel in it
and teach men the lesson you have given
me. that the brighter the eye, the fair
er the cheek, the falser the heart. Good
evening, Miss Reynolds" and with low
bow, Nelson Ellis went out from the
light into the shadow.
Marion stood as in a stupOr. She had
spoken her own thoughts for the first
time, for the first time expressed the
feeling which so long had rankled
How cold, how heartless and worldly
it had sounded even to her ears. What
was the selfshness of which she had
accused her lover but the reflex of hel
own? Had the world really grown Sc
dear to her that she could not yield il
up, even in the first flush of wifehood
by husbands side? How inviting the
picture had been! She had not really
meant what she had said. She had not
dreamed Nelson would so accept her al
her word, and wordless despair was ir
the beautiful eyes, as the hot tears
welled up and dropped one by one faster
ard faster, until she buried her heac
in her hands and sobbed as a child.
But there was one who heard of the
ruptured engagement with keen exul
tation, and suppressed look of tr
umph was on Allen Fane's face whel
next he saw the woman he had deter
mined to win for his own.
"You did splendidly. Marion," he sat
to her. Have | not told you from the
first how selfish he was, even in his love
that he never appreciated you? Bu
now, darling, that you are free to b'
won and | to WOO. will you not let IN,
prove that 4 man may be generous?
could have given you up to any other i
thought your happiness was at stake
but not to one l read so we'll"
Hush, Allen. hush! 1t seems to m'
desecration to listen TO such words. |
he were selfish, then is such selfishnes
glorious. You call it splendid to show
man who has placed his whole nobl
heart at a woman's S feet how frivolous
worldly and beneath him is that TO
which he sues. | have thrown away tn
highest prize life's lottery will ever offe
me. | have listened to the subtle word
which have first borne seeds of distrus
but now that all is over, and | hav
.. with my own hand plucked the unblos
somed fruit, l can at least do him jus
tice, and tell you my heart is his. hi