The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-12-16

! 'hS hidtleI, oid man Are YOU tll?''
NO, it's just the pipe. It's too strong.
Often does me that way. | must cult
it."
Good idea. | never could stand a
pipe. But can't you go on with YOUR
story? I've told mine"
1T doesn't amount to much, and
since come to think, it is hardly worth
telling. But it may be of some adj
vantage to you one of these days, so |
Will tell it:
Il have been in love with woman
all my life. We grew up together. Our
homes adioincd each other in the Ken
tucky village where we were born and
raised, and we have been sweethearts
since she was - and | II. Even before
that, | reckon, but we were too Young
to know it. Now she is 25 and am so
and we were to have been married la #
spring. but a financial affair prevented
and we put it off until next winter. |
had about $4,000 saved up, but my
sweetheart's father, who was a very
well-to-do man, wanted to use that
amount in scheme of some kind and
| loaned it to him. He invested it with
a large sum of his own-in land deal.
he said, and-well he hasn't got it back
yet"
That's just like you, Jim, you can
paint, but you haven't got as much
business sense as monkey"
"Thank you, but you are using up
time. | must finish my story"
Have you got any security for that
money!"
No"
Have you got anything to show
where it went to?'
Yes"
well. that's something"
Il think it's worse thaa nothing. but
| will show it to YOU directly. have
not seen my swt etheart since last
spring. She and her father went away
, on a trip together. and when we parted
we agreed to think of each other al
eight o'clock every evening and talk as
, if we were talking to each other.
ITO catch my train | had to bid hel
oood-by at that hour. and it happened
that the full moon was shining. | out
lined to her the face of the woman or
the moon, and showed her how much
the face was like her own. Since ther
| have sketched and painted that face
e ard III show you that also. Besides,
have written the verses above it tha
= | read to you just now. The picture
and the verses are both bad, | know
No painter could do justice to the fac,
:, in the moon, or 10 that of my swee
r heart, but did both when in a happie
y mood than am right now.
"That's about all there is to it, Tom
y except the receipt fer my money and th'
portrait | spoke of. But the receipt il
in the shape of letter. and won't reat
it to you unless you agree not to ask M
i what its postmarl is, and the mann
u signed to it. That is another man
secret"
n "All right, old man, whatever you sa.
n gees"
l. Here it is"
u my Dear James: I have not onl
t gambled away all Of MY own money an
all I could raise on my property, but
have also sambled away what borrowe
g from you. My daughter has been led b
me to believe that | loaned you my money
=, and that you have besSared me by losin
ii at the gambling table. | make to yo
II this humiliating confession because ] al
on my death bed. 1t shows what gam
bling will lead to in even as old man
am. But before l die l shall tell m
daughter the whole truth, and you will b
reinstated in her good graces. | give he
to you, and | hope and pray she will b
in some measure a restitution to you. / ca
i say no more. ! am too " eak to write more
e, Please forgive me. Yours il. all penitence.'
This letter was dated at the Hott
It del Monte, August Is, 1897, and wa
It signed Charles Winthrop."l
h My God, Jim, dc you think the oil
y man died without telling your swee
2, heart the TRUTH"
It No, of course not. He told her, an
l. | shall hear from her soon.'
is Il hope so, my dear fellow. am sur
e you deserve TO be happy"
n And here is the picture on this ease
l. There, the envious cloth is now out {
n the way. Isn't she handsome?'
lie Great WAY, jim, that is the po
he trait of my wife"
is impossible. l painted it from til
woman in the moon, but if you thin
d it resembles your Julie | will give it t
'e you. l can paint another. Look, thel
IS is my model. See how she beam
Y. through the Window
1t II won't say l hate to rob you, ol
I. fellow, for don't. | know you ca
TO paint another, and this will so deligl
et my sweet Julie. Why you must
y anxious to get rid Of it, TO ha,
wrapped it so quickly"
I'd Il am anxious for you to have i
$. Tom, if it will make you and your Jul
ID happy
ID What glorious old fellow you ar
ID Jim. But times up. Good-by, o.
E. man."
as "Good-by, Tom. Write me all abo,
TO yourself, and if you ever need me |,
N me know. think would almost mai
t. a sacrifice at any time TO serve YOU"
Il know you would, Jim, but yc
sc haven got monopoly on that"
- They parted as the friends til;