The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-10-14
4 LIFE HISTORY.
BY JENNY WREN.

ICAN say without vanity, looking
back over this long stretch of years,
That was not unjustiy called the belle
of our town. 1t was quiet place dur
ing eight long months of the year ami
found it dull enough, and wondered
why it was appointed that must drag
out my life within its limits, but tn re-
manning four months saw it emerge as
The butterfly from its chrysalis, and
waken into such fullness of action that
it almost compensated. 1t was durin.
those periods that learned my beauty
entitled me to a wider sphere, or So
thought in my narrowness of judg-
ment; but when, at ball or reception,
saw men leave the richly attired women
whom they met the year round to seek
an Introduction to me, simply dressed
and the daughter of a retired officer, il
was little wonder that a blush of con-
scious pride rose to my check. or my
eye burned with a satisfied vanity.
was but IS when | met Vance Will
rlour. He was double my age. and when
he bent over me with the wonderful
grace of manner he so fully possessed,
or let his eyes dwell on mine with an
impassioned glance, my heart would
throb as 4 voice within would say:
'This is love- 1t seemed as though an
emperor had stopped from his throne
tn ask the peasant girl to share his higi,
estate when he at last told me of his
devotion and asked me to become his
wife. My father shook his head when |,
joyousIy eXuitant, asked him to receive
my lover.
HE is not the man to make my bright,
urcaged bird happy" he answered.
"Iake care. Madge. No matter how
brightly gilded the bars may be, the
mountain sonester will beat out his
life against them in the struggle to be
free"
But to all that he might say my ears
were deaf He could bring forward no
real obstacle, however, and so | won at
last reluctant consent, and six months
from the day | met Vance Wilmour |
became his wife. At last | was to see
and mingle with the world. 1t was of
this thought, rather than the solemn
vows | had Just uttered, as side by side
we had bade farewell to the old home,
and were journeying TO the new. Still.
all my heart was his, and had he cared
to mold me- he might have cast it in any
form.
l was not long in finding the empti-
ness of that | had so desired. The
home to which my husband had brought
me was perfect in its every appoint
Ment. The suite of rooms he had had
prepared for me to my unaccustomed
eye presented vista of fairyland, and
Tor time | was happy. But then, as
my father had predicted, my wings be-
ean to beat themselves against the bars.
! learned to recognize that underneath
the velvet touch was the iron hold, that
l must stand ever ready with a smile.
1arltlessly dressed, to receive him and
these whom he summoned to admire his
captive. No Wearincss, no fatigue gave
excuse. | learned then why he had
married me. Wealth, station, all were
MS, but his pride demanded more. My
beauty he knew would reflect credit
upon his taste. was too young, too ig-
hcrant to interfere with his pleasures
or assert my rights as a wife. So he
reasoned, and his judgment served him
well.
For year there was little to mar the
scene; then my health failed. Excite
ment and constant gayety did their
work. Nature demanded rest, and even
ne was obliged to recognize the neces-
sity. Then followed months in which
! scarcely saw him, when he hardly
iound time to come to the couch on
winch | constantly lay to inquire if l
We're better or worse: and when in nv
'mpatlence l would greet him with
words OF reproach or anger he would
s"ehce me by some cutting words of
scorn, which would leave their sting
Aof Gays behind. Twas utterly una able to
cope with him, and when in the spring
'n'ee years from the date of our mar
rage he was induced to join a hunt
excursion on the western plains I
Osde him good-by with scarce feeling
OF regret.
ok weeks later I was one day sum
.iohea to the presence of gentleman
80 told me with trem bling voice and
ia''ia hps that | was widowed. Their
iasts While hunting had been atta~s.l
" . eastS q indlans and Vaacr hH4