The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-05-13

that scarf which you began yesterday,
have you? How inconsiderate. You
know | want it just as soon as vou can
possibly finish it. Pray get it at once"
Ethel complied with a half-uttered
with many injunctions to hasten the
scarf's completion.
The day ended as had so many of its
predecessors. Ethel, with aching heart
and weary eyes, cried herself to sleep.
Mrs. StauntOn, standing before her
mirror, surveyed herself with critical
eyes. Every detail of her handsome cos
tune was dwelt upon.
YES" she suddenly announced to her
reflected self, sit is just the thing" She
was SO deep in thought that she did not
| know she spoke aloud. Mai. Horton
is extremely fond of music. More than
once have seen him moved to tears by
| it. When he has arrived | will have
Ethel go into the music room and play
some of her most touching selections,
in the midst of which l will go down."
She paused, giving the image in the
mirror knowing nod.
"Well," she resumed. music has done
greater things than move heart to
make a declaration of love-"
Ethel, in her room, had let the lace
she was making fall into her lap as, with
clasped hands and far-away gaze, she
sat dreaming.
Yesterday had been the day of the
driving expedition, and a somewhat
amusing incident had taken place at the
very outset. On leaving the house Maj.
Horton had asked Mrs. Staunton which
seat she preferred, and she, secure in the
faith that he would drive, had answered
liz all sweetness: 20, the front, by all
means!" The major handed her in,
and then, to her surprise, that odiOus
Mr.. Thompson" took the seat beside her,
and the ma jor, with bow, took that
beside Ethel. Little did he dream of
the storm that was raging in the breast
of the outwardly smiling widow.
How Ethel had enjoyed the drive!
How kind the major had been, and how
interestingly he had talked. How hand
some he was, with his strong, noble face,
his graceful, well-knit figure, and his
finely-turned head, with it's iron-gray
hair. Poor Ethel. 1t had indeed been
a red-letter day in her calendar.
She was aroused from her reverie by
the sound of her cousins voice at the
door.
Il wish you would go into the music
room at once, Ethel" she said, hurried
ly, "and play some of those soft, dreamy
bits you were practicing Yesterday"
Ethel was we'll pleased, for the one
pleasure her dreary life afforded was
that of keeping up her music. 1t was
one of the few things on which she and
Mrs. Staunton were of the same mind
She did not give thought to her
cousins strange manner, but, sitting
down at the piano, did as she had been
hidden.
After awhile her thoughts strayed
away from the music her fingers were
producing and she fell to dreaming of
the halcyon days when. in the dear old
home, her father sitting near with book
or paper, she had sung to him in the
twilight.
Her fingers wandered slowly over the
keys, striking mournful chords here
and there; then, without her volition
they strayed into cne of the old songs
her father had most dearly loved. A
wave of emotion swept over her, and the
tears welled into her eyes and fell slow.
ly one by one. She ceased playing sud
denly, and buried her face in her hands
o, what a change has come into hel
life since those happy days! The deal
father gone! So little to enjoy at pres
ent, nothing to look forward to in the
> future.
She did not hear step behind her, a nc
it was not until gentle hand was lat
upon her bowed head that she started
up and saw Maj. Horton, whose eyes
bright with tears, were bent upon her
MY dear child" he said, taking hel
hand and drawing her gently to him
"what is troubling you? There is some
thing wrong, | am sure. have noticed
your sadness before. Tell me, have
guessed Alright that your life here is un
, happy?"
She stood at his side in silence,
delicate flush on her cheeks, the tear.
shining on her long hshes. How kind
ly his brown eyes, aud how strong hi!
arm to lean upon!
With a sudden movement she hid he1
face on his shoulder, the tears falling
5 Inrestrainedly, and told him all-al
the trouble, the unhappiness, the griev
ing for her dead father.
. Ethel" he said, excitedly, there i
a home | know of which needs mistress
to brighten it; heart which has silent
ly chosen one, but feared to max.
known its desire lest its owner fell to-
far short Of a young girls dream of
l lover. That home and heart are mine
and you are the one on which that hear
is set"
, She started back quickly and gazed a
J him in wonder. He released her han,
and turned sadly away.
Forgive me-" he said, TREMENDOUSLY
. II see l have panied you. was wron!
to think one so young and fair coult
t entertain regard for one as old an.