The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-08-18


entirely displcascd, to find that the car
lines had conspircd to land him at this
one street rather than at any other Of
the 5 $50 streets in Chicago.
| AS he came nearer to the house ne
] began to rehcarse his Introductory re-
marks, and he confessed to a slight
nervousness for fear Shc would not I'M
derstand that he had simply happened
| in. He realized, of course, that he
| should have notified her if he intended
| to make a formal call
| The IIadley house is back from the
street, with Il sweet smelling grass
plat and clu'nps of shrubbery in front
of it. Swingcr dimly saw several fig
uTcs on the open Nerand,:, and he heard
the murmur of voices. Would it be
advisable for him to cal at such a time .
! He was in extreme doubt. and while
hesitating he walked past the gate.
Then it was too late for him to turn
back, so he kept on walking, while he
| upbraided himself for an idiot and won
dered if fanyonc on the veranda had seen
| him and recognized him.
|
and debated as to whether or not he
should return. If he were Seen to ap-
| proach the house from the south she
would ask him how it happened that
he came from that direction, and he
would not be able to explain. He re-
solved to go to the house, merely TO
vindicate his courage; so he went across
Z
back detcrmnedly. He slammed the
gate behind him and advanced boldly
toward the veranda. Some one who
had been sitting on the steps arose
and waited. 1t was she, but she did
not recognize him.
Good evening"" he said, with great
diplomacy.
why. it's Mr.. Sw;nger.." she said.
and Swinger knew that she was really
! surprised. but there was nothing in her
tone to give him discouragement.
The other persons on the Neranda
were Mr.. and Mrs. Hadley. This WAS
SWin2ers iirst meeting with Mr.. Had
ley. whom he could see but indist met
! ly, but whom he regarded with iavor,
because he was the father of Miss Eta
Hadlcy. Mr.. lladley welcomed him
rather heartily. and Mrs. Hadley, whom
Swinger had already learned to admire
as Il remarkably clever and socia Bile
matron, invited him to find Il place on
the rug.
Il just happened to be in t.stlis part of
town, and | thought | would drop il
and see if jim was here" he said.
OF course Jim WAS Eot there, an,.
itney told him to remain anyway, 80 he
sat on the top stepand she sat two steps
below him, and Swinger talked with
Mr.. and Ms. lIadIey about Tie weather
and the War with spain and the reopen
ing OF the bicycle season, while she
hummcd little tunes and Cccasionally Y
looked UP at him, at which Times he sett
his pulses bound.
Swinger, like many another diifiGeut
man, could talk freely and a,. his ease
with those who We're decided dlv his
elders or who followed the lines OF
everyday business talk, and so he man
/ aged famously with Mr.. aud Mrs. Had
ley. He did not know that ten o'clock
had passed. Mr.. lladley announced
that he would 90 in and read Tor awhile
Mrs. Hadiey followed him. SNinyer
arose to depart.
"Oh. no: ret yet.' she said. aud
Swnger. shifting his hat from one hand
to the other, said nothing, but re-
/ manned.
Its such a lovely night" She con-
tinued. I'D like to go out waIing.'
We've might said Swinger.
'ReaII,, Want to go. I've been in
the house all day. Come in until get
my hat
NO; | have IA particular reason for
wanting YOU to come in
Swinger followed her into the house.
and then she turned on him and said.
misc chievCusly: II wanted 20 see your
spring suit. It's awfulIy swell. Oh, the
flowers! Who gave them to you::'
at was the t'orist-reaIly,' with a
boyish simplicity.
| Il have some flowers, too,' she said,
and she pointed at the roses in the vase.
| Then she came up close to him to chirl<
up the flowers in his button-hole. and
she said to him, as she looked straight t
in his eye: at was simply lovely Of you
to serd them
! Swiuger blushed and failed of
speech. as he had at their first meeting
She was 50 near him that he caught
some subtle fragrance frcm her hair
| ard tingled with L sudden and an over
whelming surprise that he should have
| been selected FROM among mortals for
! such Il marvellous experience as this.
| He has, confused impressions of see
! ing her put Oh hcr hat ard of the de-
parture from the house. with ber hand
on his arm. He shook himself and
! grasped his wulking-stick, determined
to think of something, but in all the
| range of speech there WAS nothing to
| fit the moment. They walked silently
| under the trees aud he became fright
ened q; his inability to talk. But she
| had something to say to him.
| Il was--a little provoked Il; you this
evening" ske began.
WHY? What did ! Go:" lie asked.