The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-03-24
A PAIR OF SINNERS.
BY A. St. JOHN ADCOCK.

and prosperous barrister. Her man
ners and habits of thought were. per-
haps, oyerrefined and affected; she was
of a morbdly poetieal temperament,
and looked at life always through
prism of sentiment. He was unimagi-
native and practical.
He had all those sterner qualities she
lacked; she had all those dainty, ten
der graces he despised-untl he found
them in her. In a word, each was the
complement of the other.
Naturally, then, when they met they
loved; and she was too romantic and
he too matter-of-fact to believe in a
long engagement.
They had been two months married,
and but just returned from the honey
moon, were seated cozily by the fire one
wild, wintry evening. when Mabel, in a
languishing mood of sentimental mel
ancholy, unburdened herself of tardy
confession.
1t had really never occurred to her
during the rapture of their short en-
gagement. but once oV twice before
since their marriage it sad risen to her
lips, hut, fearing it might make note
Of discord in the harmony of their
welded lives, she had left it unspoken
| It was a trifle, no doubt; but hers was a
disposition that magn:fied trif1es. She
found subtle JOY in goief, as do all who
are surfeited with happiness, and. I'm.
| der such circumstances, the smallness
of the grief is no disadvantage.
| "Are you sure, Clarence" she asked
him. signing, that You really love me ~
absolutely, dearest"
| "And you have never loved anyone
but me?''
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
"And you will love me always?"
| Forever
He yawned and looked at his watch
They were half expecting visitor.
Something might happen to changv
YOU" she persisted, dreamily.
| "What could?"
Suppose l had secret in my life
which I had never revealed to you?"
She regarded him yearningly.
| what sort of secret??"
II always used to say, dear. that hai
told you all about myself-everything
that I was keeping nothing back from
you. anu so sorry!" Her eyes grew
misty with tears. II did not intend t
deceive you. There is one-only one
event of my life have never mentioned
to you. I had forgotten it until lately
II is not much, perhaps, but ought NO
to hide anything from you, ought I
1t has been my one secret-the one page
Of my life would rathermo one read
"Weil-and what is ito" he interrupt
ed. a little irritably.
She sank down on the rug beside hin
in an attitude of supplication, an(
clasped her arms about his knees.
Don't look at me SO coldly, Clarence,
she pleaded. Don't speak so harshly
Say you will forgive me, dearest.
know there should be mo secrets be
tween US, but it is such little, littl,
secret, and never meant to"
Mono. Well-let me know what j
is
at overwhelmed me with shame
Oh, words cannot tell how deeply i
Inundated me-
"My dear child, do calm yourself.
He laughed, but felt vaguely uneasy
at can't have been anything SO YER,
awful"
"You will not think hesitated to tel
yon sooner because I distrusted III,
strength of your love-"
"Of course not
COR because l feared'-she stif1ed
little sob-"you might scorn me, as tina
heartless man did"
what heartless man." he demanded
sharply. Don't mystify me with al
this preamble, Mabel. Tell me thu
worst, at once"
and you will forgive me, dear, TO
not confiding-?'
'Oh. no doubt. It is nothing much
I'll be bound. You are soaring II
both with a DOGGY of your own MAX
ing. What is it?''
II will tell you, Clarence"
She dried her eyes, and reaching UP
laid hand upon his shoulder caress
iEgly.
Did you know, dear, that I one
used to write poetry?''
well, many persons do that. It ma,
be foolish, but it is not wicked"
J II wrote great deal Of it. My sol
ambition then was to be poetess
Much of what l wrote was love pc
etry-"
Addressed, presume, to the heart
less man you just referred toe"
mo, dear. 1t was addressed to quit
imaginary persons"
well, well! Yes?"
"And about six years ago. dear, I col
lected all my poems into volume an,
published them"
. "And the heartless man was the pub
lisher?"
mo. The publisher was exceedingl,
kind. lie thought very highly of m,
work"
"Never mind the publisher I an
anxious to get to that heartless man.
''The book was published, and say
I