The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-01-22

,A4Ssx&IN&asA ii rst an
y VMA : :: +: +; +: +:
NV that MI
Shelby bad presumed to pay marke
attentions to his daughter Eleanor
The second was that Mr.. Shelby wa
simply bank clerk on small salary
Prejudiced people might have bee
ungenerous enough to observe that tn
second objection bore the most weigh
with the Reverend Masters; but sucl
persons have never known the anxiet,
OF parent with manageable daugh
ter. How then can they be expecte.
to Judge intelligently on such an i'm
portant question?
you are quite right, Bronson,
said his sister-in-law. "What do vol
know about Mr.. Shelby? You remem
Der the acquaintance was begun in al
irregular way-a very irregular way.
There was no denying it did begir
in an irregular way. The Merchant.
and Traders Bank was next door to the
residence of the Reverend Bronson
Masters; and Mr.. Jack Shelby, an in
dustrious, energetic young clerk, with
his ledger quite near the front win
dow, had allowed his eyes to feast fire..
quently on the graceful figure and
pretty face of Miss Eleanor Masters as
she fitted in and out of her fathers
house.
IN
Strange to say, Miss Masters had
also occasionally allowed her glance to
stray toward the front window of the
bank. Not that any one could posi-
lively state under oath that she had
seen the rather high-bred face of a
brown-eyed bank clerk in that same
Y ,ndow; certainly not. But one day
she slipped and fell on the icy pave
ment in front of the bank just as Shell
by was coming out; and he helped her
into the house, and was asked to call,
md did call.
Another strange thing was that
neither of them seemed to regret the
accident, as it would seem natural they
should.
Shelby, the third time he called,
rather damaged his prospects by get
ting into discussion with the Rever-
end Bronson Masters in which he mani
tested tendency to spiritualism, theo-
sophy and other occult and unortho-
dox beliefs. This bad impression was
otherwise augmented by the discov-
cry that he had no fortune, not even
expectations, and was dependent on
his salary for living.
! The growing affection of the young
people for each other was noticed by |
Mr.. Masters, and he Immediately con-
suited with his sister-in- law, having no |
one else with whom to consult, and as
has been seen, she quite agreed with
him that such Infection should be i'm
mediately nipped in the bud.
Accordingly Mr.. Shelby was given
to understand that Miss Masters was
no longer at home to him. But Shell
by's ledger was still near the front
and Miss Masters had no
mode OF egress or ingress except by
the front door Of her residence, so
Love still preserved his old reputa-
tion in regard to locksmiths. and
laughed after the good old fashion.
About this time the Reverend Bron-
son Masters met a fascinating widow,
Mrs. Horton Verlance, who had lately
become member of his congregation.
Mr.. Masters intimated to Eleanor
that ne would like her to ask Mrs.
Verlance to call. Like q dutiful
daughter she obeyed, and Mrs. Ver-
ance promptly accepted the invita-
ion.
She came often, aud dined and
unched with them, much to the
pleasure of the host, but secretly to
he annoyance of his daughter.
"Mrs. Verlance never seems to me
,enuine," she ventured to say one
lay to her father.
Eleanor, I SIN surprised at such
N uncharitable, unchristianlike re-
mark from you," was the stern re-
'ly. II
She saw that her father was deeply
and dared not say more; but
then he closed the door after him,
er feelings found audible vent
"Oh, it's all right for you to send
way poor Jack because I like him."
be cried, "and here you are falling
4 love with a mysterious woman
HON nobody knows, and who I'm {
ure is schemer. Oh, wish were ,
our father, for just one hour!
Wouldn't / turn her out fyingl
Wouldn't I?'' K
And she walked the floor in her
elpless rage.
Shortly after this Mr.. Masters an
ounced to his daughter that he
ould spend his vacation in Europe. /,
ssI have decided to take you with q
le," he added. /,
Eleanor was delighted with the pros
ect, and gave her parent an ecstatic
ug.
ssShall you close the house, papa?"
le asked.
ssNo; Mrs. Verlance will rent it fur I
ished, Ioonsider myself particular ] I