The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-09-21

| again in some way.
VI course the parting was hard, but
Margaret suffered keenest, for while
her self sacrificing, woman!y spirit
| could love, with the saw-toothed whir
of poverty buzzing in her ear. threat
ening any moment to cut off her exist
| ence, it was not SO with her husband,
Girard had spent his money lavishly
III college. depending on his diploma
to pull him through afterwards, but the
| intermediate stage of starting he had
| never figured on, and now that he had
come to the end of his financial rope
he was unhappy. He loved his wife,
but not to be able to support her as he
had expected to do hurt his pride, and
he was glad to get away.
After many weeks the letters began
| to come. If Margaret had felt the least
bit hurt at her husbands anxiety to
go, her fears vanished after reading
his letters. They were full of the same
| love and devotion of their honeymoon
days, and though the separation was
| severe sacrifice, Margaret lived only in
the thought that he was prospering and
that one day they would be brought to-
gether again.
For months Girard's letters were full
of enthusiasm and good news. but one
| day the tears gathered in Margaret's
eyes as she laid down his last letter.
| Eight months of tropical climate had
been too much for him, and Girard's
health was breaking. After that each
letter was an evident attempt to spare
her feelings and to be cheerful in q
time of gloom, and not many more
weeks proved it, for one day cable
gram announced his death. Then came
letter from the captain of the ship,
with a few words of consolation, one
from the United States consul stationed
at the port where Girard had died, and
later his mail and other possessions
| were returned to her.
The $4,000 life insurance was col
lected, but Margaret's heart was
broken. She cared for no one and for
nothing but Girard's memory, so she
bought the pretty little cottage where
their married life had been spent; fur
nished it as nearly as possible the way
it was before, and even trained the
morning glories over his Office window
SO that they would shade his desk just
as they used to do. Margaret's devo-
ton was beautiful. For 20 years she
lived in the quiet little town, leaving
now and then for a short trip abroad,
but always returning to the shrine of
her affection. Her devotion was the
marvel of the community, and the lit
tie village was proud of it, for halo of
romance rested upon her head, and held
her aloof, in awesome reverence, from
the rest of the world.
But one day the little community
was startled. A stranger man was seen
TO enter her cottage. He was tall,
heavy-set and swarthy, and why he
had come to the village and to see the
doctors widow no one knew until after
ward, when Mrs. Duval explained that
he wanted to purchase piece of her
property.
That was his passport into her house,
but after that he was frequent visitor.
Margaret could scarcely realize that
she was listening to amorous overtures
after her lifelong sacrifice to the men,
ory of Girard, and she could explain it
only on the ground of a peculiar re-
semblance that the stranger, Mr.. Hunt,
bore to her long-lost husband. She
could not trace it in the features, but
now and then there was something
about him SO like Girard that she was
fascinated and would listen to him al
most helplessly.
But one day the end came. The stran-
ger man had offered his life and fortune
to the little widow. \ rosy light from
the setting sun fell aslant her pretty
features as he entered the cottage door
on the evening that he went to receive
his answer. Margaret was sitting at
Girard's desk, looking dreamily out OF
the window. In her hand she held a
small gold locket; it was open, and
showed the handsome face OF the only
man she had ever loved. The stranger
stepped nearer. He understood with
out being told that she was struggling
between the old affection and the new.
Suddenly she burst into tears, and, rails
ing the locket to her lips, she kissed 1t
passionately.
"Girard! Girard!" she cried: Il can
never forsake you! Forgive me for the
thought"
In another moment she discovered
that Hunt was standing near her, and,
sitting her emotion, she stood dignified
and erect before him.
Il thank you for the compliment you
pay me in wishing me to be your wife,"
she said, but must decline the honor.
For-I might as well tell you frankly,
l do not love you, and it would never be
possible for me to care for you in any
but the most distant way. l gave my
heart to my husband years ago. and
love him this moment as much as in the
days we spent together in this little
cottage. The very walls remind me of
him, and to forsake him now. that he is
not here would be the grossest sacrilege.
My life shall be one long sweet devotion
to him. l belong to him now as on my
wedding day. thank yen: sir. Good
he -