The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-08-16

card with the violets, but minute |
later she handed them to Ethel, when |
all the people cheered again without
thought of the shade that had fallen |
on Stella's pretty face.
= Then, after the wild flowers, came
the Pageant of the Roses, and truly
enough, Stella Bird and Ethel Douglas
proved the twin stars of the evening.
First, they appeared as snowy -robed
nuns in the march of the White Rose,
picturing the old mission days in Cali
fornia; next, they led court quadrille
as naughty Duchesse Roses in blush
ing gowns and with great pink hats
resting on their powdered hair; then
they were Gold and Ophir Roses from
the Orient, dressed in pink and yellow
and carried in rose-covered sedan
chairs; after that they danced gayly
out as Roses of CASTLE, in black lace
Spanish costume, tossing basketfuls of
red roses about; and, finally, they fut-
tered forth with great wavering wings.
as the yellow butterflies that are said
to be born in the heart of the Marechal
Mel rose. But, always, through
the evening it was when these two with
their sparkling eyes and fairy-like
dancing came near the footlights that
the audience showed most delight of
all.
''The prettiest girl in the Pageant"
Stella heard some one say. And she
caught the name of Ethel Douglas.
When the performance was over, two
tired, excited young girls, behind the
scenes, were braiding their hair and
getting ready to go home.
81 thought you'd be pleased about
my compliments" Ethel was saying.
II never dreamed you'd be jealous!"
jealous! 1 never dreamed little
praise would make you conceited,"
cried Stella.
"Conceited!"
eyes, I've been dreadfully mistaken
In you. Ethel!"
"You mistaken in mel" Ethels eyes
filled with tears. "Well, I'm horribly
disappointed in you. You needn' t
think I'd have danced with you all
through the Pageant if had dreamed
you'd act like this. l only wish Mrs,
Hackett hadn't promised to give it
again tomorrow night"
"Well, you needn't worry about that
You won't have to dance with me again
\ 1 won't be in the Pageant tomorrow
night-not if 1t spoils the whole
thing"
"Why, Stella Bird! Think how Mrs
Hackett will feel!"
II can't help that"
"Well, if you don't come, 1 won't
: either-that's ali"
'Suit yourself about that" said Stel
. la, in a most provoking way, as sh'
drew ON her cloak and went away t.
find her father.
After breakfast, next morning, Stell'
Bird was walking down the street in
: very unhappy frame of mind, whe1
; Ethel passed, driving her father
horse. Mamie White was with her ant
neither of the girls saw Stella, WIN
: went on with bitter, sighted feeling
! in her heart. She wished she had no
said she wouldn't be in the Pagean
that night, for. to her dismay, he
D mother had not sympathized at al
$ about the quarrel with Ethel, and ha'
e quite insisted that Mrs. Hackett shoul
y not be disappointed in that way.
AS Stella was walking slowly bac
: from town, half hour later, she sa,
e little Neddie Baker running towar
g her as fast as his feet could go.
d "a tur'ble accident, Stella!" he criet
d his eyes wide with horror, ''runawa
: an smash-up, down here at the raj
e road crossing! Train ran into the cal
e riage an threw 'em QUIT"
q "Who?" cried Stella.
g "Oh. both of 'em-but she's huI
d worse! Oh, it's awful!' he almos
l. sobbed. "An' she was the prettiest on
:, of 'em all. last night"
n Stella's knees began to shake.
IS "Is it very bad?" she asked, but Ne
l. was rusing on.
t. "'Fraid so," he called back. "Bloo
l. all over her face. Can't stop now-Tl
l. on an errand for the doctor"
J. Stella gave one Mortified glance u
N the street at the crowd gathering
y front of Mr.. Douglas cottage. The
cAN AASo "AtA % 3 NAt SoOs oAN oA -
.e most as fast as Neddie had gone, dow
the walk that led to Mrs. Hackett
e house.
s. 'Oh, Mrs. Hackett!" she cried, brus
er ing into the sunny room where th'
n lady sat comfortably reading h
o, morning paper. "Oh, Mrs. Hackett
ia and down she went on her knee
,e with her head in Mrs. Hackett's la
T. "Why, Stella, child!" began MI
el Hackett, kindly, but her quiet ma
=, ner changed, as Stella tried to t.
te her what had happened. "Com
ID dear, comet" she cried. "It may not
,e as serious as Neddie thought. We
it go over and see.''
I'd She rose, gently lifting Stella's tea
in stained face, but Stella only dropp
as her head into the empty chair al
es went on weeping.
II can't go!" she sobbed. ''Oh, Nj
e. Hackett, you don't know-I've been