The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-08-02
DECEIvERS EVER
By awendolen overton.
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TT is all mistake to suppose that
good judgment and level head are
the outcome of experience. They are
born, not acquired. The man of the
world who has tried all things and held
fast that which is bad may go all to
uieees over some Henrietta, through
whose wiles the green boy from the
country district would see in an in
slant. The capitalist and the bank pres
ident fall victim to quite as many bunco
pames as the farmer and the cowboy.
And the same lack of rule holds good
In the world of women. The blushing
maiden from q French convent may be
cutie as able to take care of herself as
the young woman who has absorbed
modern fiction, seen men and manners
Of many sorts and been given her own
head in all things. 1t is natter of
common sense and intuition, and it all
depends upon the girl.
But Miss Porter's father did not see
that. He had theories to the contrary,
and he believed in letting a girl from
her earliest infancy see all she wanted
Of the world, that, having attained to
maturity, she might be able to judge
accurately for herself. 1t was COM
Portable theory, moreover, and saved
Judge Porter trouble. There were
those-certain neighbors and friends
OF little Miss Porter's deceased moth
er-who would not admit that it was
! theory at all. They said that Porter
neglected his only child and let her run
wild.
At the age of five little Miss Porter
was gourmet; smoked her cigarettes
with an air, and swore fiuently. But
at the age of 20 she was as innocent
IL not as ignorant-as the aforesaid
convent maiden is popularity supposed
to be.
It was at this period that she met
Calverley. He was English, and hand
some and agreeable. One of her not
] entirely unobjectionable girl friends
had presented him, and, after the Gus
tom Of America, and more especially
Of the west, nothing further was nee
essary. If Miss Porter thought about
It at all she thought it would have been
the height of folly and inhospitality tt
have asked further questions.
But by and by one of the aforesaid
friends of her mother decided, after
much prayer and fasting, that it wa
her obvious duty to warn Miss Porter
! since there was no one else to do it
She trembled at the necessity. Once
In the days of Miss Porter's tender in
fancy, some other good advice had beer
met with storm of bad language, a
the mere memory of which the goot
lady had shuddered and shriveled evel
since. But that had been long years
before. Miss Porter's language wa
moderate now, not only moderate bu
slightly British, as appeared when sh
received her mothers friend and le'
her to cozy corner and proceeded t.
brew tea.
The fve-o'clock tea habit had neve
been very strong with Miss Porter
Doubtless it was another result OF tn
influence of Calverley-who was jus
then in the library across the hall
smoking and reading and making him
self entirely at home.
i saw you at the theater the othe
eight,' began the elder woman.
YES" said Miss Porter.
Who was the man you were with ?
It was the scandal of Miss Porter
set-which was good one in spite Q
M-that she did without chaperon
epon most occasions. II daresay
was Mr.. Calverley," said Miss Porter
Ole knew it was, and so did the othel
Calyerley? Do I know him? Wha
2 the rest of his name?"
Miss Porter tried not to look prou
= sh- spoke the sonorous syllables an
emphasized the hyphen. ut was Gile
nartpole Clayton-Calverle,." she sal,
Oh!" said her mothers friend; ian
where is he from?"
he was from England, from Londol
Oil" she said again; "and who
hep
Miss Porter informed her that he VIZ
ven connected-splendidly connecte,
ene was little vague, but that was b.
sanse she could not keep all the nam.
g her tongues end.
how had she met him? It was becou
me decidedly cross-questioning, m
MS Porter raised her brows. The,
u = the same look in the baby blue ey,
esth them that had preceded 4