The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-05-10

sNNHALL invite her?
Stella Reeves paused, with pen
poiaed in the air.
Can / help you, Stellar" asked Mrs.
reeyes, from the depths Of her easy
eAsir BY the fire.
i was thinking, mother" responded
stell,. awhether I should invite Myra
garland to spend week here. You
tnow that Patty Harper, Nellie Camp
IN and Jennie Stagg are coming"
4Why not invite Myra?" asked Mrs.
Reeves, eyeing her daughter curiously.
aWell. / don't know" said Stella,
alowly. "She is ever SO nice a girl, but
shes queer"
slow queer?"
.very quiet, and not at all like other
xirls. Sometimes / like her. and some
tines do not, and that is the way
With ell the girls. She is not good COM
pany, I am afraid, and yet I want to
invite her for that very reason. She
never goes home except during the
ssnnier, and it is SO dreary in the acad-
eny during Christmas and Easter hol-
iiays. But l dare say she will not
esme, anyhow
Invite her, Stella" said Mrs. Reeves,
quietly. And Stella did.
II was night when Myra came, the
train being late, and Mrs. Reeves did
not see her until they all sat at the
breakfast table next morning.
All the girls were there, and at first
Nm. Reeves mentally decided that
Nyra was only homely girl with
brown hair and hazel eyes, and much
Ike other girls, but before the meal
was ended she found herself watching
the girl with increasing curiosity. She
sas queer, in her reversed, almost mo-
rose. manner, in her habitual silence
md her grave, sweet smile.
she is queer" said Mrs. Reeves to
AerseH, sbut like her."
Before the day was ont she liked
Ayra more than ever. When the Other
girh went out for walk, Myra stayed
! indoors, fed the canary, busted the
btic-arbrac, and shook up the sofa and
chair pillows, and did several Other
little tasks which Stella generally for
sot.
Hike to work. said Myra, with he1
grave smile, ''and it is fortunate thai
do
Mrs. Reeves could not refrain from
esking why, with her eyes.
Because" continued Myra, 81 must
hase no father or mother, ant
auntie has only small income. Whel
! leave the academy next June 1 mus
make my own living. can draw, paint
pay the piano and violin, and speal
lnfee languages besides my own, ant
ought to be able to support my
aelf.s
should think sol" exclaimed Mrs
1eeses.
And then she looked once more il
smazement at the 17-year-cld girl, s.
esl-reliant and accomplished, and We
e quiet and queer.
within three days Myra was firml
sssaolished in the Reeves household
- was so handy and so helpful an
= eood natured, everybody said, tina
oseiis and the girls actually held eau
B ses % discover why they had calle
queer, and failed to find a cause.
IN the evening of the third day Al
.aur Reeves came home on leave frol
- naval school, where he was cade
stanr was only IS, but such biz
y fellow. especially in his cap
efcoat. that you would have take
am for IS at least-at a distance.
tou shall be our cavalier, Arthur,
e Stella, land I promise you sha
ave your hands FULL"
Az right" asserted Arthur, car,
Bring on your girls; you can
tssaten sailor"
Aaen began round of gayety sue
1aariy took away the girls breatl
:. Maue trlps to the old mill an
- aosndoned powder magazine, the
hunting and skating, and Arth,
sne guiding spirit in all the
ra revived her reputation Il
~ fness in these expeditions.
y the great hoop-block!" cri.
nar, with undisguised admiratio
80 a.s mother, as he was eating la
iest. Il call her a jolly girl, al
8 3 histake.'
sont roar so, Arthur" said Nj
with smile. "Jolly, did "
mats what l said. Why, moths
- outwalk me and climb . 4