The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-04-12
BENTON, LOUISIANA, THURSDAY, APRIL r.

"Ah. les jeunes files sighed Mrs.
d'Aubert. VERY well, cherie. we will
speak of it later
Her aunt was placidly unmoyed as
Horton sprans out and came forward
to help them alight. Mrs. d'Aubert
looked with fond approval at the rath-
er melancholy. dark, refined face of
her nephew and thought with a sigh
what handsome and attractive man
he was. She was almost put out as she
leaned on his shoulder in getting out.
when I'm auntie's age" Aurore
said with slightly embarrassed laugh.
refusing the help of his outstretched
hands and jumping on the marble steps
of the porch, where Mrs. d'Aubert
stood
I'll be over about eight Horton
said, rather shortly, as he turned,
swung himself in his trap, took the
lines and drove off.
''Tu mes pas gentille," Mrs. dAubert
said. with gentle reproach, as they
went in the wide hall.
And Aurore asked herself while go
ing up the broad winding stairway
why it was that she could not greet her
cousin, her old playmate of those sweet
early years, Of whom she had always
been so fond with even ordinary cor
diality. but iEstinctiveIy repelled and
repulsed him. Why she dreaded every
approach to that one thought which
she SO well knew was dominant in his
| mind. and why she felt SO miserable, so
utterly wretched. when he looked at
her with that appealing air of devotion
she knew so well.
The March evening was warm and
pleasant, and Aurorc slipped into a
lighter gown before going down to
supper, only partly conscious of how
| its clinging transparency frightened
the brilliance of her beauty.
where's Bert?'' queried her uncle,
looking at her admiringly as they sat
| in their handsome dining-room while
Aurore deftly handled a silver tea
service centuries old, family tradition
declared.
This was always pleasant time of
the day, and her uncle loved to linger
and chat before adjourning to the IL
brary to read his voluminous evening
mail.
go back TO visit Mayence. and Co.
| logne. and Coblentz, and their wonder
full art treasures and those queer at
tractivc German villages? Spend a
month at the Spa? Then to Berlin?
"a very pleasing plan. Why not ex-
ecute it?"
Aurore and her uncle sat and planned
while Mrs. d'Aubert had gone off and
left them and was ensconced by the
reading lamp with a late magazine
And Aurore was eager and radiant, not
at the anticipated pleasure of tour
abroad, as her uncle thought, but in
the hope of pcstponing that fateful flu
ture which loomed up SO immutably
That future, planned by her father
approved by all, urged so persistently
by her dear and loving old aunt, an6
pleaded for by Robert Horton. with the
silent, but passionate, entreaty of eyes
that never left her. and by a thousand
acts of ceaseless devotion, from which
her heart turned with a horrible in
gratitude, Aurore thought miserably.
'.Ah, but. little one, your aunt and
are too old for such junketings." hel
uncle resumed, with shake of the
head. 'You must listen to good advice
and let Robert be your guide and com
panion. We will join you in the fall il
London or Paris. and settle down tt
IA pleasant winter of enioyment-sucf
| winter as your youth and beauty de
serves"
4 With loving gesture he went to
| ward the library in search of his mail
and Aurore, with sigh. passed out o,
the porch.
/ Aurore sat on the marble steps ant
looked out over the moonlit garden, ant
determined tc have it out once TO-
4 all with her innermost thoughts, and Il
come to distinct understanding OF al
those chaotic, troublous feelings which
had so insidiously taken possession o
her.
She determined to call up that he
reditary pride. that sense OF honor ant
obligation which would surely poin
out to her the right course.
The scene was one of salm and seren
beauty.
s With jneffable and untranslatabl
charm long shafts of moonlight fel
over the green carpet of the lawn. tn
patches of flowers around the dark re.
and pale white roses, the long stretcl
of the avenue. and accentnated tn
distant view Gs the winding road AM
the rim of the forest against the sky
The faint chimes of the viflag
church bell came on the still. odorou
air. some fireflies went fitting through
the towering shrubs, and a profoun'
melancholy took possession of Auror
]. "a yearning she could not define
while reason asserted itself with col
; insistence.
: .You do not even know him. Yo1
saw him for one short half hour. tina
memorable night when wind ard storr
were abroad; that winter night, who's
~,roroI tho frni1 fhrnad Of a If