The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-12-13
yond mere friendship? If so, you are
the most heartless-" I drew myself

yond mere friendship? If so, you are
the most heartless-" drew myself
up stif1y.
Really" said, frigidly, "you carry
the way too far, Mr.. Chalmers. There
is a point at which it becomes an in,
suit"
Insult" He stood up and lowered
over me. 'Insult! That I love you.
That I-oh, am fool to tell you!'
"Foolishness," said, meaningly, sis
pardonable. Some things are not. De-
ceit is one of them" He looked down
at me for a moment. Then he smiled
q wintry smile.
Deceit" he agreed, sis one of them.
do not think shall ever be deceived
by woman again"
He looked SO angry that it seemed
to me that perhaps, after all, he had
really fallen in love with me little.
1t was wrong, wicked, inexcusable; but
was glad. glad, glad! Unjust find out,
I resolved.
Tell me honestly" demanded, "if
you can drop pretense for once"
'You have no right to speak to me
like that" he interrupted, furiously.
"Have I not? Have you not known
perfectly well, all along, that you would
never, never be anything more to me
than friend?"
''I think" he said, "that you are
the" He stopped abruptly. Il don't
like to say hard things to woman .
he stated, after an interval. Then we
were silent.
There was a sudden burst of con.
versation when the game came to an
end
'sThey will be making up another
set" said. won't you join them?"
He took quick step to the opening
of the tent. Then he turned.
"For Gods sake, Eve," he implored.
"tell me that it isn't your real self that
is speaking this evening. If you knew
how much I cared for you, if you un-
derstood-"
II understand" said, quietly.
Haven't you down in the bottom OF
your heart just one little bit of love
for me? When 1 love you so much-my
dear?"
l tried to say "No," but I couldn't.
I clenched my hands fiercely and bit
my lips to keep from crying out aloud.
Oh, he should never, never know! Aft.
er a few seconds, that seemed an age,
the others came to the tent.
"Ah, Miss Eve" said the colonel, 81
knew that you were hiding here, but
wouldn't disturb you. Let me intro
duce another Mr.. Robert Chalmers, the
cousin of our big friend here 1 ross
mechanically. "He is coming to settle
down here with his wife and-Why,
what is the matter, my dear?"
"I-I-feel faint" I said, feebly. ]
dropped back in a chair, and everything
grew misty. Some one ran for water
1 think, and the two Robert Chalmer.
lifted me, chair and all, into the ope1
air.
I soon recovered. Then they lifted
me back again into the tent, out OF
the cooling breeze. They insisted upor
carrying me, though knew I could
have walked. Then began laughing
and talking, and they went off one by
one, till only Bob-my Bob-was left
He sat down on a chair some distance
from me, and looked out through the
opening and didn't speak.
I thought of several things to say
but they didn't seem the right ones
So waited few minutes for him tt
begin, but he didn't. He looked 81
hurt that felt I couldn't wait any
longer.
ut is awkward" I remarked, feeb
ly, "that you and your cousin have tn,
same name."
ut is not unusual with cousins" b,
answered, indifferently.
''No-o, but" I looked at him I'D
pealingly.
81 don't see why it matters"
people might mistake one for tn,
| other"
Eyes. Do you mean-has anyone
"No-o. At least-Do you know YOU
cousins wife?"
"Of course! One OF the jolliest lit
tie women in the world. He is devoted
to her.
people might think that 70,
were"
| "Eve!'
| "Were married, / mean"
| He stared at me for moment, the1
he jumped up. = = 1t was goot
thing that I was sitting right at tn,
side of the tent.
When he had spoiled my hat an,
crushed my blouse he demanded an ex
PLANTATION. So explained. Iexpecte,
! that he would be dreadfully cross, bu
he wasn't. He just put his arm aroun,
me and
AS said, he has good way with
me.-Madame.
] Ill-Fated Friday.
The ill-repute of Friday as an un