The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-11-28

yonder. L suppose some young naval
sprig out for a lark, curse him.
Father" exclaimed the young girl,
angrily.
Il mean what l say" rejoined the
other. II hate the whole service be-
cause of that impudent iackanapes
with whom you have been fancying
yourself in love. But that's all over
now, thank Heaven, and 1 suppose I
ought to laugh at him instead. What
have you to say, Miquel?" he con-
cluded, giving the Spaniard playful
poke with his cane.
"Oh, oh! What is it, senor?" re-
piled Miguel, coming back to realty
with a start.
II say we will laugh at a certain
person after vespers," answered Mr..
Magnall, testify.
The don's reply was a scowl, and a
gesture indicative of a desire to ex-
terminate somebody. Then bending
towards the young lady he raised her
hand to his lips. He did not see her
look of aversion; he would not have
cared if he had. 1t was enough for
him that he was about to marry
great Eeiress, and so be able to pay
off his numerous debts; what the
heiress thought or felt about it was
of supreme Indifference to him.
AS the three moved away tourists
guide stepped out from an embrasure
and walked leisurely down the stair
way.
'If only my plan doesn't fall" he
said to himself. He wrote something
in memorandum book in his hand,
then went into the corridor below
and waited. The three came down
presently, the gentleman in genial
mood, the girl pale and silent. The
guide nimbly opened a door on the
right, and before the two gentlemen
knew what had happened, they found
themselves in a small room with a
table in the center covered with
maps, guide books and illustrated
views of the city. An obsequious
salesman took them in hand, while
the guide, saying: Il will find seat
for the young lady outside" slipped
back into the corridor, and drew the
door to behind him.
Marian Maynall, divining that some
thing unusual was on the tapis, was
standing flushed and trembling when
the audacious guide put the paper in
her hand on which he had written:
Lieut.. Westville waits for you at
the foot of the eastern glacis. Lose
no time"
And Marian Maynall lost no time.
She flew out of the dark portal with
swift step. A young man in naval
uniform met her halfway, and clasp
ing hands, they ran together, down
the slope to the boat. They were in
it in trice, but had not gone many
lengths from the wall when a couple
Of gentlemen bounced out upon the
!esplanade waving their hands and
shouting like mad. The lettering
crowd took in the situation at once,
and cheered the runaways, while
only ironical laughter met Mr.. May
nall and the don.
Something must be done however
Don Miguel set off below the fott,
where he could hire a boat, and Mr.
!
ice, hurried after; the crowd stream
ing down the road to see the fun.
1t was a fine sight which now
greeted the throngs on the pier.
Each boats crew did it's best. Each
party had its partisans who cheered
as this or that one seemed about
to win. But it was an anxious time
10
til his boat reached the vessels side,
and its occupants were transferred
to the deck above. The situation was
intensified when, a moment later, a
group appeared on the forward deck,
and it became apparent that a mar
riage ceremony was taking place
there.
By this time Don Miguel and Mr..
Maynan had almost reached the
goal. The former was Illuminating
vengeance if the proceedings were
not instantly stopped; the latter
calling on his daughter to come
down to him on pain of his everlast-
ing displeasure. And in the face of
it all, the spectators assisting from
the pier saw the ceremony going on
in as orderly fashion as if it were
being conducted in the cathedral on
the plaza, instead of on the deck of
gunboat, with Uncle Sans marines
as sponsors of the affair.
There was a general clapping of
hands, and loud cries of ''bravo."
along the pier as the ceremony end
ed, and the principals in it steppe1
back out of sight.
\ warning about ''stand off down
there." from the deck arrested the
Bon and Mr.. Maynall in the frantic
endeavors to board the vessel, which
had already begun to move. And the
Don's crew pulled away with all
their might, and soon a wide lane of
blue water lay between them and the
retreating vessel.
In his rage and agony Mr.. Maynall
groaned aloud. The don gazed after
the gunboat with a-look, which, if it
could have been properly focused,