The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-05-16

Qull acne. sometimes. AnQ Sne smiles
oddly as she drops the dead flowers be-
hind her and pulls the frosty lace
little higher where one thorn has
marred the skin.
Il missed you last night. You did
not 60 to hear Calve.'
A tall man with dark, strong face
was bending over her. The face was
too grim to be handsome. 1t was heav-
lily lined and the eyes were deep-set.
keen, reticent.
Another engagement. And it was
Carmen? l was so sorry
Smiling, she gives him her hand .
moment and lifts her eyes to his.
you are late,'' she adds, pleasantly
'Unavoidably-as l need not tell
you. But was philosophical over the
delay, as l thought if l came late you
might permit me to stay awhile. Att
er the crush. don't you know"
He smiles with whimsical entreaty,
and she mods assent as she passes him
on to Mrs. Weston and turns to the
guests that follow. Mrs. Weston gives
him both small hands with frank gen.
erosity, and with a strategic movement
brings him into position slightly be-
hind her own plump shoulder and un-
der big palm tree that shadows them
both.
"You stay there. l want to tell you
story.-Dear Mrs. Fitz Haven! So
delighted! Yes, looks charming, does
she not?-There was once a man and
woman who loved each other. They
had average sense in most things, but
he was jealous and she was proud
Mrs. Northrop and dear Lillian! So
afraid you were not coming. Yes, aw-
fully warm.-She had some good looks
and some old beaux. Why not? Did
he think nobody could appreciate her
till he met her? And after he had
deigned to tell her that he looked upon
her with favor, one of the old beaux,
who had hoped to win her for long
| time, met her in the conservatory at
ball. They always do meet in conserva-
tories in stories.-What a sweet gown.
Mrs. Talcott. Imported, of course!
You lucky woman!-Old cat. She owes
my modiste an awful bill. Where was
1? Oh, and he, the man, saw the old
beau crush her in his arms and kiss
her. She couldn't help it, and besides.
she felt sorry for him, for she had just
told him a final no and he was all cut
up.-Mr. Hasbrouck, the pink gown
that you are straining your eyes to find
in this Kaleidoscope is in the tea-room
Don't mention it!-Well, and he, Of
course, would not ask for an eXplana-
| ton or anything, and courteously re-
| leased her. Oh, well, she released him,
| if YOU think it sounds better. Same
| thing. But a woman who is not dense
can feel that something is wrong and
does not need wall to-er-does not
have to be told some things.-Where's S
that big husband of yours, Marion?
I'll pick you up tomorrow and We'll
drive to the club together. l want to
talk over that nomination. It's all
| wrong, you know. Club'll go to pieces
under that woman! All right, dear.
At three.-And he found that his jeal-
| ousy was poor substitute for the
| woman who was the one woman in the
world for him, and she smiled proudly
and bravely like gentlewoman, and
| ate her heart out in secret. Keep
quiet! It's my story. And then some
| body, who had no patience with the
two of them, but who felt sorry and
was soft enough to interfere, because
things got mixed in her own life once
and were not cleared till it was too
late-she put her oar in and tried to
prevent another shipwreck.-Yes,M Mrs.
Trevelyan is here, Mr.. Trevelyan. No,
I missed Saturdays game. My new
golf suit was not finished. And it's so
cold and | look fright when I'm cold.
OF course, you enthusiasts will play all
winter, l suppose!-Thank the pow
ers, they've nearly all gone. This con-
versational strain on my intellect is
awful. Society talk is harder than
Ibsen and Tolstoi. Get Kate glass of
wine. The Huntleigh girls and Maud
| Norris want to talk art class with me
in the tea-room. That means half an
hour. at least"
Mrs. Stanard turned to the tall
man bending over her. with the smile
faint on her lips and the eyes strained
and weary.
"Yes, I am tired she said. mo,
do not want anything, only to rest a
moment. The heat has made me dizzy
Where is Betty?"
"Betty is in the tea-room," he said
"She is talking cooking-school, or medi
eval art, or something of equally vita
| Importance with Miss Norris and the
Misses Huntleigh. Betty told me a
story about a conservatory this even
ing. Will you let me take you there
now? | want to tell it to you. 1t i:
quite interesting. You look very tired
Comet"
In the conservatory he placed her il
a long, low chair. and she sank bacl
with long sigh of relief. The man a
her side leaned forward with his ell
bows on his knees. Slowly closing ant
opening her little empire fan, and il
a steady voice, he told her Mrs. Wes
toms story.
Then he turned and looked at he