The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-07-25

lsHE was crossing the avenue
a near Twenty-third street Felix
Singleton, the poet, saw a tiny,
frightened dog lodging between the
carriages. The poor little creature
was so terrified and so evidently un-
used to being out alone that Felix
was afraid she would be killed. So
he picked her up in his arms.
She was a beautiful lap-dog and
her shining coat spoke of loving care,
as did the blanket she wore, which
was marked with a handsome mono
gram, in gold. AS soon as the dog
felt herself in a safe asylum she began
to lick the hands of her benefactor and
to look at him with gratitude. They
were already friends when, having
climbed six flights of stairs, the poet
deposited the waif in the sorry gar
ret that served him as temporary lodg-
ing.
Singleton was 25 years old and was
beginning to be recognized as a man
Of talent, but talent is a merchandise
not always negotiable. Fortune had
not vet discovered the road to his man
sard, road that, to do her justice, was
hard travelling for person who is al
ways represented with eyes shut.
While he waited for the blind goddess
to knock at his sixth story floor, Felix
lived from hand to mouth. 1t would be
all right, he often told himself, if his
great book redemption" was once on
the market, but the callous publisher,
while not denying its beauties, doubt
ed its popularity, and refused to pub
lishitwithout guarantee of 5000. Felix
could have effected a peace between
Britain and Boer as readily as to have
produced the money; thus were the
wheels of progress blocked by want of
paltry 5000!
When he and the dog reached home
Felix lighted candle which was stuck
in the neck of bottle, and, brushing
the loose papers-which were parts OF
his yet unrecognized masterpiece
from the table, he proceeded to set
forth his meager repast. He shared
his dinner and his bed with the dog
and, in the morning, they divided
equally the milk that formed his
breakfast. Singleton was sure that
the dog was a valuable one. So he
went down and bought a morning pa
per to see if she was advertised. He
turned to the Lost and Found column
and this is what he read:
TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS RE
ward!!'-For the return of a lap-dog, an
swering to the name of Mira lost yester
cay near Twenty-third street."
he called: "Mirza! Mirza!"
The dog barked ioyfully and RAJ
toward the door.
All, hal" laughed Singleton. "Nov
| Know your social position and you
name, my friend. Two hundred dol
iars reward! To think of giving 500
Tor such very little dog! Som
one must love you very much. Tw,
hundred dollars! What godsend TO
some poor devil-like myself" h
dooed as an afterthought.
he rested his head on his hands an,
'rled to think. Two hundred dollar
was Just the sum he needed to publisl
ms book. Redemption" once out. hi
pay would be accepted, his success as
sured! Why not take this money?
was simply question of his ow
"retched pride. 1t was honest money
VI ne said to himself. if he did no
hke the idea of keeping the none,
~nat was to prevent him from consiG
eiing 1t as loan sent by the Goodies
OF Cnance? A loan that he could RI
turn, once the current of success
turned toward him. The temptatio
was too strong! Redemption" shoul
be published.
inls decision made, he felt that b
uao crossed the Rubicon; it only r,
NAMED for him to think of the leas
mortlfylng way for him to claim th
reward. Suddenly he smiled. "T1
very thing!" he cried, patting Mira O
ene head. He ran down the six flight
VI stairs and soon returned with tt
ompiete costume of a house painte
"nich he had borrowed from the sc
et his landlady. He dressed himse
.ne white trousers and the pain
.eslned blouse, took Mira in his arm
sno went to the address given in Il
advertisement.
As was shown into drawsng-roo,