The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-10-24

Blake had been working at a terrible
pace for months and he was even now
straln1ng every nerve to accom- plish
more than was expected of him.
through the feverish restless striving
from thoughts of himself. Work was
the panacea. What battered it if he
did lie awake night after night con-
scious of gradual loss of strength for
the days labor, if at the close of the
conflict for sleep he fell into COM
atose state, neither awake nor Sleep
ing, wherein delicious, restful Ian
guor predominated, granting him float
ing visions of the woman he loved.
Upon his brow he felt the gentle
touch of her cool fingers; he heard her
murmur words of pity and tenderness.
in low, sweet tones, and for few mo-
ments his soul seemed to leave the
body and float with hers, as did Fran
cesca and Paola, through space.
1t was worth the hard grind of the
wearlsome day to welcome night. the
old struggle and once more this de-
llcIous and dreamy languor. Surely
Paradise could confer no more ex-
qulsite sensation than was granted
him in this hour of the early dawn. As
the suns rays flashed through the
room and the discordant sounds of
early traffic broke rudely on this rev.
erie, he arose unrefreshed, depressed
in spirits, feverishly anxious to take
up the duties of the day.
With sigh of relief, Ned Blake,
managing editor, pushed the COPY
from him, arranged his desk, locked it
carefully, summoned boy and deliv-
cred certain instructions. He left the
room and in a few moments was on
the street where the lights danced and
fiickered like will O. the wisps under
the influence of raw. east wind
On the way to Chickering hall, Blake
encountered a crowd On inquiry he
learned of a collision between the ca BILE
and private carriage, and from that
description his heart knew that it was
Grace Ward who was injured. He
beckoned passing hanson and drove
to her home, regardless of all except
that he loved her more dearly than
ever.
AT last he saw her, pale and wan, but
was he dreaming?-a delicate blush
mantled her cheek as she held out her
hands to him.
"My darling-rhy darling! Thought
l had lost you!" he murmured, as he
fell on his knees at her side.
Fortunately, Lord Alfred was driving
near and he averted the most serious
consequences" she replied, nervously.
Lord Alfred! Grace, is he ever to
be near you?" the agitated lover ejac-
ulated. while the color flashed into his
pale face.
"Ned!"
That was all, but the tone of re-
proach cut him like a whip.
my darling girl, it is rumored
everywhere that you are engaged to
marry him, but could not believe it.
You would not sell yourself for title
and the paltry gold he controls?'' he
asked in bitter tone.
Ned! you are unjust to me now as
always. Lord Alfred has been very
kind, he is a connection of my family
and he is arranging to restore certain
estates to me that have been in liti-
cation for years. Indeed, Ned, I fear
you will be shocked to hear that / am
Lady Grace Ward instead Of Oh,
Ned! don't look so horror-stricken,"
she added, roguishly. at is small af-
fair, anyway. The title goes with the
estates.'
where are the estates, may ask?"
he freezingly inquired.
''In Fifeshire, Scotland, you know
my birthplace. You are not angry
with me because of this stroke of good
fortune, are you Nsd?" She looked
at him keenly as if 20 read his soul.
ooh, no, I congratulate you, but it
seems all dream. Naturally you will
90 abroad and look after your affairs.
In that case, you are free-in any case,
| may say, as have no desire to hold
you to-"
"Ned! Ned!" the girl interrupted
him. in beseeching tone, but his un-
reasonable overtaxed system refused
to recognize it.
81 am no fortune hunter, Grace, but
your opportunities are greater, and
you must marry befitting your sta
ton"
Ned Blake! / am ashamed of you
an American gentleman discussing
station and caste in this age and in
this country. That is as absurd as
your unreasonable jealousy over Lord
Alfred. He is not young-more like
A father to me, but you assumed that
was like most of the women, dazzled
by gold and splendor. There are some
exceptions, Ned Blake" retorted the
new thoroughly angered girl. "You
men credit us with intelligence, and at
The slightest deviation from the line
IF your Interpretation of us, from
your point of view-lo! we are not an
gelic, seraphic, but Individual. Dear
ne! Why are you all SO illogical? We
have been waiting for certain condi-
tions to prevail that we may marry.
Poverty was our bug-bear; you have
been half-killing yourself to swell
your bank account to respectable pro-