The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1901-09-06


they believed the letter was very In
J portant. as it was marked on the Ell
J velope PLEASE deliver Immediately.
And the plotter drew from mis- poci
. ct. with ostentatious care. a missiy
which he and Clifford had prepare
together. and which. with great inge
nuity, had been made to look as IL |
had passed through the post.
But Miss Bostal glanced at the lie,
ter and shook her head.
There is no one with my father.
she said. land / don't know any on
Of that name. But If you will com,
into the drawing-room I will asl
him"
"Oh, no. not for the world. W,
could not think of intruding. W,
must have made a mistake STAN
mered Otto. while Clifford hurriedly
passed out by the little wooden gate
into the road.
In the meantime. however, Colonel
Bostal, having heard the voices. had
come through the narrow passage
from the garden to learn the meaning
OF this unusual sound. The matter
was explained to him by his daughter,
amidst further apologies from Otto.
The colonel. a withered-looking. gray
faced man of about sixty-five. in q
threadbare and patched coat and a
battered Panama hat. remembered
the name at once.
Jordan? Jordan? Yes. of course,
know him." said he at cuce. "A
little fellow. with long mustache.
Yes, he often walks home with me as
far as the bridge. but there he always
turns back and excuses himself from
coming any farther"
Otto looked perplexed by this infor-
nation. but over Miss Bostars thin,
pinched face there came a little, pale
smile.
TRY the Blue Lion" she said. rather
primly.
Otto grew stiff.
MY friend is no frequenter OF tay-
erns." said be.
TRY the Blue Lion" said Miss Bos-
tai again.
Her father burst into a little. dry
laugh.
''The Blue Lon has a good many
frequenters who are not frequenters
of other taverns." said he. Nell Cla-
ris. the niece of the man who keeps 1t,
is a protege OF my daughters. and the
prettiest girl In the place"
A light broke over Otto's face. But
Miss Bostal looked grave.
Il shall have to speak to her very
seriously" said she. with a little
frown. "She encourages half the
young men of Stroan to waste their
time out here"
But the colonel smiled and shook his
head doubtfully.
ITS no use speaking to a pretty
girl" said he. with decision. "You
will only be told to mind your own
business And there's no harm in
Nell"
II know that retorted his daughter.
not spitefully. but with a spinster's |
stern solicitude. II shouldn't be SO
much interested In her IL 1 didn't |
know that she's good little thing.
But she's giddy and thoughtless. I |
shall really have to advise her uncle |
to send her back to school again"
"She won't 60" said the colonel.
And If she would. old Claris wouldn't |
part with her. We must rely on the |
effect Of your sermons. Theodore"
Father and daughter had carried on |
this dialogue without including the
visitor in the conversation. SO that
DITTO. who prided himself upon being
In acute observer. had an opportunity
,f peeping into the rooms on each side
VI the passage. as the doors were
open. without moving from where he
stood.
He was much struck by what he
'aw; by the carpets worn 80 thread
bare that there was no trace Of the
,attern to be seen on them; BY the
darned table-covers. the
furniture. All was neatly
;ept and spotlessIy clean; all showed
! pinched poverty which there was no
Ittempt to hide.
he Withdrew with more apologies
IS soon as the short discussion be-
ween father and daughter was ended.
nd rejoined his friend outside.
well" said Clifford. AZ Otto turned
oward Stroan In silence. land what
ept you 20 long talking to the severe
,oking ladyY
IL wasn't talking. was listening"
Otto. land working out In
" mind q romance. q pitiful romance.
{ the kind that IL not snowy enough
or people to care to herr about" |.
"What! Do you mean to say that
ordan's fallen In love with that ma ,
nre and lean spinstef" asked Cnf-
ord IN astonishment. |,
"Oh. dear. no. Hes fallen In love;
We found that out: but II b with the {
sual maid Of the inn-nobody half 20
lterestinG - Miss Bostal" /,
'Interesting- IL
sYea havo N kaoo that fho 1nau ,