The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-09-19
/ THE BLACK CATS
! D 3 WARNING 3 3
BY Spencer Boyd.
BY Spencer Boyd.
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Copyright. 1901, by Authors Syndicate.)

4 MAN and woman stood upon
n the broad piazza apparently in
the act of parting. A cat, black as
midnight, perched upon the girls
shoulder and formed pleasing con-
trast to her white dress, and set off
to advantage her blond loveliness.
Flora, in defense of her pet, was
wont to declare that it possessed a
soul that had once inhabited the
body of one Of the Magi, or even that
of Zoroaster himself. For, said she,
"he literally worships fire, adores
all the sunny places, and his powers
of divination are wonderful"
Mr.. Lyndon did not share her ad-
miration of the animal-it seemed to
regard him with a peculiar malevo-
lence.
Just before leaving, she asked his
assistance in closing number of
windows, which had been left open
on account of the warm evening.
The situation of the house was
somewhat remote, sheltered from the
street by extensive grounds and inter-
cepting shrubbery, and to one un-
familiar with the place, might have
appeared lonely.
This tendency was ordinarily re-
stricted through reason of the i'm
mediate family consisting of some
five or six persons, but for various
reasons, as Flora explained, almost
every member had been called away
from the city, and now there was
only her brother at home, though her
father was expected on train that
arrived about midnight.
Mr.. Lyndon listened to this expla-
nation with great apparent interest.
1t was surprising, indeed, with what
gravity and attention he hung upon
her words, or, rather, it was natural
and flattering. Not the least pleas
ing element in his consideration was
that his regard seemed more deeply
enlisted as the evening wore to close
"a striking tribute to the girls fasci-
nations.
He performed the task of closing
the windows with great care, which
may have accounted for the time it
occupied, or perhaps he was de-
liberate rather than careful, so as to
extend his visit and engage to the
furthest limit a social intercourse so
charming.
Indeed it must have been the latter
reason, for one of the windows was
left unfastened, though the negli-
gence was not apparently detected.
1t was now near II o'clock, and all
having been arranged, Mr.. Lyndon
took his departure.
Flora passed into the house, and as
She did so, a certain uneasiness pos
sessed her-an occult prophecy of evil
which she vainiy tried to Danish
AS is usual with these impressions
the cause was direct. and, in this
case, even immediate; but failing
10 appreciate the logic of the s-tua-
ton the girl elt tormented and
mystified. She proceeded to her
room more agitated than she would
admit. and especially oppressed by
The ghostly silence of the spacious
house.
A bat careered through the hall
creating intense alarm with its 81.
lent ghostlike rushes.
The silence and the sound were
equally terrifying and intollerable
she determined to knock on he1
orother's door, that, even though rid
lenled, her fears might be allayed
lhere was no light within, but she
persisted in her summons, first with
timid appeal, then with peremptory
vehemence.
NO answer was elected and finally
she opened the door. The bed was
unoccupied, and the girl realized that
she was alone in the house.
nhe proceeded with Difference tt
! unknown conditions and softly opened
The door to her own room. as though
rearing to intrude. To her relief there
was no one within.
Sne then very cautiously deposited
upon the bureau a package, the con
tents OF which had quite recently oc
cupied Mr.. Lyndon's attention as wei
as her own.
She felt now that she had been ,
httie lndiscreet, for Mr.. Lyndon wa.
comparative stranger, yet the de
sire for display had overcome he,
seruples and her Judgment, and sh,
'eis' with some regret, that she hat