The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-04-25

TIE WAS bad because he smoked
cigars, said the Misses Tilley.
He was bad because he went in and
out at all hours of the night, said the
matrons. He was bad because he did
not go to church on Sunday morn
ings, but seemed to take childish
delight in playing with the hose noz-
zle and the pointer pups. He was
bad because he kept a bachelor es-
tablishment with no elderly and Sc
date females about, quoth the men,
bers of the family who lived opposite.
In truth, as he seemed to take no ac-
count of Eucalyptus street in any
manner whatever, he was very bad
indeed.
The only person who ever dared to
express contrary opinion was Miss
Eglantine Confey, who lived with a
very dilapidated father some five doors
below bad man Mr.. j. Fenton Barton,
Miss Eglantine's greatest folly in life
had been self-sacrifice. She had i'm
molated herself upon the altar of fam
lily respect, the remnant of which was
the delapidation before mentioned. 1t
may be said in passing that the old gen
tleman was one of the class known in
former days as "cupboard drinkers"
This secret form of tippling did not de-
tract from his position on Eucalyptus
street, or in business. But it made
him the most irritable and exacting of
parents. and Miss Byzantine, from her
eighteenth year to her thirty-ffth,
had danced like puppet on string
to his caprices. AS Miss Byzantine
had once been pretty, the inevitable
suitor appeared early and was sum-
marily dismissed. Her father at once
demanded of her what she thought
would become of him. AS Miss Egg
iantlne could not reply satisfactorily to
tnat question. the suitor was at once
sent to the right about. and, within
TWO years, he married another young
woman. He lived now on Bear street
and had several nice children whose lit
.ie faces always brought queer feel
Ing to Miss Eglantine's heart when she
saw them at church. After this un-
timely nipping of her early romance,
MISS Byzantine settled into gentle,
eolorless creature whose life was one
long and irritating sacrifice. There
1ore 1t was quite surprise when. at an
extra session of the Sewing Guild. held
Immediately opposite Mr.. J. Fenton
barton's residence, she took up cud-
gel in his behalf.
l don't see that he's done anything
50 terrible" she said. stoutly; "he does
as he pleases, that's all.'
Forty eyes scanned her in disap-
proval. One of the Misses Tilley said: ::
oh, Eglantine!" in a neat, shocked
way.
1 wish l could do as pleas went
on the quiet voice; 1T mus: be spIen-
did," " Sp'eA
but yo1 wouldn't smoke big cigars
ano stay away from church and be so
so hateful" asserted the ministers
wife, who really liked her.
Then Eglantine uttered the mutin.
Gus sentence which was never forgot
zen OF her in the light of subsequent
events.
! declare l don't know what would
90. Nobody does.''
II may be added that Mr.. Confey had
oeen more difficult than usual to please
.or q week, which fact may account for
this incipient rebellion.
when Miss Byzantine reached her
nome that evening the colored cook
veckoned her mysteriously into the
back regions.
don' know how to tell you, missy"
sas sas saio, but marster an July Ann
uone got mixed up erbout sompin' an
ue rev dat cat obah de fence inter de
aey An dem pintah pups OBJ Fen.
'on war obah dar an wat become
20 oat July Ann I DON know"
suaana'' sas cried, pitifu!ly, tos