The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-04-03

the sea that broke like the occasional
swish of branches into water. He must
have been sitting there for a quarter
of an hour when he heard the sound of
footsteps on the grass coming in his
| direction. In a moment the Boston
youth appeared from the other side
OF the hedge and, seeing him, nodded.
"Cool," he said, casually, "cool after
that room inside"
You exert yourself too much,' said
Marsden. 'If tried to dance as much
as you do 1 should be apt to take life
seriously"
depends who you're dancing with"
said the boy.
"Decidedly; but does one ever find
the proper partner until the dance is
over?"
The youth smiled with abundant ex-
perience. "Not if you use discretion" )"
he said. "That widow-Mrs. Marsden
her name isl spotted her the first
moment that I came down here. II
you knew much about women you'd
know the type at once"
The youth took cigarette out of
his case. "They want knowing" he
said, vaguely, as he struck a match.
"She's probably been married to some
old bounder who tied her up into a
knot and paid her to stay there. Then
he became convenient and died"
"You meet hundreds of that sort
of women at the seaside" the youth
went on. "She's probably no better
than the rest of them. but she's de-
cidedly little 'cuter!'"
What do you mean by no better?'
"Oh, of course, don't mean to say
anything against her, but you know
what 1 mean. She can see both ends
of the stick.
Marsden got up from his seat and
looked down on the boy.
"Look here" he said, quite calmly,
'it's little atoms/l like yourself that
dirty the world with words, but
haven't the courage to soil it with ac-
tions. Now take little bit of advice
from me, since you're too young to
give anything else to; take my advice
and wait until you're man before you
say anything about it. Now run along
in and dance"-his voice changed
"and choose the sort of woman you
are accustomed to when you want to
ruin another woman's character"
Marsden left him, then his only
thought was to find his wife; the boy
had gone out of his consideration
Turning around the corner of the
laurel bush he saw her figure retreat.
ing across the grass toward the house
There was a sudden hastiness about
every step that she took that stung
his instinct. She had heard their con.
versation. There was seat the 9th
er side of the bushes where they had
been sitting. He repeated the thought
over to himself-she had heard their
conversation.
He ran, catching her at the open
French window that led into the house
"Busy?' he said behind her.
She turned with a start. "I've been
resting out in the garden" she said
"Were you there as well?"
81 saw you," he replied.
"You couldn't have done!" she ex.
claimed.
"Because | was at the other side OF
the laurel bushes," he said, smiling.
"Then it was you?" she asked
fortunately" he replied. "Come
back again and have another rest" be
added.
She turned silently and walked back
with him and they sat down on the
seat facing the house.
"Now what have you got to say?'
she said.
"Only this-did you hear any conver.
sation when you were on the othe,
side of the bushes?"
II couldn't help it."
"Of course not. But, you see, don't
you, there's nothing between WON
ans husband and the world?"
81 can stand it," she said, little
proudly. Then after a silence she said:
"When are you going to leave here and
what are you going to do then?"
The words called his arms around
her in strange fierceness of compass
sion.
'Silly little girl" he said, gently
"Silly little girl, you feel lonely, don't
you?"
Her eyes were alight with tears
when she looked up at him.
"Do I?' she said.
"Now," he replied, "just now-but
not any more-not any more" Chi
cago Chronicle.
A Spinster from Choice.