The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-03-20

She viewed him lansuidly at first, o.

She viewed him languidly at first, a.
she might have viewed any other
comesticated creature assigned to do
her bidding. On the second day she
became aware that he was good to
look upon. Then she adroitly delved
in the depths of his unsophisticated
mind and found it's native keenness
and its alloy of innocence mine Of
strange gems she had never looked
upon. The task of breaking a heart
SO simple, so ingenious, so unsullied,
so limpid in it's virginia. simplicity,
seemed to her languorous pastime
quite in harmony with her intention
OF restfuiness. 1t would be neither
difficult nor too exciting, but it would
while the Minnetonkan hours. She
undertook it, armed with the softly
insidious wiles a deep experience had
begotten.
But it was not long before Marguer-
ite perceived the random fire of her
ambushed batteries was Intellectual to
disturb this unconscious opposing
force. Henry was studiously polite,
unquenchably good humored. No pet
ulance annoyed him, no la Dor fatigued.
Yet when his hand touched hers as he
steadied her step into a rocking boat,
or assisted her to the saddle, or helped
her through ferny bog seeking for
wood treasures, she could feel no
tremor, could see no mantling of hot
blood to his unmoved cheek. Initially
this pleased her. If the quarry were
shy, more sport and glory for the
hunter. The game promised rarer
interest than she had hoped.
The week Miss Carroll had marked
for her sojourn passed. She reen-
gagged her apartments, indefinitely.
Minnetonka had far more entrance
ments than she had known, she said.
She released her chaperon from at
tendance, and defantly went upon long
excursions with Lestrange alone.
They walked together in the woods,
rode in the dusk, rowed in the moon
light, now growing faint. He re-
mained unresponsive, not cold, but un-
conscious, unappreciative of his con-
quest. One night she cried herself to
sleep, she, Marguerite Carroll, who
had thrown over princes and disdained
ministers, and awoke to know that she
was hopelessly in love. Her bosom
ragged between a glowing scorn of her
own weakness and deep new-learned
tenderness for the man she loved. The
situation became cruelty uncomfortable.
She determined to end it, to crush
her pride with fierce fingers, to dare
all and by one master stroke to gain all.
1--WE are going away tomorrow, Mr..
Lestrange," she said, on the evening
this resolution had been formed. II
have a telegram from uncle which re-
calls US at once to Washington"
They were sitting alone upon the
veranda, whittier she had adroitly sum-
moned him. The young man had at
tended, as a matter of course. Mrs.
Beaumont and Cousin Julia were
watching the dancers in the broad
clearing of the dining-room. He start
ed sharply. Marguerite felt her heart
leap hopefully.
''The news is sudden, isn't it?" he
faltered.
"It is sudden, indeed" she answered,
inclining her gracious body to him un-
til her hair almost brushed his face,
and speaking softly in her voice OF
music, "and I am sorry. 1t has been
pleasant here, and all of us are loath
to go. But no one else will care, so
what does it matter?"
But I care" he cried, with deep
embarrassment. "Probably 1 should
have told you before, Miss Carroll. !
am in love-"
She smiled ineffably, and her voice
sounded like caress as she answered.
"Yet, to be in love is not a crime,
Henry. 1, at least, could forgive the
criminal. Confess, and be forgiven
! "Oh!" he murmured, rising, his face
aglow, "you really do not know, then?'
Her breath faltered, and she sat still
and silent.
II have already confessed, and have
been forgiven. l am going to marry
your cousin, Miss Henshaw!"