The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-12-04
A HARVEST OF
BITTERNESS da
BY CHARLES e. BRANCH.

0N that particular evening in July
] there was no happier mortal on
earth than Harold Penstone, unless,
indeed, it could have been Grace Ash
ford. They looked on the world
through lovers eyes and found it pass
ing fair, the sky, unflected with a sim
gle cloud, never bluer, and never be-
fore had the soft evening song of the
birds sounded sweeter in their ears.
Grace Ashford was graceful of form,
blue eyed and fair haired, with COM
plexion that was a blend of red and
cream of roses; girl with whom any
man might fall in love, as Harold Pen
stone had done from that moment,
five years before, she had come to re-
side under Mrs. Terrell's motherly
care.
Her mother had died when Grace
was yet baby, too young to hold any
recollection of the original of the
sweet-faced miniature she always
wore in locket round her neck; and,
until she was II, she lived under the
care OF nurse ana governess at home
with her father, who could never bear
to miss her from his sight.
Her seventeenth year was an event
ful one in her life, for it saw the pass
ing away almost simultaneously of
nurse and governess, and Immediately
afterwards her father went to South
America to look after business inter-
ests there.
80 1t came about that she went to
take up her residence with Mrs. Ter
reil, an old friend of the family, until
her father should return, and in the
natural order of things met Harold
Ienstone, to whom she lost her heart,
ior ne was true specimen of man
hooa, young and handsome, in whose
hahas the girl he loved might safely
trust her happiness.
ihey were not rich, the Penstones-
nor Tor that matter was Col Ashford Il
man OF great wealth-stil, Harold's
.oi'uhe was sufficient to justify him
~ asking Grace to become his wife, as
nc aau cone few months previously
anu sue had consented, subject to the
approval of her father, whose return
was monthly expected.
Ahe day our story opens he had ar
1'eu IN New York, and on the morrow
would be with his daughter. That he
"oaia put any obstacle in the way of
Aef marrying the man she loved she
as'ef ior a moment dreamed, for had
= ever refused her slightest wish?
!, mad been arranged between Grace
una Harold that he was to call and
I. piiaaiiy ask her fathers consent in
safly evening, and meanwhile she
snouia break the ice. But after her
.uer %. JOY at seeing her once more
al'ef ms loving words, it was a task
Is found harder than she had antiei-
pated. '''N . - wv
Ia am retiring, Grace the colonel
ner, and l hope there are many
ss@is OF happiness before us. You
49,. ho' continue buried away here
~ longer. You must see a little life
'ef all this time. I shall set up
.oase IN New York, with YOU for hos
VS. Marry again?' in reply to his
agh'ers $ question. Marry again!"
~ - ne laughed bitterly. No, | buried
!. neart when l buried your mother
s seaf. ! have lived, shall live, only for
mus Harold found the path quite
prepared when he called.
~ any case it would have been wiser
~ nave waited awhile ere approaching
~ 'ather who had so recently found
rp'ness IN returning to his daugh-
i ~ nut who in love ever understood
= 8 VISION of patience?
uafoid found Grace with her father
nlsa he was shown into the DRAWN.
son@ and looked somewhat sheepish
a me colonel asked to what he
q 'lafoted for the visit.