The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-02-13

FeAeu My stcrIouSIy OF Inside opera.
tons" and once had confided to Medo.
ra's papa, who was an unsuspectinp
gentleman given over to the purchase
OF butter at 1871 cents and it's sale at
20 cents, that il the latter chose to ego
in" he (Hastings) could "place him
right" But the elder Folsom didn't
care to "go in" which was just as well.
for Hastings was only clerk in buck.
ct shop and couldn't have placed"
dollar right" to save his life. In
truth, the purchase and sale account
OF his own daily dabblings in thousand.
bushel lots of grain and the ten-share
transactions in blackboard "stocks"
was woeful thing to see, and kept him
on the ragged edge of penury.
But guess he was engaged 20 marry
Medora all right enough. Girls are SO
queer. l.
When the week Of the horse show
came, Medora wanted to go. This was
not only natural, but quite reason
able. When a girl trims her own hats
| and has to be economical in buying
new gowns, the horse show becomes
great school Of technical educatio
| There is SO much more in congregated
| life to'see, you know, than horses.
Now John, good John, when he
learned of this natural, reasonable as
piration of~Medora, promptly offered
to take not only that young lady, but
her mother, too. This overture Medora
declined with frigid thanks. Mr.. Hast
| ings (of the board of trade) could take
her, she said. But Mr.. Hastings didn't.
lie was particularly close to shore that
week.
''Medora, DEAR" said this artful one,
"we will save our pennies to furnish
our own little nest, darling. Horse
shows cost money"
"Well, there is the chrysanthemum
show" pouted Medora, "and to-day the
roses are on view. That's CHEAP
enough, if one goes in street car"
| Lets go to the flower show in Lin~
| coin park, dearest" said Aylmer.
Every little we save now will help US
good deal later on"
Therefore Medora dearest went with
Aylmer to see the flowers in Lincoln
park.
The flowers were really superb.
The day was fair. In the intoxication
of sun and perfume and youth Medora
grew radiant. She began almost to
believe she loved Aylmer and as his
wife would be happy.
They strolled out of the conserva-
tories into the bright November air
and soon, without purpose, found
themselves part of the great crowd
which had turned its eager steps into
the animal house, where the monkeys,
the elephants and the reptilia have q
summer house. Head Keeper CJ De
Vry was experimenting the removal
of his pet serpents to winter quar-.
ters. A Gordon of policemen kept the
crowding spectators at safe dis
tance. The keeper used long stick
with running moose on it's end to
snare the snakes. Then he thrus!
them into padded barrel, covered il
with burlap sack, and attendants
rolled it away.
All were disposed of but Satan, the
huge diamond-back rattlesnake. He
seemed apathetic in the chilly air
The keeper noosed and lifted. The
great snake withered viciously. The1
the moose slipped and he fell upon the
floor. In an instant the huge creature
was in coil, his 1nenacing warning
sounded in sharp rattle, and h
darted his deadly fangs at the keeper
There was wild panic. Policemen
and crowd alike fed for the doors
n They were closed. Against then
burst this furious, impetuous, unrea
soning crush of men and women il
fear The weak were trampled. Th'
strong struck vicious blows at thos'
,, who opposed their fight.
At the first burst of alarm Medora
who had stood quite near the keeper
grew deadly pale. Then, as she re
membered that she was leaning upol
, her Aylmer's protecting arm, he
heart gave an exultant leap of prid
and confidence. His strength wa
!, hers. He would save her, if he could
If not-well, they could die together
, But as the girl looked up into he
lovers face she saw it had grow
, ashen. His lips were aquiver. Sh
|, felt the shaking of the arm her finger
touched. Hepushed her roughly away
then with dismayed cry of cravel
fear turned and fled. Medora stoo
$ quite still. Her voice had left her now
: but a great wave of shame for him, o
p contempt for herself that she ha
f loved thing SO craven, swept her be
] ing.
al A shouting cry which called he
name from some far-off rock of safet
awoke her to herself. She looked. .
man, leaping through the now opene
doors, whence the struggling hi ma
! wedge had burst at last. came wit
huge bounds toward the center of tina
: | strange arena where Keeper De Vr
0 was battling desperately with the il
r furiated snake, whose touch wa
! death, where the deserted girl stoo
e SO strangely iranced. A great ligh
q iov horn of love divine, Snone in M