The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-11-19
BENTON LOUISIANA, Thu RSDAY, NOVEMBER
believed In doing as she pleased-and
generally she did it.

low than when he had first tome into
her ken. She knew that she loved him,
and in some subtle way it was conveyed
to her that he must love her; yet all her
arts were in vain. They had walked the
beach; they had plunged into the surf
together; they had sat on the piazza for
hours. And after each one of these tete-
a-tetes funston found himself alone,
discomforted, uncertain.
Hang it, old chap" he said to him
self, Il wish coald keep away from that
girl. I'm gone Gu her, sure. and the
worst of it is she doesn't care hang for
me; know it. If told her loved her,
she'd guy the life out of me-"
One morning, after one of these in
terviews, when the wind blew fresh
from the southwest, Miss Merlin ap-
preached him on the bathing beach.
Don't you want to go for sail?" she
said. "The boat is at the end Of the
wharf now."
funston submitted. In few moments
they were sitting in boat.
Make fast those halliards," ordered
Miss Merlin, as she grasped the tiller.
Now cast off"
The breeze caught the sail, and they
were away.
1t was a strange sensation for Tun.
ston. For the first time in his life he felt
thoroughly cowed. This frail cookie
shell that almost with a movement OF
his body he could overturn, was not to
his liking sEty
Il wouldn't go too far out" he said.
mo, I'm not" smiled Miss Merlin, as
she eased off the sheet "I'm going to
run along the shore. Sit more in the
middle, please"
Running before the wind, the boat
righted itself, and they bowled along
merrily
How do you like it," asked Miss
Merlin. 'I'll be the captain and you'll
be the first mate"
Pretty good" said funston. But
l suppose ought to be the captain and
You the first mate. don't like to have
| anyone else do the work"
In the distance was a steam launch
| that had grown nearer and nearer.
Miss Merlin, with her eye upon it, now
suddenly hauled in the main sheet and
brought the boat UP into the wind The
effect was apparent, for the wind, which
| had been increasing, was now quite
strong
And then something happened-so
suddenly, to funston, that 1t was all
| over before he had chance to move. A
! puff came over the water, the boat went
lower and lower and in an instant she
| capsized, leaving them both f1oundering
in the ocean.
funston dove, and, coming up on the
other side, put one arm around the cap
tain, while with his other he reached
| out and grabbed the centerboard
In another moment he had worked his
| way toward the bow. The steam launch
seemed miles away.
Are you all right" he said, as they
recovered their breath.
She clung to him desperately.
Don't let me go!" she cried.
| Don't be afraid" he replied.
He kept his arm around her, with the
roar of water in his ears, and, conscious
| of his superb strength, he felt sense
of exultation.
Somehow, as he saw her look Into his
eyes, he realized the truth.
II love you" he said. "If we get out
of this all right, will vou-will you-?'
"Yes," she replied, and chung to him
closer than ever.
And then the steam launch rescued
them.
The next night they sat together or
the piazza. Her head was on his shoul.
i der. Her hand was in his He looked
off into the dark, distant waters.
I'm glad that thing happened" be
said. why, if it hadn't happened
might have gone away without know.
ing l never should have had the cour,
age to ask you, because, somehow,
while you said nice things to me,
thought you were only playing with me.
It was only when l saw that look in
your. eyes that felt, after all you might
love me- Dearest little one, what a
lucky accident that was!"
| She looked up suddenly.
"Peter. dear" she replied, will you
| forgive me?"
Forgive you!" he repeated. "For
what?"
She smiled.
Didn't you know" she said, that
wasn't an accident? capsized the boat
on purpose. Town Topics.