The Bossier banner., 1903-04-09

was all gone from her voice. 81
guess Nine. Jacque will be willing to
take them in exchange for a bonnet
Oh, Horatio, you must see that lit.
tie beauty in the window! It's the
one l mean to get-the one on the
left of the window, as you look in
from the outside. 1t has apple-blos-
som buds on it-you know you al
ways liked apple-blossom buds, Hora-
tio!' She nodded across to him
archly and her full face reminded
him of the Martha's of Is years ago.
He conjured up that other beautiful
little bonnet with apple blossom buds
in it, and set it on her smooth brown
hair-Martha had not grown gray
at all.
"That one was beautiful" he
smiled.
"Well, this one is. shouldn't won
der if it made me look Is years
younger!" she laughed "But don't
want to decide on it till you see it.
You always did have excellent taste
in bonnets, dear" She fell into the
"dear" naturally enough, as if the
soft halo of Is years ago were over
her, too. She had always called him
dear then-how many years was it
she had called him Horatio?
II wish you'd go to the office
through Jermyn street tomorrow
morning-no, I'll go with you. That
will be better. You can pass judg-
ment on the little gem-bonnet, and
l shall go in and buy it!-for I'm
certain you'll like it."
They had not walked through the
streets together for good while
not even to church. Horatio Whit
ney was keenly sensitive to the fact
that his overcoat and hat were shab-
by. He did not care to remember
how long it was since he had bought
new ones, and he did not want
Martha to remember. So he stayed
at home quietly, and grew little
grayer and a little older every day.
"Martha's handsome and young,
STILL" he reasoned; 81 want her to
keep SO. 1t doesn't matter now
about me; it's too late in the day to
save me. Martha's going to have
pretty bonnets and things just as
long as l can scrape together the
And what's more, she isn't
going to be mortified to death by
having stoop-shouldered, wrinkled
Old man, in faded overcoat, going
up the broad aisle beside her. I'm
tired; I'll stay at home and rest"
So he had stayed at home Sunday
after Sunday. He was always tired;
it was good enough excuse. Martha
gave up urging him after awhile.
The next morning Martha walked |
DOWNTOWN with Horatio, through |
)ermyn street. It was beautiful |
day. Belated spring had come at |
asst, and the birds were celebrat-
ng the event joyously. The lawns
we're taking on green tinges, and the
electricity of growing things and |
ouoyant spirits was in the air.
Martha tingled with it as she walked
llong.
you walk SO slow, Horatio," she
complained. why don't you step
'p brisk and smart? Anybodyd
hink you were an old mani"
well, l guess they'd hit it,
dartha!' he smiled. 'Time was
vhen I'd have skipped on this kind
# morning."
"Well, I'd skip now if l was sure
lobody was looking! Here we are
t Jermyn street.
They turned into the busy thor
ughfare and settled into the cur
ent of busy men and women. All
he world was in hurry, but all
he world was cheerful. The elec-
ricity in the crisp, clean air was
manifest on every side, in alert gait
nd smiling face. Everyone was
uaffing the sweet spring tonic. Even
[oratio Whitney drank in uncon-
cious whiffs of it and picked himself
p, rejuvenated, and swung along
18th the rest.
Down the street little way prog
ess was temporarily blocked, and
.oratio and Martha came to a stand
ill. A heavy dray was being backed
cross the sidewalk.
I'VE can go out round," Horatio
lid. Its nuisance the way these
,llows take possession of the high ,
ay. 1t ought to be stopped. Come
n-this way d
NO, I'm going to wait. He'll get :
nloaded in minute. / don't fancy
aing mixed up with lot of electric ;
lrs and grocery carts and folks.
here's no hurry, Horatio.' II
They were abreast of splendid /
ate-glass show-window, and Martha
lrned to it for entertainment. What I
oman was ever at loss for amuse- T
ent with a show-window at her ell
wv? But this one-Martha turned I
way little disgusted. 1t was only
mems furnishing store. r
The drayman took his time. Il
artha was driven back to the win I
wv in self-defense, and it was this
me that she saw the coat that re. .