The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-12-03
This in a voic. as cold as ice and

WIN q nauSQllneSS DOrQeTlnS On IN
science. Dustin recognized at once an
atmos phere of hostility He threw
back his broad shoulders to their ut
most, threw one leg over the other
carelessly, and looked Van Slasson
squarely in the eye. Nor could the
sharp, imperious eyes of the latter de-
tect the slightest shrinking in the
steady glance he received.
'tYou are quite correct" replied
Dustin. 81 am very much interested in
your niece. am her accepted lover,
and intend to marry her, with your
consent If you grant it-but marry her,
anyway. AS to your question, | am
man-an honest man, no better nor
worse than you. For more than 20
years have been able to take care of
myself wherever I found myself with
out aid"
Van Slasson turned pale at the tone
of the other He was not accustomed
to be talked to in this manner.
'My niece, SIR" he said, "is de-
scendant of one of the Oldest families
in America. May I not ask your ex-
| traction?"
Nevertheless will marry her." re-
piled Dustin, coolly. "a match If you
! please; thanks" Then, after deliber-
ately relighting his cigar, eyes,
would marry her, even if she had in
her the blood of the foreign nobility.
She couldn't help it, you know. AS
for my people, will not 60 into that
matter / certainly have no reason to
be ashamed of my blood, but 1t is I
who propose to marry your niece, and
/ propose to do it on my own merits
as man. I'll take her pedigree on
trust. She must take mine"
"You are insolent, sir!" exclaimed
Van Slasson, white with rage, "and
suspect you are a common adventurer
after Edith's property"
''If you were not In your own house
l would slap your face" replied Dus-
tin, perfectly COOL "Your suspicious
are in perfect accord with your narrow
life and character. assure you, sir
if you would get out in the world and
be man for few years even yor
would not be capable of the thing 20,
suspect me Of"
Leave my house." shrieked Var
Slasson, purple of face.
81 understand it is not yours, bu
Edith's," replied Dustin, rising ant
, facing the other, perfectly self-pos
sessed ''But at that / will go If yo'
will come downstairs with me-"
: Going straight to Edith, Dustin tool
! her in his arms. before Van Slasson
and said:
: Edith, have quarreled with you
t uncle. love you better than ever maj
r loved woman. I do not ask you t
marry me now in the face of your un
D cle's REFUSAL but to wait for me. 1t
> possible for even a selfish old bigo
c to change his mind sometimes. vii
! you waltz"
With her arms about his neck, Edit
replied: Il will wait forever, dearest.
It required the aid of doctor befor
Van Slasson recovered any sort {
e semblance of calmness, and man
i weeks passed before he stopped goin
into spasms of rage at the thought {
Dustin.
This is the story Of the shock, br
it was not so serious, after all, for Va
Slasson saw as the months passed ths
Edith was firm in her intention
: cling to Dustin, and also that she gre
. paler as the time went on. He love
her sincerely, and besides, after he g
SO he could think of the intervie
y with some calmness, he rather like
= the independence of the dog. So tn
story ends as all other good stories d
, And they were married and lived hal
:, by ever after.