The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-07-30
A CRUCIAL TEST
nv HORACE GLA S S
tcopy right. 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Coz

vIIHEN Duncan Taylor was COM
! w PEELED to give up his college
course at the end of the Freshman
wear he was bitterly disappointed
From his boyhood he had looked for
ward to a political career with all the
enthusiasm of his ardent nature. He
had gone in for political economy
and all the allied studies and his head
was filled with ideas and ideals. He
knew that his father was not wealthy
but had supposed that his business
was on a sound basis and would
stand for his educa ton and start in
the law.
Hence it came as much OF q
shock to him as to the rest of the
family and the outside world to learn
after the sudden death of his father
that the business was badly involved
and only by the closest and most
faithful and intelligent application
could the entire property be saved
from being swept away. Being the
only male member of the family of
mature years, this task manifestly
fell on him. In any event there was
no money available for his further
education.
So bravely and without complain he
hade farewell to college and his
dreams and took up the family bur-
den. Being young man of intelli-
gence and industry he was fairly well
equipped for the work and although
his heart was not in it he succeeded
in preventing crash and got the
business in shape where it yielded an
economical living for the family and
tended toward the up grade.
OF course he did not lose his inter-
est in politics-the leopard does not
change his spots, but his vision was
changed from congress, the senate
and the presidency to the closer du-
ties of good citizenship and partici-
patton in ward and precinct organiza-
ton.
It was not long before he became a
thorn and a menace to the gang who
controlled his party in the city and
county. When he first surprised the
managers of the Organization" by
heading an independent delegation
from his ward in the county conven.
tion and fighting the prearranged
slate, they laughed at him and were
satisfied by the victory of their slate
But when he attacked their methods
and plans by persistent talk with peo
pie with whom he came in contact
and by communication to the papers
as well, they became uneasy and
when a year later he cleaned them
out again in the ward in an opeI
fight in which they used all their re
sources and headed another inde
pendent delegation which was joined
by others in two other wards they
became alarmed and realized that h'
must be dealt with as positive fac
tor
In the meantime a new factor hat
come into Duncan's life. He fell II
love and when man of his temper
ament falls in love 1t is serious
matter. He was practically alone il
his family. His mother and sister
had always esteemed themselves il
comfortable circumstances and th
truth so suddenly thrust upon then
at the fathers death had been har'
to realize. The rigid economy insist
ed upon by Duncan when he under
took the task of reestablishing tn
business was not taken to kindly an
there was an atmosphere almost o
complaint and discomfort at home.
And so when Alice Morton crept in
to his life and heflearned little b.
little to know the breadth of he
mind and the deep sympathy of he
nature it came as balsam to his wo1
ried mind and heart. He sought he
companionship more and more an
came more and more to confide i
her and lay down upon her hopefr
mind the problems that confronte
him. AS his attentions came to b
more and more marked his peopl
arose in revolt.
why, Duncan" said his mothel
the Mortons have neither money nc
social position. You must not b,
come involved with them. Our onl
hope is for you to make good MAJ
riage-which you can easily do wit
your name and personality"
by good marriage you mean
rich marriage, I suppose" he replie
with more feeling than he often di
played in family differences. "Wel
] must disagree with you. Our onl
hope is to live within our income an
make the business 60 I hope I al
not an unmindful son and .brothe
but declare myself here and no
that come what may / will not be
fortune hunter and matrimonial a,
venturer. All else will do for Il
family but not that" so
And his intimacy with Alice Morte
continued and Increased until she b
came the brightest spot in his lif
And then one soft spring evenir
carried away by the poetry of b.
nature, the tenderness Of her sy1
pathy with him and his asnirati lin,