The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-12-10
His ather'S
Sin
Uopyright. isoc. BY Daily Story Pub. Cos
By JENNIE EDDY

'nNLY seven days more!" Walter
Jaynes drew the slender figure OF
his promised wife closer to his side and
looked fondly into her upturned face.
She laughed happily.
"It seems too good to be true, doesn't
it, dearest?'
I'VE must be the exception that proves
the rule, this time" he answered. Sure
ly the course of true love never could
run more smoothly than ours and in an
other week you will be mine forever.
Sometimes" he went on musingly, "it
does seem too good to be true. feel
as if it were all beautiful dream and
dread the awakening. But you do love
me, darling" He paused, waiting for
the whispered Eyes" he knew would
come
do you know, a long time ago, when
first met you, I used to fear that you
might marry Stedman. He's such
splendid fellow, rich and brilliant and
all that Didn't you ever care for him.
Trudie:"
No. she denied emphatically. Il
never cared for anyone-until you came.
But Gid think once that perhaps-if it
had not been for his brothers disgraceful
conduct might have let myself care"
Sweetheart, what do you mean?
Would the fact that mans brother was
a drunkard prevent you from marrying
him when he vas all that is good and
noble?"
Eyes, mean just that. Itsounds hard,
doesn't it? But / could never marry
man who could not give me name un-
stained. Few Of us ever think what black
pages of ancestry most people have hid
den away--the hideous skeletons in their
closets. And the blood will tell, sooner
or later. bad blood as well as good. That
is why-you see, with Mr.. Stedman. His
brother has already developed weak
trait. 1t may be only matter of time
when he. too. succumbs to some vice
equally despicable."
They were both silent few moments.
busy with their thoughts. Then, as a
neighboring clock tolled the hour, Jaynes
rose to go. "You don't know how glad
am. sweetheart, that NY family record
is clear
Il could never have loved you II 1t
hadn't been," Gertrude Elliot answered,
seriously.
The next day was Sunday and they
had planned long drive together. 1t
was n day of perfect happiness for them
both. The conversation of the evening
before had been forgotten-the pleasure
of the present shut out all serious
thoughts. As they drove home in the
lengthening shadows, that silence which
is the sweetest communion of two united
souls fell upon them. A white object
suddenly 1uttcred In the grass at the
roadside The horse SHE'D, then quieted
down at the sound of his masters voice.
What is it, dear?" asked Gertrude.
"Only newspaper, think"
There! That reminds me of what |
wanted to tell you. Tread such strange
story after you Left last night--not a
book. a story in the evening paper. And
the queer thing about 1t is that the man
has you: name, Walter Stanton Jaynes,
Sr."
Jaynes laughed. THAT is certainly
peculiar. never come across anyone
of that name outside our family. The
oldest sons have borne it for genera
tions back. What about the man."
HE has just died in the states prison
at Jackson 1t seems he was sent up
from L:-Aoit for embezziement. His
crime was such a tiagrant breach Of trust
that the full extent Of the law was given
him. He was president of the Wayne
County bank and was so highly regarded
that hundreds of poor people, widows
and orphans, loaned him their ALL HI
Ntsnded to replace what he had stoler