The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-07-02
A PhiIopena
Nv BELLE MANIATES
--$>06$

QlJucI ddhSSs anu
forgot his existence. Later he re-
called himself to her notice by dane
mo with her one of the absurd fig
,,res of a cotillon in which they had to
eat philopena.
at carries me back to my school
days. she laughed.
ssNot very far back" he insfnuated.
aoh, yes; this is my third season!'
"Then 1 am right" he persisted.
II should dislike to tell the number
of seasons that have been indulg-
ing in cotillons."
"Thou hast all seasons for thine
own" she quoted.
Here the figure ended, and Phyllis
returned to her partner.
1Who is that man 1 just danced
with?'
"He is a cousin of our hostess" re-
piled her partner. 'His name is Steph-
en- Jerome, and he has recently come
here from Philadelphia. He is distin-
: guished for succeeding in everything
he undertakes
"How fortanate!" she exclaimed. II
just ate philopena with him. l had
taken no interest in the fact. but /
shall now. It will be an incentive to
bring failure to so successful man."
.sHow unkind!"
mo; it does person good to be
thwarted occasionally"
II don't question your cleverness,
Miss Courtney. but I warn You that
you have brilliant antagonist; he is
diplomat"
The subject of their conversation ap-
preached with favor. which he Of
fered to Miss Courtney.
81 regret to decline" she said, look
ing up at him with shining eyes, "but
you know our philopena was give
or take"
Some one claimed her partner, and
jerome appropriated. the vacant chair.
I'VE might dispense with the favor, =
he suggested, "and yet have the dance,
but if you gave me the dance. should
be it No; I shall have to await my
opportunity to take Q mean to give)
you unawares.''
ou Will wall III vain, ShC
piled.
It's challenge. is it?"
"Yes," she laughed.
Il was tempted" he said, s'to allow
myself to be philopenaed in order not
TO forego the pleasure of dance, but
1 shall fight it out to the sure end
You are so confident. then?"
"Why should l not be? You say
this is your third season. I have been
counting mine. and find it is my thir-
teenth. Should not ten years major
ity be to my advantage?'
"But 13 is the unlucky number. and
This is the year you will meet your
Waterloo. I see / must leave You
again.
Towards the end of the evening Phyl-
lis came to him with favor. which he
courteously refused to take.
Il didn't expect you to forget so
{ toon," she observed. II simply want
ed to return your compliment in offer
ing me one"
His partner having been favored,
Phyllis occupied her chair.
7 want to ask your permission to
call he said. "You see, in order to
test this case thoroughly, we must
have frequent opportunities TO meet
cannot give you permission" she
replied. "If you call, you must come
without it,
I certainly SHALL, he replied.
And he certainly did. His calls be-
came frequent and informal. They
met at the opera, at dinners and recep-
tions. Phyllis enjoyed the novelty of
! deyotee who could not present her
with books. flowers, music. confection-
cry and invitations to the theater
There was zest in constantly being
on guard and in triumphing over his
adrolt subterfuges to induce her to
4'take"
She tried various devices to trap him,
ont was always met by that slightly
cynical, aggrayating smile.
Meanwhile. their intimacy grew
amazingly. In spite of the ever-pres.
ent little feeling of mutual strife. there
was an irresistible charm in their com
panionship.
Spring came. and still they were
both baff1ed in their quest. Their
common acquaintances were aware OF
tnelr motive. and made the subject an
amusing feature of conversation.
One night Stephen Jerome pulled
himself together and acknowledged
that he must be up and doing and
Oring matters to q climax He had
allowed himself TO drift pleasantly
q along, easily foiling her attempts to
give, hoping to find her mapping. But
ne realized that she was ever on guard
and was not likely to forget, SO he
must resort to stratagem and force
ner hand. He had been content with
sne equal match through the early ac.
u 4uaintance. but it was different now
ne wanted the philopena question set.
sied before he asked her to give him
eomefhing OF infinitely more value than
trinlng phiiopena. He gave himse &
Inorough mental shaking and
Norkec his wits out of their sluggish