The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-10-22
BENTON, LOUISIANA THURSDAY, OCTOBER y, 1908.
date with me and then go galivant-
Ing abound these cheap agencies
What does it. mean?' -ss

"And as to you, sir?" she asked, de-
murely, in reply.
Il AMI trying to pass the time," I
replied, sternly. x3
"And L." she replied. smiling.
AS we emerged from the building, I
called cab and handed her in. Be-
fore let it go, said:
Come, now, no more agency busi-
ness until after the supper - II you
please"
Agreed" she replied, a merry smile
lighting her face-and thought saw
q hint Of downcast eyes and a hint
OF responsive comradarie which we'll
nigh sent me into a fit of vertigo.
That supper was red-letter occa-
sion. I had never been much of Ia
dies man, but had met many women
of all degrees, and never had I met
! one with the charm of this mystifying
product of the matrimonial agencies.
She was SO evidently up-to-date, SO
well-infOrmed, SO wise to everything
going on in the world, so thoroughly
posted in affairs and SO well able to
reconcile her actual self with her posi-
ton as woman of fortune seeking a
husband through the mountebank
agencies. Why! without cent, she
was prize for prince.
While we sat at the little table in
the cozy corner, a party consisting Of
newspaper fellows and an actor or two
~ fo~ A., InI
lessly to them, and they returned my
salutation, a puzzled expression
crossed Miss Norman's face.
Who are those people?" she asked.
sharply.
"Oh, Tom Bates, of the Universe;
Jimmie Burns, of the Recorder: Louie
Drake, of the Clarion, and Harold st.
Hubert, the actor" I replied.
DO you know them?" she assed.
Then I recovered my balance and re-
piled:
IL met Bates, casually, the other
night, and he pointed the others sut to
me-" G=
Then changed the subject.
Later on we went to the theatey. and
before leaving her l made an engage
ment to take her riding on the follow
ing afternoon.
| lay in my room and smoked that
night until far past dawn, buried In
visions The evening had strengthened
and viyified every impression of my first
meeting with the girl. There was no
question but she was lady In every
sense Of the word-and her alert intelli-
gence was not the least of her charms.
There was no lodging 1t, l was madly in
love with her. All my doubts based on
finding her at a matrimonial agency
were cast aside.
"Iwould marry her without question
as to her object in being there" Isaid.
Then l groaned as thought of the
barrier of her wealth and the cheap part
was playing. For, Of course, must
be honest with her.
Finally made my resolve. could
not remain in SO equivocal a position. I
would make a clean breast Of 1t, and
hope for her friendship at least More
l dare not dream.
Perhaps years would efface the MEM
ory of my duplicity, and when should
have attained high position in my pro-
fession, perhaps-who knows?
The next afternoon, far out on lone
some drive. pulled myself together
and told her the whole wretched busi-
| ness
Il owe you an apology as abject as
man can make, Miss Norman" l started
in, tragically. Then I hurried on: II
am compelled to confess to you that
am not what have pretended to be.
My name is not Hiram Adams, but
Stewart Vincent. / am a newspaper re-
porter doing the matrimonial agencies,
getting material for story for the
Clarion. 1t was good enough fun be-
fore met you, but I am heartily
ashamed of myself row, and l humbly
beg your pardon. l desire your honest
friendship too much to go on with the
deceit longer"
had kept my eyes resolutely on the
horse. now turned to her, and was
surprised to find her face suffused with
bushes and her eyes downcast.
Then she uttered merry little laugh
and looked at me with mischievous
glance that nearly caused me to drop
the reins and gather her in my arms.
"It's tit for tat" she said II am on
the same assignment for the Universe,
and-and Twas just thinking how dread
fully cheap was. My name is Eleanor
Vance. | guess it's a case of two fools.
A great Joy leaped through my veins.
mot II we can be friends-no don't
mean that" said-"if we can go on
with this courtship, Miss Vance. My
Sunday editor told me to follow this
assignment clear to the altar-in fact,
to get married, If necessary to get
good story. Iconsider it very necessary.
| haven't dollar in the world, but can
always hold good job. Will you help
me follow out my orders?"
Mine were the same.." she replied,
softly, "and two salaries are twice as
| much as one, e,"-this In whisper.