The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-01-14

oh, well, if he doesn't so away soon
shall, SO that's all there is about it,
She picks up the hat, playing idly
with it
These little hats that men wear are
perfectly fascinating, and so much more
becoming than those frightful stovepipe
affairs. think shall get one for rid
ing. (She tries it on and runs to see
the effect in the mirror.) Truly it is
very becoming. (Imitating M. de
Ludre.)
Madame, as l rode up to your
chateau just now, met miserable
looking fellow
"Ah! ha! Poor fellow, know who he
Is. Laughing, she tosses the hat upon
the table, and letter falls from it,
What, another letter! Why, now, it
must belong to Robert Houdin."
She picks up the letter without look
ing at it and lays it down upon the table
beside the first one; then holding the hat
before her she addresses 1t:
| mo, NJ. de Ludre, shall We talk seri-
ously together for the last time? First
of all. if you please. no surprises Have
you any other letters carefully con-
cealed in some secret place? (She ex-
amines the hat) For PHYS sake, il
here aren't more papers! No, not let.
ters it is true, but notes.
so he makes his hat a portfolio, doe:
he? How funny! But to return to oul
serious conversation, let US state, frs
of all, our respective situations:
Il am widow. still passable as Il
looks; you see that am modest; l hav,
a certain amount of money, a fair intel
ligence and heart that is absolutel,
free. You are bachelor, you belon
to the same circle in society that l do
your fortune is equal to if not create
than my own, and you are good lookini
enough to win the heart of any. woman
You have pretty wit and ire
proachable manners. In a word, ther
would seem to be great deal of pre-
. priety in marriage which you appea
i to wish SO eagerly. But there remain
the question of the heart.
} 81 can fairly hear him say:
my heart, madame, the heart tina
! have humbly laid at your feet, is a
: pure as that of child"
!. She stops suddenly and runs to th
door at the back
4 "Ah! Merciful goodness! l though
e heard some one moving in the ne,
0 room. Some one-it is NJ de Ludre-
e am sure it is He has bribed Jean
: go away so that he may be alone wit
q me- All! if he were a gentleman
e would never do that. CLOSING the doc
she locks it rapidly
e There, that is an Insult that yc
r brought upon yourself, sir! He sigh!
he bewails his sad fate. If only wou
O be kind. Well, my friend. will rez
r your letter: will read it immediatel
Only, in your turn be prudent, be p
e tient Go away. l beseech you. l vi
talk with you later, this evening.
II will. promise you.
, Il don't hear anything more. Isl
% opens the door and looks through.)
,s one there-no one-he has gone. D
:, he come at all, wonder. or was it mer
:. ly the autumn wind blowing throu.
= the hall?
~ What an afternoon! My nerves a
;, all gone to pieces. II NJ. de Ludre wasl
there, If he really didn't come at all
have suspected him wrongly ha
> slandered him. In reparation, | oug
to read his letter; besides, he will q
have written anything that he has n
"a already told me- (She picks up lett
from the table and starts to open it. tn
catches sight of the other lying besi
it.)
," Il mustn't make a mistake and ia
the one that isn't meant for me. E
'e how can l tell which is which? Tn
are both the same shape, the same s.
l. and both are without an address. @
of them belongs to me, and have eve
right to read it; but which is it?
De Il can't make out any writ
Ia through the envelopes. What shal
n DO? Truly my sense of honor is lik
ne to have a terrible trial. The letter Il
l didn't care straw about reading I
minutes ago, am now all on fire to