The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-01-21
BENTON, LOUISIANA, THURSDAY, JANUARY p,

out unrestrained. And this merry mood |
was not dampened by her reception, for
madam, in her relief to find that the
teacher was not man, was gracious
to gleefulness. and as the long line of
clumsily shod days faded from her fu-
ture she joyously resolved to break in
on the setting she was saving. and give
the new teacher fried eggs for supper.
The school having thus opened with
eciat, run smoothly through the first
four weeks. Miss Margaret grew bright
eyed and rosy-cheeked from much walk
Ing among the pines and faithful doing
Of her daily mead. Smiles came easily
to her lips and songs fingered there.
She sang often. Too often it would
seem after that Sunday when she came
in from stroll and found handsome
lad smoking cigarettes on the front gall
lery for Marie's benefit Marie intro
ducsd him shyly as M. PHILIPPE and the
boy greeted her with fine French grace,
throwing away his cigarette and prof.
fering his chair. Margaret sat down to
chat little, thinking to please Marie.
Mallieureux! that woman should be
SO dull of wit!
But she pleased M. PHILIPPE! Oui.
vraiment. Such combination of blue
eyes, white brow, pink cheeks and fluffy
hair had never before entered M. Phil
lipe's ken. When he told her good-by
he promised to bring her mail next Sum-
day. And next Sunday he brought it.
Margaret went out to thank him, and
stopped to chat little. She was so anx-
ious to be polite to Marie's friend, and
show him that she appreciated his cour-
tesy. Which was all very well. But
when she went back to her room, M.
PHILIPPE talked to Marie about her
which was all very bad, stupid. VOLTA!
To talk to ones sweetheart about anoth-
er woman. And then, which was still
more stupid, he brought the teachers
mail one day when it was not Sunday.
He and the teacher sat down on the gal
lery to chat while he waited for mon
sieur to come in, and Marie came up the
branch with the weeks wash in tub
on her head and found them there. The
teacher looked fresh, dainty; she wet,
toil-stained. All Sacre!
1 The next day Marie was sullen at
school, and all Marie's little brothers.
taking their tone from Marie, were sui
len also. The teacher tried patience
in vain. She resorted to discipline, and
all Marie's cousins-c'est dire, the
whole school-joined in the insurrec-
tfon. The big girls rose as one man
Rivalries among themselves? Mais
oui! But no outsider should poach up
on their preserves, teacher or no teacher.
At home they spoke openly of leaving
school, and little brothers and sisters.
: true to the lead. told tales of pedagogic
, injustice narrowing to hear. Every
twilight witnessed the roasting of Miss
Margaret upon a dozen well-scrubbed
: doorsteps. Monsieur alone stood firm
shaking his head with good-natured in
; credulty at the startling reports and
, siIencing all protests with his powerful:
t "Das all right; das all right. Nee.
: Mar'git git good fetch. vas. Good fetch.
: But presently the discouraged droop o1
, the young teachers shoulders when he
overlook her on the road from schoo
: one hot afternoon moved the big MAJ
J, to more active measure.
t Good even, Mees Mar'git. How
s school getting on?" he sung out, cheer
z lily, as he swung from saddle and turne,
: to walk beside her.
1 pretty we'll" She looked up brave
: ly, but that broad indulgent smil,
t claimed its usual tribute Of confidence
d "The children don't seem to like me an.
more" she faltered.
o Il know, me" he said, soothingly, "bu
e das all right. Beeg gals get crank,
a some times. Dom like people to talk t,
q des young fellows. Mck 'em mad, vas
q But das all right. Me and Sylvan beel
O talk bout it. He say hees gal tell hir
v school goin' be shot op. But tell hin
a me, If does beeg gals don watch out, de
: be shop op, das what. And Sylvia
p laugh. Say 'Das right, yas.' Das a
right. sho.'
4 The big man laughed his big ha-ha a
|, he climbed back into saddle and the
leaned down to Margaret with twinkl
. in his kind eyes, Better let me brin
J. your mail, eh. Mees Mar'git?"
q "I'll be ever so much obliged" sh
n flashed up to him, with swift comprt
s hension.
"Das all right. vas. Das all right" an
~ to his horse: "Allons, cheval, allons.
10 Miss Margaret was very matter-o
! fact when she addressed Marie Louis
g that same evening, saying:
ar "Oh, Marie, il you happen to see M
,e PHILIPPE, will you please tell him hay
/. made other arrangements about N
It mail? l know it has been nuisant
re to him."
10 VOLTA. The big girls were all gla'
it ness, the little ones all glee. The scho'
h was running again on its well-oile
ID wheels.
3 Pourquoi? All, mon ami, the teach,
had bowed gracefully to that unwritte
t, law of theirs: A bas les mains.
Hissing should BE Barred.