The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-12-22
Alan Conyngham
lOriginal.l

fortune at her disposal, no children to
occupy her, several estates in which
to entertain, still found something
wanting in life. She had net married
for love, but for money, and at twen-
ty-eight found herself in possession Of
the money without husband.
The keynote to her present unsatis-
fed condition was that she had at /
eighteen fallen in love and that love
had never been completely stamped |
out. At the finishing school she had |
attended was drawing master, a
young Englishman twelve years her |
senior, about whom there was a SUBJ |
tie charm, which, like the gift of d
story teller or songster, is indescrib-
able. Alan Conyngham was favorite
with all the pupils and several of the
girls besides Florence Huntington were
In love with him, but Florence alone
received q return. He was an honor
able fellow and gave her no evidence
of his love till the day after she had
| finished, then he called on her and con-
| fessed it.
But l am going away from you," he
said "You will live here, and you and
| cannot live in the same place.
| Brought up as you have been l could
not ask you, could not permit you to
| Join your fortunes with mine the son
Of one Of those younger sons in
British family who have no share in
the family estate"
That was the last Florence Hunting
ton saw Of Alan Conyngham Cor ten
| years, then when they met it seemed
/ to her that he must have had hard
/ struggle with poverty, and poverty had
been the winner She had taken
fancy to go to Washington one win
ter and be present at the opening of
a session of congress. She had been
| there but a few days when she re-
ceived a card. "Alan Conyngham." 1t
seemed to her that Intervening years
i could only have widened the gap in
| their different conditions She had be-
| come accustomed to wealth. While it
was probable that he was still at the
foot Of the ladder She debated wheth-
er it would not be better TO send him
kind word indicating that they
should not meet again. but there was
certain uncomfortable desire in her
heart that she could not keep down.
She answered the card In person.
There stood Alan Conyngham, man
Of forty, the few gray hairs that had
come to him not appearing in his Eng
lish faxen hair and beard. The change
ten years will put on man was the
only change in him, except his clothes.
which were shabby.
Florence" he said. Il ask your par
don for this intrusion again into your
life. Not for one moment during the
past ten years have | ceased to think
of you-to love you. ! read an ac-
count of the wealthy match you made
and learned Of the death Of your hus-
band. Do not think that | am come to
ask you to share the brilliant place you
occupy with poverty No man with
true pride could Go SO, | came to see
you and for the comfort Of hearing you
say, 4 have never completely awakened
from tile dream Of ten years ago.
Seeing him. listening to those few
words, was enough to break down
Florence Terriers resolution.
"Nor ever will awake from It," she
, said.
Conyngham started.
"Now that have heard what came
to hear he said. "there Is no excuse
for my staying"
She begged him not to leave her. She
had enough for BOTH They might snap
their fingers at the world.
"NO." he said You must marry
). within your station. No true man can
accept the wealth you would bring Lin
a except lie bring you an equivalent"
- AS he spoke he left the room and the
!. house.
y Mrs. Ferrier was surprised the mex
:, day to receive an invitation to dinner
;, from the mother of the British minis
ter. Who had been instrumental in Sc
). curing 1t she did not know. Indeed
= SO many were ready to favor her thai
she did not take pains to discover.
=. dinner at the British miais.e.fa was
= not to be declined an. sne accepted.
She was received in the drawing
= room by a high bred old English lad!
who. after welcoming and chatting
: with her few minutes. left the room
She had been invited for Z o'clock.
was now quarter past the hour ant
yet there were no other guests present
Presently she saw sight that for
moment confused her. Surely tina
\ was Alan Conynsham. But what wa
\ Alan Conyngham doing in this hous
in faultless evening dress. and wit
that badge of nobility?
"Am / dreaming" she said to him.
"Yes. you are dreaming the dreaI
Il of ten years ago. from which you hay
never awakened
"Are you Alan ConynghamF
II am"
j 81 see you are attached to- the leSs
4 ton. but what meant those shabby
I # am not only Alan Conyngham." /
interrupted Il am the Marquis {
| Bournemouth and British minister
the United States. After leaving yo
% ten years ago. I filed another positio
q -