The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-08-25

we sat together In gloom, and mention
1t as curiosity OF human nature that
this habit survived by many months the
mutual affection that had given 1t birth.
When Gladys had finished playing and
had received the usual praise Mr.. Greer
insisted that we should sing for him. and
Ornond and took our places by the pia-
no Just as we had done 80 many times
before. In vocal music our uncle had
preferences, and we sang what pleased
him, old fashioned trios such as we had
long since outgrown. though they were
the same to him as they had always BEEN
I watched Ormond out Of the corner OF
my eyes He was a perfect automaton, to
whom the music meant as little as 1t
meant to the piano. Suddenly. at the
close OF one of the songs. he turned away
and dropped heavily into chair.
ITS time to go to bed" said Mr.. Greer.
shutting the case of his big watch with a
loud snap. Ring the bell. Ormond, like
good fellow. You can reach It"
Ormcnd seemed to awake with a start.
as from a bad dream. He touched the
bell and then resumed his seat Through
out the absurd. familiar scene that fol-
lowed he watched Mr.. Greer with eyes
like two burning Goals.
A servant entered with a small tray
upon which were four very beautiful COB
let's and silver pitcher containing pure
water. When these things had been set
before him Mr.. Greer took from his pociS-
ct a gold box. The lid few back as he
pressed the spring.
'Will you Join me tonight, Ormond?"
said he. mo? Nor you, Jack? Gladys.
my dear, allow me to persuade your
Really. you children don't know what's
good. ! have plenty" he continued. with
a laugh. II filled the box today. To-
nights nightcap and nineteen more are
here. 1t has no more medicinal quality
Adams ak Qnvhn6v nv
reading our circular and yet don't be-
lieve that l could sleep without It."
He filled one of the goblets with water
and dropped into 1t n bronze hued tablet
about the size of a five cent piece. which
he took from the box. 1t dissolved with
amazing suddenness filling the water with
bubbles and imparting to 1t the color of
pale amber. In fact, a keen eye would
have been needed to distinguish this
fraudulent liquor from champagne, and !
am assured that there are palates which
detect close similarity.
II have given to the world true tenn
perance drink" said Mr.. Greer ASSISTS
the stomach: doesn't harm the brain.
This is my luck" he continued. raising
the delicate crystal in which the myriad
bubbles rose with a faint tinkling. land
tire luck Of every man who drinks 1t and
let's stronger drink alone. 1t has made
one man rich: 1t will make no man poor.
Gladys. my dear, your health!"
He drained the glass, not at a draft but
with prolonged enjoyment. and set 1t
down. The servant removed the tray
with one moist goblet and three dry. as
always. for 1t was an unvarying joke to
offer "Greer's nectar" to US.
These ridiculous tablets are the founda-
ton of unees great fortune. He was a
poor man when he invented them They
have had an enormous sale In many lands,
.t<,%., al,
with the making Of them. Mr.. Greer who
could fill his cellars with the choicest
product Of the vine, limits his drinking to
this chemical imposture. l am convinced
that he really likes it, though he never
overindulges. One glass before retiring
Is his very moderate allowance. and the
taking OF 1t has long been attended with
such mock Solemnity as l have just de-
scribed.
The gold box for the tablets was fan
cy of Gladys. She gave it to him as
Christmas present He had used a cheap
silver plated box Of his own purchasing
before that time. but he would never car
ry 1t afterward. 1t was put away with
the twenty tablets which 1t happened to
contain at the time. and my uncle's valet
was sent across town to the factory on
| Christmas day for fresh supply In hon
or OF the little golden casket.
Mr.. Greer always held 1t precious. The
breast pocket OF his ample waistcoat is its
dwelling place. Upon this evening ]
| thought he put it away with an especial
ly caresstng gesture Then he kissed
Gladys upon the red gold curls above her
temples. kiss upon each side, as has
been his custom since she was n child.
| God help her! She is only child now
Shall she not have her youth and the
| roses of romance whatever thorns they
| hide7
| When Mr.. Greer had withdrawn to his
| repose I found myself alone with Gladys
| Ormond had left the room. I know not
| how. but there was something In the si-
| lence and the mystery Of 1t that inspired
/ me with foolish alarm. My nerves were
! on edge. I would have started at a
| shadow.
| Gladys" said l. checking her at the
| door. do you know which way we are
| drifting?'
| mo two Of us the same way. 1 fancy"
| she replied. But let's not speak Of it,
| There Is no engagement. no promise
"Eetween whom? she asked, smiling
And then with a far different manner: IT
| will not pretend that I do not know what
you mean. I am going to tell you a Sc
cret which is between ourselves absolute
| ~. Uncle Henry wants me to marry him,
and I shall do it-if can. love him.
| Who could help 1t? He is a very noble
steadfast. honorable man."
This Is no secret" said I. 1.-THE very
| servants know it,
Let us pretend that 1t Is secret" she
replied. land for its greater security we
will not mention 1t even to each other
Good night"
/ remained alone in the room. Present.
~ servant entered and put out the
lights, not perceiving me. for had walk
ed to window and was shielded by one
OF the long and heavy curtains When
the man had gone flung myself into q
great chair and lost all track Of time in
| the depth Of my meditation.
The opening of the outer door startled
me. heard a stealthy step in the hall.
ana turning, I saw Loren. my uncle's
| valet. He had taken some late excursion
| without leave and was stealing In secret
iy. There was no harm In this fellow, and
30 I shut my eyes to his little mystery
| Ten minutes later followed him up the
| stairs
To my surprise, Loren was lettering
near the door OF my room. As was
about to speak to him he made a gesture
OF caution and then passed into the apart
ment ahead OF me-
1 Il don't quite know what TO make Of II.
sir" said he. II was IN the hall a few
minutes ago. and I saw Mr. Ormond COM
ing out Of Mr.. Greer's room. He didn' t
see me. SIR. for / stepped out Of his way.
but he passed quite close. and saw that
he had that gold box in his hand"
Go on" said /. seeing that he had
| more to tell.
Il looked into his room. through the
4 u nvvIr IL a. -