The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-01-07
BENToN LOUISIANA 1905 -. :,

embrace of her first love. and in the
guise of wifehood, delivered a prisoner
into an old mans keeping. whose wealth
her father deemed far more desirable
than pennyless youths devotion. She
and Russell Hudson had not parted in
anger. He accepted defeat as inevita-
BILE, yet knowing he possessed what her
husband might never hope for-her un-
divided love.
Fortuneshad smiled on him in the two
iecades Of separation, and on reaching
New York after sojourn of several
years abroad, inquiry led to the revela-.
tion that Mrs. Bernard had fortwo years
been a widow. Being man of leisure,
what could be more natural than a few
days outing at well known summer
resort? Sentiment scarcely actuated his
movements so much as curiosity. How.
did she look, and well-how did she feel
toward him! Perhaps there yet smoul-
dered within the recesses OF her heart q
spark of affection for him, that needed
only his presence to kindle It into per-
feet of passion. In fact
he did not doubt it.
Men may forget their vows oflove-
sentiment is easily eliminated in the con-
flict for gain in which they daily engage.
but woman's love once bestowed. must
neesls be lifelong gift-.it is a tribute
hey. owe the sterner sex! Men expect
constancy-but with them tits different.
OF course! q
Romance with all its dreamy ethe-
riality has way of suddenly dropping
its victim into the lap of realism, Just
at q moment when the pinacle of de-
lightful idealism has been reached.
The meeting between Russell Hudson
and Mrs. Bernard had been quite con-
ventional, and she might have met him
but yesterday as ansold friend, or per-
haps never have seen him before There
was no visible flutter of excitements ON
her part, for woman keeps her finest
feelings in reserve, and brings them out
for inspection only when sure of appre-
citation. Her heart had beaten wildly
almost painfully on crossing the hall to
the wide veranda sitting room, where
mid light Japanese screens, divans,
spreading palms and wicker chairs, she
received her summer guests. Grace had
gone sailing with party. of friends, and
she could at last see him alone. After
20 years OF love love, that she as
an honorable wife tried to suppress-to
outlive-and nOw-she was free again. Q
She came quickly toward him, holding
out eagerly and cordially her graceful
hands that in the days of long ago he had
covered with kisses and pronounced
divine"
"Ah, Grace! How natural you look"
he said, dropping back into his seat after
the first greeting, IF you will pardon q
trite old saying, you musthave found the
fountain Of perpetual youth" And she.
with bright woman's tact, seated her.
self where the light fell over her shoua-
ders, softening the lines Of her face, ann
making halo of her sunny hair. They
talked Of old days, of old friends, familiar
scenes. and the death and marriages OF
mutual acquaintances, and anon supped
an iced beveragewhich snowy becapped
and aproned maid produced at exactly
the right moment-but of their old rela-
tionship never word was spoken.
To her, that was sacred-to him, well
haste was dangerous!
A flush stole over her face, her ayes
frightened and laughed as they had not
done since they last looked into his. She
was transformed, Transported
again. With the old enthusiasm Of
youth, she was recounting an incident
when she suddenly realized that her
words fell on deaf ears. He was gazing
out toward the beach from which strolled
tall, slender young girl. Her hat In
hand and the b-eezestossing wealth OF
light wavy .hairsaround her face. the like
ofwhich he had not seen since-well, for
20 years. ~
Russell, this is my daughter Grace
Miss Bernard, Mr.. Hudson"
He had almost seized her hand. then
looked from one woman toanother. Was
this his long lost sweetheart. No. It was
her daughter.
The days that followed were mixture
Of joy and pain ,shope, doubt and happi-
ness. Mrs. Bernard realized Us she never
had before that to be with Russell Hud
SON was q pleasure akin to pain. Not
word Of love had been scarcely
a look. but day after day he came to take.
her, in company with Grace, for drive,
sail, lunch Of stroll. Every momentvas
to her onesof keenest delight, and toher
surprise andsatisfaction, Grace had been
civfl enough to Observation-Disclosures and
he, for the mothers sake, OF course, had
shaWnAer the kindest, most fatherly at
tention. True, he didn't look fathefly,
but ten she knew his age. -
The SUMMER wa.s drawing 10 close.
The white and gray seagulis no longer.
sat idly on the tops Of the danger piers
far out in the bay. The hotel was prac-.
tically deserted. and q chilly wind blew
from the east all day -still Mfs. Bernard
fingered at her summer kome. She
WOULD sit for hours ensconced in cloak
on the bare veranda looking seaward,
dreaming and re-living the summer
hours spent with Russell Hudson He
had been so attentive, so kind and con-