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

"Ah! have an idea; l will put both
letters back and draw but one. The first
l touch will be mine, if there is prov
idence in chances"
She drops both letters into the hat,
takes out one, ano after moments
pause tears open the envelope and de-
cides to read it.
TT is centuries since have written
you
"Ah! that il not meant for me, am
sure However, / am not sorry for my
mistake Let us see my letter, now.
(She opens the second lsttero Nine.
la Baronne, permit me to ask the help
Of your ever ready charity and to solicit
your kindness Why, what is this:
1t is letter from Jean, my farmer; IFS
wife is sick, the medicines are very ex-
pensive, etc, and there is nothing else
in the envelope.
TT was true, then: it really was let
ter from miserable looking fellow. All.
l thought hoped. Come, will not
think of it. Who knows. though, but
what | have thrown away my happi-
ness?"
She picks up the other letter, mechan-
icaly, and reads, beginning:
"It is centuries since have written
you. dear lady
Dear lady! did well to read it!
had no right to do such thing. But has
he any right to console himself so quick
| ly for losing me- Him! He is an odious
| brute, and it was an inspiration from
Heaven that led me to refuse his hand
Let us see in what style he writes tt
another the same things that he said tt
me only yesterday: 1t is centuries
Since l wrote to you. dear friend, and
hasten to ask your forgiveness. To-mor
row leave for Paris, where l shall SCI
| you in the evening.
''At any rate, he doesn't waste an!
time beating about the bush.
81 am very unhappy and need you
consolation
Listen to that, will you!
"sYou know the great love feel 10
Nine de Varjolis. You know, ais
that it has been my greatest hope for
year to unite my life to that OF thi
beautiful, good woman, so worthy to b
. the happiness and delight of an hon
orable man. Alas! yesterday she re
fused me in terms that could not mis-
J take, and l shall leave Immediately
(Touched.) But don't want him to go
!, "If my beloved mother were sti
, alive, should go to her. This is why
, am coming to you, dear madame, VIII
are her oldest and dearest friend. 7
you alone can tell of my unhappines
/, Your devoted and afflicted
Rene de Ludre.'
! deeply touched.) But he needn't G
j so far to tell his unhappiness. VIII
doesn't he come to me, and we will max
ND. Poor boy, my willfulness has mac
| him suffer! How many wrongs hay
7 to repair! But l will make them up
will, indeed, with all my heart. Here
e postscript:
n "T cannot send such sad lett
Il without a redeeming touch of brigh
: ness. Here is the funny side Of my Wis
h here: Would you believe that there
not single drawer in my room that h;
e a key!
t why. it isn't possible!
ii However, l have at my service
q fellow that answers to the name of Jea
II who loves to read manuscripts and {
}. of nv papers wherever he finds them
IT soon as my back is turned. have fou1
r only one method of escaping his indi
n Greet curiosity. 1t is the simplest w
Ie in the world, but it answers admirabl
I hide all my correspondence in the Ii
,e ing of my hat Fortunately, it nev
1t occurs to him that hat needs to
" brushed!'
,e "Ah! what clever idea! And "
le | so sure that all my guests were abs
y lutely comfortable! Let us hope th
they will find things better when tn
lg are-with u.s. With us! And just thi
that we never would have been marie
ly perhaps, if Jean had been honest, d
at Greet and hard working. Good boy
70 must give him a present. From
,e. French of Jules Legoux.