The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-10-05

fonder Of inquiring about the letter than
of making metaphors and similes for his
discourses for the Sabbath day. The poi
son of the temptation entered his blood
and grew with insidious rapidity. He did
not realize it until a fortnight after the
holdup in the woods.
Then like flash Of inspiration 1t dawn
ed upon his mind. He was seeking Gym
thia's society not for the sake of the let
ter, but for the pleasure of her company.
He had been deceiving himself all these
days, weaving web Of delusion around
his life that was as dangerous as the
temptation of the drunkard He was
drunk-drunk with the wine Of love.
He groaned in spirit and beat himself
with mental castigation. He was worse
than the hypocrite who deceived the
world, but was honest to himself. Not in
all his days had he yielded to such sin
and fallen to such depths, and when he
gazed up at the heavens again he had a
new light Of determination In his eyes.
His hands were clinched. 1t was the
beatiic expression Of the reformer which
shone on his face. He would pay the
penalty of his sin in sorrow and pain.
This shall be my last visit" he MUIR
| INJURED. II shall return to my duties and
forget that / have drunk so heavily and
deeply at the fountain Of love. Oh. man.
| weak. weak man.
When he reached the porch OF his be-
| loved's home he was a sad and quieter
| man. with thoughts on things spiritual
rather than material. No words about
| the letter escaped his lips His walk and
| smile were sedately solemn.
But there was no reciprocating mood to
greet him. Cynthia Trimble was alive
with happiness and coy delight She
| held aloft a letter. Its whiteness was not
more snowlike in its purity than her
| hand.
| 1.-THE letter at last!' she exclaimed.
"Why do you not ask for it? Seer
The Rev. Sextus Worterly turned pale.
and his jaw dropped with an ominous
click; his hands cIutched his side.
did you think it would never cone?'
she asked. lingering 1t lovingly. but the
| writing is-well, I would hardly know
that 1t was
She looked up for the groan was the
groan Of one in distress.
my sins have found me outbound me
outr'
"Was there anything in the letter that
that you regret saying?" she asked softly
He looked at her. Her face was deli.
| cately tinged with red. The eyes were
unnerved him. He forgot his resolutions
his temptation, his sin.
mo; nothing that I regret. 1t was al
true
Then as she picked absentmindedly a
the letter he added:
"The letter! Now that 1t has come CIV
it to me-"
She shrank back shudderingly and re
piled: ''No; 1t Is mine. I must keep It
IL shall always treasure it,.
The Reverend Sextus gazed mutely a
| Ho~ ,t,,d oAo r.yffh
And you are not offended?" he salt
slowly.
She answered with restraint, but witt
eyes full bent upon him:
mo, no. Why should be offended?'
'"rhen'-and the words came slowly
then my sin is not-not sin. I feared
would offend you. But IL 1t has not m,
love must find some response in you
Cynthia. The letter has not been withou
avail"
: A few minutes later he touched he
hand and said:
"But the letter, Cynthia. You will Civ
| It to me now"
mo, no; never!'' she protested. 1T
mine, mine always. I cannot give it up .
LAS you say, dear" he responded
while the pride of a newborn Idea entere
his bosom. 1t was sweet to have anothe
) cherish his composition.
And you Will call me reverend Se1tu
mo, Sextus-simply Sextus?" he added.
"Yes. Sextus-Sextus. dear" she mad
answer as she tried to conceal the lette
! in the folds Of her dress.
I But the letter! It was not given I
q | him. When the Reverend Sextus le
. Cynthia gazed at the Elusive epistle, wit
its faded chirography. and mused softly
c He didn't know the difference, ar
r what's the harm? I thought as muc
d And 1t was proposal after all. | VOL
der what he said"
]. And she sighed for the impossible. 4
his letter had not been delivered.