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


here" spoke one Of them, with twang |
in his accent. What dye call it2
Somethin' broke loose from the picter."
Shaggy pushed his companion In the
background, replying: "Ye don't under
stand yer bisness, Pete. It's me ole
frien' what gave me lift when / wuz
q youngster. He's a minister. Amt
you?"
The Rev. Sextus Worterly rose with
dignif1ed slowness from his seat on
log and made reply as bef1tted his posi-
tion in life:
You surprise me at your rudeness.
1t pains me exceedingly to see you In
your present plight
"Jest what l was tellin' me pard,
Shaggy made sharp reply, advancing.
Its painful to be broke, an we're
sick of it. We've cum to ask ye to
help u.s."
Il should be only too glad under or
dinary circumstances to lend assist
ance to you, but the suspicious appear
ances of things compel me to-
Eye shouldn't suspect honest men
Jest because they happen to be down
on their luck. Now, see here, If you
wuz"-
The man seated himself on the log
which the aged minister had just va
Gated, but Pete suddenly pushed for
ward and growled:
II amt got no time fer yer tomfool-
cry, Shaggy. Ye can sit here an talk
| with the old gent all day, but I'm OF
| after / get what he's holdin' in his
pockets. Come, old man, shell outr'
Pete had thrust hand into the
pocket of the affrighted and dunn
founded minister, and while he was
rifing it the Reverend Sextus gasped
aloud:
"Do understand that this is high
way robbery-that I'm victim Of foot
pads, Of common thieves"
Unresistingly up to this time the VIC
| tim of the holdup had permitted them
to extract from his pockets all that
they contained, but at the sight Of the
letter addressed to Cynthia his whole
manner underwent a marked change.
He clutched the hand that profanely
held the love epistle.
'sNot thatr he said. "All else, but
not that!'
can why not?" demanded Pete. ut
must be valuable II We set so much
store by it."
He flung the detaining hand from
him and held the letter above his head.
The Reverend Sextus lost his balance
and rolled in the dust and leaves. When
he recovered himself the two men
were moving away, counting theiI
cash and-and-yes, reading his epis.
tie to Cynthia.
The men cast leering grimace over
their shoulders. Pete held the letter
aloft and jeered. well see that she
gets it. Well take it up to her or mai
it IL we don't have the time. By-by!'
When the men disappeared as sud
denly as they had presented them
selves, with the leafy foliage inclosins
them so that they were lost to sight ane
hearing, the agonized minister liftet
his hands and head in a mute appea
to heaven for justice. The tears weliet
from his eyes: the lines Of his face
deepened; his limbs trembled ant
shook as though stricken with palsy.
The sonnet and epistle writing habi
had at last born it's bitter fruits! Gym
thia would in one moment know all
and through such source! To hav'
common tramps to deliver letter o
proposal to her was too humiliatins
She who had won and held the love 0
two noble husbands must view witl
scorn and contempt SUCH profan
abuse Of a privilege.
The minister brushed his clothes o
+ the leaves and twigs as he hurrie'
through the narrow path leading bacl
to Daleville. An hour later he steppe
briskly, if somewhat uncertainty. u
the gravelly path leading to Cynthi
Trimble's pretty cottage. She wa
there on the porch to receive him. Fo
once he did not see her welcomin
smile or the curves of the plump cheek
or the mantling flush of the brow.
Its pleasant day." she greete
afar off, rising to meet him.
The Reverend Sextus painted with hi
exertion. He dropped into seat o
the porch and gasped.
THE letter! Have you received It:
| She smiled eagerly and shook he
| head. 81 have received no lette
| What letter Is it?'
] A crafty expression entered the darl
ening eyes Of the minister. He hesita
T. ed and stammered: 1.-THE letter-al
.s yes, what letter? I forgot. You di
1. not know"
Y. "No, did not know" she murmure,
e. 'But I'm anxious to know"
al I'll cannot fell you now" he stan
IA mered Some day-yes some day-I WI
a. tell you.''
Then, thinking of the tramps and the
. threat to mail 1t II they had no time
deliver 1t, he added, "But II the lett
D. comes you will-will let me know and-n
III read it?'
IS There he was treading upon woman
!. ground, and Cynthia knew her prerog
g. tive. She shrugged her shoulders and a
~ swered, "Yes; II 1t comes I'll tell you"
And you'll not read it?''
y She shrugged her shoulders again a,
~ looked away.
ne .'I saw two tramps go by here a sho
time ago. she said ''They seemed In
great hurry I wonder II they have be'
60 doing some mischief"
in The Rev. Sextus Worterly was a clio
rh reader OF character. and he studied h
10 face suspiciously until he was assur
e OF her innocence.
Then the Reverend Sextus rose to I
1t. murmuring to himself:
u :