The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-04-13

ran the household. reducing friction to
the minimum, making life a continual
joy, grew into a sort of religion to him.
And it was something of this sort
that he said to her one night. scarce
knowing that he was saying it ana
adding to it humble request that
she marry him.
She looked at him oddly for a mo-
ment. Then she laid her hand upon his
arm and said half kindly, half mock
ingly:
what you want is housekeeper.
Mr.. Wentworth, not wife" Then. a
little more earnestly. "Please let us
not remember And Wentworth, feel
ing more discounted than he cared to
admit tn himself, did his best to obey
her
After this life flowed smoothly on for
another six months. the ripples closing
over the night when Wentworth was
rejected and leaving no sign.
It seemed sometimes as if his latch
key admitted him to another world
where all was order, simple beauty
and good will, where every hour made
him stronger and better. Little by lit
tie lie had become a part of the small
family, often making third in their
cozy drawing groom-sometimes talking,
sometimes reading and again scolding
OF advising Ethel with the freedom Of a
big brother.
Ills appreciation of the delightful
nominees and ease led him into his
second blUnder. It was a clustering
night in November. On her couch
Mrs. Manice, who had been less well
than usual. lay sleeping. while Ethel.
who had been playing Schubert with
dreamy unconsciousness, wandered off
into some improvisations of her own.
Presently Wentworth laid down the
book that he was reading with an al
most suffocating sense of the dearness
Of it all. Then suddenly Ethel stopped
playing and rose from tie piano. The
action seemed significant. Wentworth
was Jared by the thought that just as
abruptly might the slender thread by
which he held this utterly delightful
home be snapped. Mrs. Mance might
grow worse: Ethel might
He gave a sharp sigh. He would not
suffer the thought. and again from the
fullness of his heart he spoke.
Ethel" he pleaded. lis it 50 iElpos-
sible? | can't tell you what all this is
to me. How could l ever get along
without you:"
But again he was stopped by that
odd. impenetrable glance. Again with
smile. half kind, half mocking, she
looked up at him and answered, You
want companion not wife," Again
they grayely agreed not to remember
And soon after the illness of a mar
ried sister called her away. The weeks
came and went. and her stay prolonged
itself dismally. it seemed to Went
worth. though under Mrs. Manice's di-
rection things went on as smoothly as
usual. Apparently everything was the
same. and yet he smarted under an in
tolerable sense Of difference All the
creature comforts We're there and pleas
ant companionship, yet the soul Of
things had fled. And then suddenly he
understood. and the knowledge made
him strong and humble.
1t was on the evening ef EtLels re-
turn that he found himself alone with
her for few moments.
Dear little girl" he said brokenly.
"Tm not asking you to marry me. I'm
not mad enough to do that again. But
want to tell you this-that love you
with my whole heart; that l shall al
ways love you: that would rather
have loved you in vain than
Two slender arms We're about his
neck. and soft voice was saying:
Eat last. you darling. l really believe
that you want a wife"