The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-11-09
WRITTEN IN
ASHES
BY Crittenden Marriott
c.put0ht, 1906, BY p. C. Edstment


mitted Frank to the parlor The voices
Of both had been low and the mans
footsteps made no sound on the soft
carpet rs he advanced into the room
advanced SO silently that girl. stand
Ing by the mantei. with her face rest
ing on her outflung arm, did not hear
his approach.
Frank halted and gazed ut her with
devouring eyes. There she stood, she
whom he had come a thousand miles
to see. She had sent for him and he
had come. Henceforth she was his
forever.
Suddenly muffied sob reached his
ear. ''Oh. Frank" came a murmur.
1--WE lost you: lost your
Half smiling. half grieving. the man
started forward. 'Oh. no. Kate" he
exclaimed. "You haven't lost me-nor
shall you."
With startled cry the girl swung
round. Then she threw up her hand.
Tending him OF. "Mr. Howardr' she
exclaimed. "Oh! Obi Oh! IL beg
your pardon. You-you startled me-
When-when did you arriver"
This minute. Old Tom let me In.
Ii couldn't help hearing what you
said. Oh, Kate
you didn't. didn't say anything.
You heard nothing. Oh. IL you are 4
gentleman you will forget everything
you heard. Oh, can't stand it!
can't stand It." With a sudden turn
she tried to rush from the room.
But Frank Intercepted her KATE,
Kate!' he cried. "l'll forget 1t II you
want me to; though It was the sweet
est thing I ever heard. But
Cease! Cease! You will drive me
madr'
"Why 50, Kate, darling7 Don't"you
care for me at all7 I hoped when you
telesraphed me-
II telesraphsd you! didn't! 1
didn't: What do you meanr'
"You didn't telegraph me! Then who
didr' Instantly it flashed ON Frank
that his letter must have fallen into tho
hands Of some practical joker, who had
taken advantage of it to mock him. ut
was cruel trick" he continued bitter
"; "a cruel trick"
Trick echoed the girl, her eyes
half blinded with scalding tears, which
she tried desperately to crush back
1T was no trick. Kate telegraphed
you, of course. Who else7''
Kate? What KateT'
'What Katel My cousin, Kate
Breck. Of course"
kate Breck! What in Gods name
had she to do answering my letter to
Jour-
ITO mer The girl faltered, and her
cheek changed suddenly from red to
white. ITO mel" she whispered again.
TO met Oh!' With q gesture Of
despair she. buried her face in her
hands.
With q single step, Frank was by her
side and had grasped her roughly in
his arms. YES" he cried. "Yes. to
you. To you, whom have loved ever
since the first minute saw you. To
you. who have been my star of hope
for more than year. To you, of whom
have thought, for whom have tolled
for whom I have Oh, how could
there be any mistake about IT.
wrote to you and to you only. r. !.
Your letter was addressed to Kate
Breck." sobbed the girl
1T couldn't have been." insisted the
man, pressing the yielding form closer
and closer. Il remembered the simI-
1arity OF the names even when was
writing and took particular pains to
make sure l addressed It to you-tO
yOu--to you. But 1t doesn't matter
now-nothing matters now. My dar-
ling. have surprised your secret. For.
give me for 1t, though God knows how
/ happy it makes me. But give you
mine in exchange. love you! love
you!"
But the girl pushed him back. freeing
herself suddenly.
1T is too late" she said hOllowiy-
''too late. Your letter came to Kate.
and she accepted you. She loves you,
Frank, almost as much "a l do. think,
and she has accepted you. You must
80 through with it now. You will pre-
tend-you will marry hery'
MARRY her! l will not! I'll do moth
ing so foolish. 1t was n mistake. I'll
not ruin all our lives by pretending"
"Rut you must
There is no need" interrupted a
voice. And Kate Rreck. white to the
lips. but with spot of bright color
blazing on her cheeks, stepped into tho
parlor. Il owe you both an apology
she continued as the two faced her.
''It wasn't my fault at first. but after.
ward. Your letter was addressed cor
rectly, Mr.. Howard, addressed to Kate
Mason. but it was delivered to me by
mistake with some other mail and was
opened by me without noticing. You
begnn Dear Kate and had read II
nearly through before realized that
something was wrong and looked at
the envelope. Then saw what had
happened. My first impulse was to go
straight to Kate My second was to
take advantage IT your proposal to
help lie in plan of my own. IL
: