The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-02-16
G1e Stinsiness
Of Grace
By MARTHA HUMPHREYS
Copyright, 1901, By T. c. Mcclure
Copyright, 1904, By T. c. Mcclure

"Who would ever have dreamed she
was SO stingyi OF course the more
money you have in this world the more
you want. She doesn't look like a girl
who thought of nothing but money.
Misery people are supposed to have
steely gray eyes and sharp chns, and
she has the softest brown eyes and a
dimple in her chin"
"Who has 'em?' asked Tom Bliss,
rolling over languidly in his steamer
chair =
Il was talking about Grace Patter-
son."
HAS she dimples and brown eyes?"
asked Tom innocently
His sister flung him q scornful
glance.
You ought to know. You have been
hanging around her ever since you
came down."
"Well. fellows got to do something
when he's on his vacation" said Tom
easily. You can't expect him to turn
woman hater when he's the only man
to twoscore Of pretty women"
''That's just why Pm complaining.
With SO many pretty girls here don't
see why you should devote yourself to
one
Margaret Bliss would have objected
to any woman her brother might have
selected as the object of his attentions.
Her love for the six footed bachelor
oldest of her brothers, was distinctly
selfish and she was glad the occasion
had arisen to prove Miss Patterson far
from perfect Tom lighted a fresh Gig
arctic, and the hand which tossed away
the match patted his sisters head in
patroniZing fashion.
And how has your ladyship been of
fended?'
You know Jim Green. the man who
has been on the beach boat for two
seasons. died last night. All the board
ers knew him. and of course we looked
right into the matter and found out
that he left his family almost penni
less. so we are going to givea fair for
their benefit. We asked Miss Patterson
to make something for it. and she said
she was too busy; then we asked her to
preside at one of the tables or to rattle
off the embroidered sofa cushion Mrs
Marshall is going to donate, and she
said she didn't believe in raf1les''
my opinion of Miss Patterson i'm
proves" said the aggravating Tom
"Many time and oft have been done
at your fairs and raft1es."
Margaret rose angrily.
Il might have known she was max
ing some sort of grand stand play
That sort of girl only cares to please
the men,
Tom leaned back in his chair and
smoked dreamily. He had rather en-
joyed Asliss Patterson's society, be
cause She knew enough to steer boat
and not to screech when it shipped wa
ter. Now he felt curious desire to
know her better. a girl with tender
brown eyes and a dimple in her chin
rarely held decided opinions on such
grave matters as hotel benefits and
rafiIes. But she was not in sight ut the
present moment. Then he recalled that
his stationery needed replenishing. and
he started for the village store 1t was
cheap imitation of the city depart
ment store, and as he was passing the
dress goods counter ON his way to the
stationery department he heard fa-
mliar voice say:
as that the best quality of nuns
yelling you have?'
It's enough better than anything
she's been used to having" said the
middle aged woman behind the coun-
ter
Tom Bliss stopped short. an amused
smile Oh his lips, for he could see that
Miss Patterson was flushing indignant
iy at the woman's rudeness
Mrs. Green may not be able to buy
another black dress soon. and want
to select something that will wear we'll
and not turn rusty"
Tom woke up Green, Green" Why.
that was the name of the man who
had handled the life saving boat. Why
was Grace Patterson shopping for his
widow? He drew closer.
Il think the henrietta cloth is better.
You can give me ten yards Of that and
three yards of the Grape; also four
yards of that lusterlesS black ribbon"
She turned suddenly, almost bump
ing into Tom.
Wont you let me help?" he said
with a note in his voice that she did
| not recognize
NO, thank you" she said, blushing
prettily under his earnest gaze u
think we have everything" He no
ticed the we and liked if.
But the Children lie urged -
"oughtn't they to have something; say.
little black frocks:'
mo. there would be no time to make
them. The funeral is ton orrow, you
know. Besides, they're such babies to
| wear black"
1T would please the mother" he
urged, possessed of sudden madness
to share i'll this shopping expedition
Miss Patterson's eyes smiled frankly
into his.
oil lot