The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-08-31

his cropping masculine sense there was
something coquettish, playful, alluring,
about it. But there it was, held firmly
as an ensnared fish by the two sharp
hooks, surely the strangest object
fisherman ever caught.
"Where'd it come fromT' demanded
the boy who had come out to unharness
the horse Then, suddenly, as If the
joke were just revealed to him, he
burst into loud guffaw, in which the
young man Joined in spite Of himself.
Later on he worked it out. It must
had waited for him to drive past. He
remembered distinctly now that she
had paused there at certain crossing,
waiting for him to get by, sort of
shadow girl who had seemed part of
his musings. Doubtless she had passed
close behind the buggy and the bobbing
poles with the dangling hooks had par
odied the tragedy of Absalom. But
how should he find her and restore her
| lost headgear?
The same problem was tormenting
the brain of the owner Of the hat, and
| as result the postmistress received
| two notices within the next hour with
the request that she put them up in the
postotfice.
IF the person whose carelessness"-
| the word "carelessness'' was under.
scored-"led to the unlawful acquisi-
| ton Of a hat last evening will leave
same with the postmistress the owner
will feel in some measure placated,"
read the first one. And the second was
like this: IF the owner of hat that
mysteriously disappeared on Tuesday
evening will leave her name and ad-
dress with the postmistress 1t will be
| returned Immediately"
Before noon of the following day the
young man, now thoroughly alert and
no longer the dreamy, needless fellow
Of the night before, might have been
seen vending his way along one Of the
broad, shaded streets Of the village,
gingerly carrying parcel wrapped in
tissue paper. His anxious scrutiny Of
the houses showed that he sought some
unfamiliar place, but at last, after q
final vacillating moment, he opened q
gate and went in.
In the comfortable, old fashioned par
lor he waited for the owner Of the hat;
waited-though he did not know that
until later-for the appearance Of the
lady Of his life. 1t was not that she
was wondrously fair or in any way
distinguished, as the heroines Of the
story books always are. He never just
found out why 1t was. but from the mo-
ment that the slender. girlish figure ap-
peared in the doorway and turned quiz
zical eyes upon him his heart beat to q
new, strong theme.
But didn't you hear me call?" she
asked when they had laughed, explain.
ed and apologized, he for capturing the
hat and she for the underscored word
in her notice. Didn't you hear me
shout oh, man, stop?"
He shook his head penitently, fol
even so soon it seemed incredible that
with her voice calling he should not
have heard. Then the talk turned tt
other things, and with glad sort of Z
shock he discovered that in town they
lived in the same square.
"And to think that have never seer
your' he exclaimed with slow wonder
as if the thing were scarcely credible
and thereupon the girl laughed. for sh'
had seen him again and again, always
with warm approval Of his swinging
gait and a certain air that said that b.
could look out for himself and some
body else beside. Once, she remember
ed, she had wondered who the some
body would be.
Probably it's because you never fish
ed for me before" she ventured mis-
chievously, and then she caught her Iii
between her teeth and wished sh
hadn't spoken, for his face becam
very earnest, and there was conquer
} ing ring in his voice as he answers
slowly but determinedly:
= Perhaps So But from now on I ar
: going to fish for years If need be-fis
| until you yield from sheer wearines
of seeing me sitting motionless on th
9 bank-until 1 can win you for m
own"
l And he kept his word SO we'll tina
now they not only live in the sam
, square, but in the same house.