The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-11-16


dare say?"
Eyes. It's clean, and lit the fire half
IN hour ago"
"Such a lot Of trouble and expense to
60 to for a foolish old woman" grum-
bled Miss Burnet. Mother says she
always had as little sense as the law
allows. But that doesn't alter the fact
that she Is coming to spend her few re-
manning years with us and that she has
100000 to leave. suppose she will
land here tomorrow, and we'll have
this bother all over again. Well, Ill
spend 500 on mourning for her when
inherit it!'
"She will never leave me anything,
averred Nancy Goodwin. "My mother
did not marry to please her, and Aunt
Ellen never forgave her. But'-briskly
buttering some fresh toast-''if she ever
were to remember me Id'-
go to college, l presume" ended
Helena contemptuously.
'Yes, that l wouldv' rejoined Nan
resolutely. There's no hope of that"
she sighed. Nov, try to eat few
mouthfuls Of this and drink your tea"
Helena stared from her cousin to the
strange guest and back again.
do you mean to say you've gone out
of your head, wasting good food OH a
tramp?" she shrieked.
"Hush!' begged Nan, trembling with
modification. you will hurt her feel
ings.'
Feelings, indeed!' She glared at the
stranger. 1.-The rain Is over now. She
can 60 about her business"
Nan stood before her cousin.
''She is sick and cold. She can't g
out of the house tonight. Let her sleep
in my bed. I'll make up shake down
on the cot" Then, hurriedly, as she
saw angry refusal in the others eyes,
''Don't make me leave you If you value
my work.
What do you mean?"
"Only that Mrs. Hunter across the
street has offered me $40 week as
housekeeper In her home. I would have
no more labor there than here, where l
| uAl pau AOtuiiS. AAu SAdII uCScut
her offer today if you make me turn
this poor old creature outv'
well, I declarev calculated Miss
Burnet. But, aware that Nan was
quite capable of doing what she threat
ened, she made tempestuous exit
from the kitchen. Overcoming her
apologize objections, Nan assisted the
old woman up the stairs. On the Sec
ond floor they passed bright room.
hung with rosy chintzes, with a jolly
fire rollicking in the CRATE.
Il wish l might take you in there, y
she whispered. But that Is intended
for Mrs. Franklyn, who is coming t.
stay here. You shall have her chicken
broth, though said the girl detcrmin.
edly. ''She can't need it any more than
you do"
And when she had tucked the feeble
body into her own narrow bed she
brought the chicken broth. But that
night when the dishes were washed the
girl climbed to her room she found
her protegee very ill. She was feverish
Occasionally she lapsed into delirium
Nan was frightened, and as the wo
man grew worse she sped down thu
stairs and across the street for DR.
Meeker.
pneumonia" he said. Exposure
eh? I thought so. Practically hope
less. What's that, eh? You want ,
lawyer" He bent to listen. Zoo
soul, what have you to will?"
John Meeker," she painted, don
you know me7"
I'm young DR.. Meeker. John Meek
er Is my father. I'm trying to he a
good a man. If I can build up hi
practice that had fallen off l hope t
make home for this little girl here" :"
The old woman smiled and nodded.
you'll get me Il lawyer maybe
you know that am Ellen Franklyl
No, don't call the others. Helena
like her mother, cold and selfish.
heard her for myself today"
The physician did what he could an
fastened away. His experienced ey
told him she had been i'll several day
and that the exposure of the afternoo
was fastening the climax The Law
yer returned with him, and the hous,
hold was aroused. The old woln;l
chuckled, exhausted. but triumphan
as she fell back after signing the will
, "I've left Helena a hundred dollar
to buy that mourning she was so $,
, on," she whispered "You can g,
your learning while he's making ii
, home for you. Twas the fine fells
, his father was, mind WELL
And not all the wrath or lamentl
tions of Helena Burnet and her mot
er availed to impeach the validity I
the will, which left the property ,
, Ellen Franklyn to Nancy Goodwin.
. Il shan't hold you to your pro:ni.
, now, DEAR" Charlie Meeker said who
, he came to see the girl off to the I'LL
versity you are an hciresS no,
, Everything is different"
: THAT isn't differentv' she reptile
! with emphasis. You loved me when
. was common drudge. You mustn
stop loving me now that am goil
, to fit myself to be n wife of whom "
may be proud"
I He smiled down at her.
, '.My dear. my dear,' he said,
, prince might be proud of you. Here
the train"