The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-03-30

tie companion, still breatlless over the
Wondrous angel in evening clothes
whose determination had carried all
opposition before him. Even the fat
landlady had been subdued into defer
ence and helped to dress her quickly so
as not to keep the young gentleman
waiting.
Wixton glanced down at her thin lit
lie face. sharpened by suffering; at her
two crutches and her simple white
frocks To his surprise, she appeared
tastefully gowned.
She told him quite simply. with lit
tie pathetic quaver in her voice. about
her ambition to be great singer; how
she had fallen through a trapdeor left
carelessly open by the stage hands one
night utter the opera was over and had
been il tho charity ward OF a hospital,
where they had not seemed able to
cure her; how she could walk only
little way without hurting
When they reached the opera house
the first act was nearly over.
WiIton gathered up her slight form
and strobe up the wide stairway as if
his burden were Il baby. At the door of
the box lie halted. 1t was slightly
ajar. sold the other seats?" he ques-
toned of the usher.
Only one to a lady," answered that
worthy and volunteered further The
whispered Information that she was
;,> %J,,
fourth box farther down and came out
Ill and went away. After Il bit she
came back with q ticket for seat in
this one"
When Wixton ushered his charge into
the box he found. to his surprise, that
the place was unlighted. The curtain
had Just closed on the first act. and the
solitary occupant was shrinking into
| the farthest corner as though seeking
to avoid observation.
JOHN reached out to press the electric
button and turned in the blaze of light
| to confront the woman who had re-
fused him the week before. His lips
| tightened. and his face went white.
"Eunice. You here?"
The woman turned lovely pale face
| up to him entreatingly without speak
| ing. This unlocked for contretempS
| had destroyed her poise. woman Of the
world though she was, and left her as
excited and embarrassed as Il school
girl There We're traces of tears about
the dark eyes. hollow from sico9less-
ness. Her soft white throat worked in
| the stress of emotion. and her bosom
rose and fell pantingly.
At last she found her voice. 1t was
sweetness Of it the mans heavy heart
pounded Ike Il mad thing behind his
immaculate shirt front.
Jack she whispered, "if you don't
forgive ne and love me 1 shall Gle.
never Greamed till mamma made me
and never was engaged to Billy Laun-
ders at ALL | couldn't be-not if the
/ whole family rose up to slay me-"
The orchestra began tie overture to
the next act. The wild. gypsy motif Of
the immortal opera rose and bathed
them in its melting torrents of love
made into music. The little cripple was
leaning over the edge of the box wait
ing breathlessly for the curtain to rise
on the familiar scene she loved.
"Jack. darling it. That music
has been killing me till you camel Do
you remember that night We
John reached out an auGacious thumb
and pressed the button on the wall As
the box was enveloped in darkness he
crushed her close in his arms, unable to
say one word
On their way home in the carriage.
when Eunice had been told the little
cripple's story, she laughed tenderly in
her new found joy. 50 nearly lost. and,
with one jeweled hand in Johns and
the other caressing the young girls
pale cheek. said with a confidence that
the future proved not unfoundel:
II shall take care of her. her voice
her future and her back. l know a
great doctor who can straighten out
this little ones tangles. even as she
has been the means of unsnarling the
dreadful knot in my web of fate