The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-04-27

a long envelope addressed to the Ed |
itor of the Decade Anthony had read
the verse twice. and he knew that it |
WAS better than anything he had ever
done The Decade would print it, and
the boys at the office would say: ''Saw
poem of your wife's this morning. I
should think you'd go in for magazine
work some yourself. old man."
Stella's fresh young voice made itself
heard above the ciatter of plates in the
room adjoining. ''Vhe Good Old Sum
mer Time had given way to ''Bedn-
liza Anthony paused. holding the man.
uscript, to listen:
'Oh, Bedalia. 'Dalia, 'Dalia,
I've made up my mind to stale ye;
Oh Bedalia, Bedalia, dear.'
Mere association of words shot a
sudden impulse into his brain. The SON.
net was in his hands, the addressed en-
velope was before him--why shouldn't
this contribution SO to the Decade over
his signature? Its appearance as his
composition would be in the nature of
triumph, and Anthony felt that he
had earned a triumph of one kind or
another. Il saw a poem of yours
they would be compelled to remark at
the office. And Stella? Why, Stella
could gain nothing by the use of her
name with the verse-nothing but
few dollars, which he could easily
make UP to her in allowance. Anyhow
Stella was his wife, and what belonged
to her belonged to him. If she knew
what he was going to do she wouldn't
care She would be glad that he had
found way to be happy.
Anthony seized the pen at his elbow
and signed the poem in a firm. round
hand; then he folded the paper. placed
it in the envelope and sealed it. Stella
heard him open the door of the apart
ment and came out to ask where he
was going. ITO mail your stuff to the
Decade he told her. ''Tll be right
back
But he didn't come fright back"
Once the envelope had been dropped iii
the box his guilt threw away its mask
ana rose to face him. He realized as
suddenly as the temptation had come
to him that he was Il thief. The paltry
excuses through which he had looked
at his act melted under the glaring
eyes of an accusing conscience. and he
dared not return to the tender gaze of
his wife. Great heavens, what have
done:' he asked himself as he stood
at the corner, ana What have donew
he kept repeating as the elevated hur-
ried him along to his work.
All through the day new phases of
| his plight persistently crowded into his
mind What if the editor of the Decade
| recognized Stella's style in the sonnet
and wrote to ask questions! What if
| he failed to keep her from seeing the
| especial number of the magazine in
which the poem was published! In eli
/ tller of these events what would she
| think of him? Would he lose her re-
spect and her confidence altogether?
Anthony wiped the perspiration from
his brow at the thought. She might
even cease to love him.
1t was Il hard eight hours for the city
/ editor of the afternoon paper which
4 paid for the Matthews livelihood. 1t
was harder evening which brought
/ SteIla's welcoming kiss and her half
hurt inquiry, What took you away so
suddenly this morning:n The weel.
that ensued was hardest of all. lie
had become SO morbid on the subject
of the sonnet that lie was afraid to take
the one backward course that suggest
ed itself to him-that of writing the
| editor that mistake had been made
in the signature-lest that astute gen
tleman should suspect the truth. His
eyes, formerly so frank and honest
rarely met those of his wife, who sool
discovered that something was wrong
On the elevated station one after
noon when he was going home Antho
ny saw the August number of the
Decade. Only nine days had elapsed
since he had posted Stella's poem, yet
he looked through the magazine witt
aganizing apprehension Suppose il
happened to have been used ii thai
issue? His hands We're shaking whel
he turned the last leaf, and he felt :
hysterical longing to laugh or cry
/ ILLS tltiiS 10 pay LIS LII W. NS'A :
with mel" he confessed to himself. ..
can't stand it much longer. I'm coins
to tell Stella all about it,
He fully intended to do 50 when III
opened his door and saw the love ant
soiicitude i'll the face of the little wo
man who rnet him. "There's letter il
the dining room for YOU she said
Its from the Decade. | didn't know
you sent them anything. You won
let it make you blue. will you, dear!'
NO" said Anthony shortly. IL
strobe into the dining room and shu
the door behind him. 1t had come a
|; last. What should he do with til
money!. Nothing in the world coul'
, induce him to touch it. He WASH
that kind of Il thief.
A few minutes later Stella. finally re
solved not to be angry at anythin
Anthony did when he was so plainl
!. despoudent, opened the door and stare
at him. Why, Kiddie." she said. "yo
look SO happy. Was it check?'
: NO" he replied exultantly, dropnin
j on the floor the bits of paper he ha
t held in his hand NO. A retnrne
nlanuscript--thank Gode