The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-04-11

acqualntances.
Naturally conversation languished.
For awhile Mrs. Hicks kept up a
sprightly chatter, but after a mile or
two even she fell silent. Amelia sat
with clinched hands, ready to cry be-
tween anger and modification. OF
course Billy would be angry. He had
right to be- Not with her, to be sure
but, then, how could she expect him
to discriminate? Her mother, she
knew well, had the name of being
proud and a schemer. There would
be plenty of folks to tell Billy, if he
did not think of it himself, that the
whole thing had been planned between
mother and daughter Oh purpose to
make him ridiculous.
Being self made, he was keenly scr
sitve. Unless she could make him uG
derstand her innocence she had lost
him, and she did not want to lose him.
She loved ever fiber of his six foot
ruddy comeliness as she hated the oily
lankness of Brother Gillian.
Her heart leaped when Gillian drew
up alongside the buggy and said, trying
to speak jocuarly: .sWhy, Batson, don't
you know there are laws against mo-
ncpoly? Here I'm driving to town
without a soul to bear me company.
Divide, man, divide! l know it's hard
| to choose, but you must give me pas
senger''
Il have to mind the preacher, don't l.
Mrs. Hcks?" Billy asked over his
shoulder, making way for her and
checking his horse as he spoke. He Of
course could not choose, but she must
understand that she was in the way.
/ But Mrs. Hicks sat tight. giggling
and saying airily: Indeed you do,
Mist Batson! Cut the wheels the least
mite more then Amelia can step across
no need in the world of your gettin
/ out to help her-and Brother Gillian
can meet us at the Mathewses. Their
yard is such a good place to see the
! parade"
There must have been fate in it, else
Amelia would have refused. But some
power beyond herself compelled her to
obedience. In a wink almost she was
whirling forward beside the man she
hated. Billy glared after them and set
his teeth. He made no pretense of civil
talk to the woman beside him. His
heart was so sore. his mind so angry,
It was almost miracle that he did moi
drive into or over somebody. But by
good hap he got safe to his Journey
end and found himself little later
with Mrs. Hicks at his elbow, wedged
into the throng which lined the street
on either side.
Amelia and the minister We're just
across the way Neither couple had
had time to reach the Mathews haven
The parade was already moving whel
they came to town, SO they had made
what shift and haste they might
1t was & piteous parade. something
tawdry throughout, and in spots dust,
and threadbare But the lady rider:
had superb horses and sat them won
derfully, especially Sandra, queen q
amazons. who in green and gold lac,
blew kisses right and left from he
finger tips. the while making her mill
white Arab keep time with the bant
blaring ahead.
Sandra was slight and round. witt
everywhere about her the suggestion
OF supple strength. She carried a Gro!
to flourish what time she was no
throwing kisses. Every man along til
line uncovered to her, and here or ther
she got hand clapping and cheers.
As she drew near Amela's stan.
Brother Gillian said uneasily: 'Yo1
won't mind if l leave you. the other
} are SO near? And it has just occurre,
to me that l ought not to be here
Not that there is any harm in it, bu
? we must avoid the very appearance o
! evil
"Go, if you can Amelia said DULY
She was too angry to feel relief in hi
| absence.
: Rilly's face had told her things-a
she had been fearing. Since he wa
e lost to her beyond question, she had
! mad wish that the world Right ent
5 Gillian made pace away, found th
Q human wall impenetrable, then turne
t irresolutely again toward her.
+ Thus he drew to himself Sandra
|. keen gaze Those watching saw he
$ jaw set, her eyes sparkle. her cheek
a Whiten underneath their rouge-sa'
n her ride straight at the tall, black ella
n figure and lash it furiously, crying hig
c and shrill:
5 You thief! You robher-vil1ail
a You murderer. You are murderer
g the money you stole from me migl
Y have saved-our little child"
"Of all the braZen things! TO quit
. circus and turn preacher" Mrs. Hicl
said week later. But no wonder
J took us in-the deacoiis-and me an
e eyerybody-such beautiful letters as
e had. Forged. of course-and that po
n creature he left behind, playing on
with the baby just buried-by chari
e. too Amelia, it makes me creep
e think how near you came to marryil
4 such Il scamp. He might n done it If
II hadn't put my foot down that he mu
q wait till Christmas, when you'd g
5. your grandpa's legacy
'"That was what he wanted" Amel
said, laughing.
le Amelia was too happy to resent h
le mothers inconsistency. BILLY is a
ar other Sort she added after a paus
er "He wants that $1,000 put in trust
ar he can't even touch it-along with a
a other thousand from him."
I. Il always said Billy was nigh
T. good chance Mrs Hicks said, pious
IL casting up her eyes.