The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1907-11-16

man from the State capital. l will
look and see"
He stepped to the door of the pres
he had suggested that the gentlemen
were still there.
Miss Annie did not seem much put
out or disappointed, but left the bank
with a smiling:
"All right; I'll call some other
time" ....
There was something SO common.
place about it all that the under
clerks did not even look up from the
big ledgers over which they were por-
ing, and did not notice that Frank
Maulin, the cashier. was reading !.
dainty note instead of checks as he
sat at his elegant desk behind them.
This was what he perused
Frank Maulin: Dear Friend-Papa
and mamma go to Richmond to-mor-
row afternoon. You may call if you
wish. Yours. A. H."
Frank Maulin was no flirt or SEN
timentalist, and yet he was sufficient
ly moved by some emotion to press
the bit of paper to his mustached lips
before placing it in his letter-case. He
rather disliked the underhand pro-
ceeding which the invitation implied.
but what else could he do? Mr.. Nc
Gosh had no desire for his daughter
to marry a mere cashier. and six
months ago had told Maulin so.
Il like you, Frank" he had said,
you are honest, Industrious, and
faithful: but cannot consider you as
sutton for Annie's hand"
Il have not yet aspired to be-" was
the cashiers answer.
II know, l know. but am not blind.
and l tell you I've seen lots Of things
that go good ways ITO be sure you're
not a gay society youth-and l admire
you for it-but there are some things
about you that would attract girl like
Annie You have brains; you are cool.
reserved, and yet well posted in the
ways of the world; you are independ-
ent, and, though not rich, have fair
prospect before you. These are enough
to please many a girl. but it is not
Annie that l want pleased just now,
and l will consider it a favor If you
do not pay her any particular atten'
ton"
This was plain talk, as became
plain man, and Frank, DESTROYS OF
keeping his position. could only &C
quiesce; but like any other young man
of twenty-five he did it more in theory
than in fact, and he and Annie had
many stolen tete-a-tete in spite of
the parents frown.
The next day was a holiday, and
Mr. and Mrs. McCosh had planned to
visit friends in Richmond, fifty miles
away. They started on the early train,
leaving Annie and Fred in charge at
home.
Now, Fred" said his sister. when
the morning was half gone, If YOU
want to go anywhere this afternoon,
you can" Mathematician.
Mighty accommodating! thought
Fred.
You see," she went on, II may have
callers Or may go out or something.
and you can go just as we'll as not"
Fred, not to be outdone in generos-
ity, replied that he did not care any.
thing about going and that he was
going to work in his den" that after
noon.
well, you must stay out of the par
ri
Who's comin'?'
"Oh, l don't know as anybody will.
but don't want to have company in
terrupted."
We'll, don't want to see 'em any.
how, so they can come if they wan:
to-
And that was the basis of agreement
between the two belligerents.
After dinner nothing was seen of
Fred, and Annie hoped that he had
betaken himself to the field.
Not so. Fred was hard at work on
his patent instantaneous photography,
which was already well developed He
thought no more of Armies caution,
and probably would never have re-
called it had not ring at the door
bell about two o'clock startled him.
Wonder who it isl" he calculated
Guess I'll 60 and find out" and he
late. The visitor had been ushereJ
in. and going back to his den he could
tell by the voices, though he could
not distinguish them, that it was In
the parlor that the caller was seated.
An hour later the visitor was still
there. A fact of much more import
ance to Fred was that the new photo
graphic plan was perfected.
Nov If l only had something to
try it on" he thought