The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-01-02
The Tale of a
Feather Duster.
BY r. p. SUMMERvvEll.
Copyrighted, 1907, by NJ. NJ. Cunningham

around Herald square.
The horns, the tickling busters, the
showers Of confetti, the merry inter-
mingling of class and mass, were all
too new to be quite pleasing expert
ences. He felt interested enough, how
ever, to move with the throng and to
take good naturediy the many famili-
arities of the people near him.
At Thirty-seventh street and Broad
way he saw slim young girl trying
to escape the attentions of two over
Jealous duster holders He pushed his
way to her side and the boys fed,
leaving him alone with the lady, no
longer in distress.
She was young and of an alluring,
limpid prettiness that made him feel
big and awkward and anxious about
the set Of his coat. So absorbed was
he in her general charm that her sud-
denly thrusting of a duster under his
nose was distinct shock. He had
just sense enough to snatch it and ask,
"Who are you:" when she ran away.
1
you when you give me back my dust
er." Then she was gone.
He moved with the capering merry
makers up to Longacre square, where he
learned of the defeat of his candidate
for governor, then went home. The
ding it tenderly, hoped it might prove
a means to dispel the crushing loneli-
ness which he had felt ever since he
had left his native town. He often
wondered what the letters NJ. NJ. on
the handle stood for.
His, days went about as usual. He
paid his lost election bet to the other
young lawyer at the Office. The Win
ner's not treating seemed strange At
home they always did-but in New
York everything was so different. He
began to get on at the office, and once
Judge Metcalf. his chief, mentioned
taking him home to dine, but the mat
ter never went any further.
The night of the presidential election
found him once more mingling in the
swarming pandemonium that ragged
around Herald square. He had the
duster inside his coat and was no lon
ger either lonely or Iistless, for he was
hunting for NJ. NJ. to give her back the
duster.
He wandered up and down, reading
the conflicting bulletins, but always
looking for a slender fairy of a girl
yrh ha1 tn 1, hon oysk
for two years. The great searchlight
at the Times building swung due north
to indicate a Republican landslide,
while the Journals bulletin announced
an overwhelming victory for the Dem
ocrats. Farther downtown the Herald
for the Republicans, while according
to a white sheet at Thirty first street
the same thing had befaIlen the other
party.
He wrencnea a yard long horn from
an inlpertinent Italian boy, was tickled
by a lady in an ernine coat and re-
ceiyed shower of confetti from
German housewife-all in the space Of
about ten minutes. He no longer look
ed askance at the mixed merrymakers.
1t was New York. and 1t all went"
In front of the New Grand his atten-
ton was attracted by Il gorgeous mo-
tor car On the front seat sat his lady
of the feather duster. There could be
no doubt. 1t was she.
He felt cold and scared but he pulled
himself together and, stepping to her
side, gave her the duster, handle first,
and said, "Now, will you tell me who
you are?'
She opened her eyes very wide, rec
ognized him and the duster and started
to speak when a smashing blow from
the man beside her sent him spinning
to fall With his head against an iron
grating. His next sensation was of
flying through space. Then thousand
bells rang, lights danced, voices buzz
zed, and he opened his eyes on
strange room. 1t was handsomer than
his own. and beside him sat nurse
looking out OF the window.
There was a calendar on the table,
giving the date as Nov. 16. 1t must be
a mistake, he thought-this was Nov.
{, election night, and yet there was
the calendar He put out his hand to
draw it to him when the nurse turned,
and he recognized the girl In the auto
mobile His head ached and his hands
shook, but he was good grit, and when
he met her bright gaze he said, "You
never did tell me who you are" She
laughed squarely at him, saying:
"My brother seemed to think his an
swer quite sufficient. He knocked you
over before had a chance to say any
thing. You ought to know who am
anyway. My picture has been on ia
ther's desk ever since the day after l
met you iii Thirty seventh street, and
the boys told me who you We're. 1t oc-
Cured to me then that he onght to
have one, but you never saw it, | am
Marjory Metcalf, your chiefs only
daughter.
"Tom didn't know you when You
brought me my duster. and before l
could speak he knocked you down. We
brought you home and have had a ter
rible time saving your life. The nurse
is asleep. and l stole into her uniform.
/ guess I'll have to go now or she
might not like it"
He caught her dimpled hand and per-
suaded her that the nurse really
needed rest. which she must perforce
take so long as she was without any
uniform
They had lovely afternoon. gig
Cling over the imprisoned nurse, eat