The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-12-10

feet and extended one hand peadingly.
"You wouldn't marry me. Miss Phoe-
be. would you?" he shouted desperate
ly.
Miss Phoebe's tinkling laugh died
away as pink flush rose to her deli
cate cheeks. II might if you asked
me, captain" she said demurely.
Il thought mebbe you wouldn't want
to leave this pretty house Of yours.
Phoebe" said the captain tenderly as
later he occupied place on the sofa
beside his fiancee.
Il figured" began Miss Phoebe
dreamily. and then she stopped. with a
sudden shocked expression in her mild
eyes-"l mean." she went on hastily,
II should think we could move this
house right down the bluff and fasten
It on to your cabin. you know"
"Surest way, my hearty sang Cap.
tain Ebenezer blithely. "And now
"You better be going along. captain"
interrupted Miss Phoebe briskly. Il
see the widder going down the road.
and you don't want to keep her wait
Ing"
Captain Ebenezer stared. aghast. He
had forgotten, the Widow Banks and
the proposed trip to Bar island.
"1'm an engaged man now. Phoebe"
he said. mopping his forehead and
looking at her out of troubled eyes.
"Oh. go along, Ebenezer. dor she
said, with playful impatience Il ain't
mite jealous. You wasn't engaged
when you asked her to 60. Bring me
mess Of blues. and you can come to
tea and eat EN-"
Captain Ebenezer's blissful smile
faded from his face as he proceeded
down the road to the beach. where he
could see the red knitted jacket Of
Myra Banks moving toward the land
ing where the Saucy Liz dragged at
her anchor. What the Widow Banks
might expect from him as a result Of
this marked attention he could not.
dared not. imagine. II he had only
gone to Miss Phoebe's first! He tried
to recall If he had ever uttered re-
mark to the keen witted widow which
might have committed him in any way
to an avowal Of love. There was none
that he could remember He had been
| wary indeed.
Here be awaitin' for you" began
Myra Banks playfully as she deposited
heavy basket on the landing. Il ex-
| pect we'll have to eat up all the vic
tuals SOS can put the plums in the
basket. Where's Phoebe?"
phoebe. she - Miss Phoebe amt
a-comin'. She thinks it's too rough
| Tor her. exclaimed Captain Ebeiiezer.
reddening under the keen gaze Of the
widow. Now. Mrs. Banks. jest step
into the dory. your foot right in the
middle-that's it-easy now-umph-
sor' With surprising agility the big
captain took his place in the rocking
boat and with a few quick. long
strokes brought them to the side of the
| Saucy Liz.
1t Is needless to record this voyage
| over the careening seas. for neither
one Of the occupants Of the sloop cared
to remember the Hnpleasantness of
|
long nauseous period of terror. To
Captain Ebenezer it was dark and
gloomy passage The successful out
come Of his wooing was counterbal-
anced by the fear of what the widow
might expect from his marked atten-
tions in the past He trailed his lines
and pulled in myriads of shining
steely bluefish ere they grounded on
the pebbly beach of the quiet cove.
/ The widow tottered ashore Oh Cap
tain EhaneZer's arm. and they sat
down, and while Myra Banks languid
" discussed the contents of tLc luncI
basket, which the captain attacked
with right good will. the widow
seemed to be revolving some weighty
matter within her mind. Il matter thai
might excuse her want of appetite aft
er the bracing voyage
''1'll help you get your plums. Mrs
Banks" said the captain. looking kind
" upon the pallid face and dishevele(
hair of his guest.
Myra Banks turned 4 gloomy eyt
upon her host and then looked bacl
over the tossing sea Of green water ant
, shudiered
Il guess it was q little too rough
ventured Captain Ebenezer uneasily
The continued silence Of the Widow
Banks was disconcerting and some
, what alarming.
, Suddenly the pent up wrath of Myr;
, Banks foun! vent. and she shook Iuiv
ering fingers in the air before the as
tonished visage of the captain.
, "Roagh. indeed. And what do yO1
! mean by a-askin' frail win,..en off ol
Il voyage like this. a-temptin' then
, with
..Sho-sho-Mrs Banks" espostulat
ed the captain Indignantly. w hateve
; do you mean: didn't hold out n
: temptations when asked yoii TO go.
) jes' asked you to go-that was air.
) Il want to go home," retorted Mr.!
Banks bitterly in reply to the captain
) last remarks. and home they wen
1 beating before the wind. mountin
? green heights Of water and diving int
i valleys flecked with foam. While th
] captain was dropping his anchor Myr
] Banks looked fiercely about the harbe
at the flying smacks. the high woode
: bluffs and around the deck OF the Sal
/ cy Liz. and yet she said never q word
q Silently she accompanied Captai
Q Ebenezer ashore. and sullenly ST
d parted from him. and then. just as
turned away from her. dangling
( string OF fish in his f:,nd. she calle
d him.
lr 'Captain Ebenezers Fl obsonr
p eyes hc shOniad hack cheeriiy