The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-02-06

Ac dShcu.
"He tells me he's taking out pretty
fair stone; but. good gracious" Miss
Loyilla laid her shuttle in her lap and
spoke with pleasing briskness-'' ''thc
stuff in it that shines like gold amt
gold at all, just copper. he says. and
don't believe It's worth digging for:
but, then. he's making the best of it. |
guess
Unlucky looked at her with Il smile
to which his face was alEos; stran,
ger. Then it died away into an express
sion Of thoughtfulness. Sometimes,
Miss Scanlon, l wonder if this sort of
life is best for any of us fellows
There's your nephew" The man hes
itated and gazed wistfully across the
canyon at his own little shack. He
might better be trailin' good home
somewhere back east-and wife,
Unlucky came to an abrupt stop and
twisted the stems of the flowers, but
there was an expression in his eyes
that deepened the pink in Miss Levi
las cheeks and caused her to glance
beyond him.
Immediately her attention was ar
rested by a mans head among the will
lows across the river. The head wore
a brown hat and was moving toward
the upper ford. She frowned as she
recognized Dutch Jo, who kept sa-
loon on the Meadows Unlucky's
glance also followed the progress of
the brown hat, and when its wearer
had forded the stream and turned to-
ward them he arose, quietly laid the
flowers on the stone and, with brief
Good day, Miss Scanlon," departed
Miss Lovi:la glued her eyes on her
work. apparently oblivious of the pres
ence of the horseman until he had dis
mounted some distance away. his
broncho refusing to approach so I'M
accustomed an object as woman,
and greeted her with "Gut day. Mees
Scanlon''
Then she arose and laid her work in
her chair. Good morning, Mr. Sahler
You want to see my nephew. l pre-
sumo" Her voice savored only Of
business. A
"Nein." Dutch 10 covered her with
covetous albeit respectful eye and
abstractedly fingered the Handle of his
six shooter, which he could manage
with more dexterity than lie could the
English language. Say! Marry NIT
me, heinz? he finally burst out
Instinctively Miss Lovilla shrank
back and glanced at the flowers. "Oh.
no." she cried hurriedly Il couldn't
possibly"
The man wasted no further speech.
| but, stepping deliberately on the bou-
mounted his horse and rode OFF. leav-
ing an indignant woman nursing the
| trampled blossoms. The clock striking
| II aroused her to a sense of her house
hold duties. and when her nephew en-
| tered the lean-to kitchen she was her
busy, serene self again.
81 declare, Aunt Lo,'' he exclaimed
merrily. "you are getting nicer every
day. l don't wonder the boys all want
| to marry you"
A half bsshful smile touched his
| aunts lips. 'Pshaw. Alf It's because
I'm the only woman here Now, if
Abigail and Salina weren't married
and were here you'd see''-
Alfred removed the towel from his
| face and interrupted solemnly. "Aunt
Lo, when Gabriel comes down with his
trumpet | expect to hear you tell him
that if there happens to be seat left
after AbigeI and Salina have been
ushered to ne front pew, why, you'll
take it, please. and make the best of
| it,"
"Alf"' Miss Lovilla demonstrated.
Nevertheless she looked pleased.
Praise had not come her way back in
| New England
"And I'm 'oo1in' to Gabe to say" AL
| fred continued, that he's reserved q
box seat for the best and sweetest and
most nnselish little woman on earth.
Now, Aunt Lo, don't be shocked. but
| tell me what poor unfortunate struck
the matrimonial trail today. You look
ed guilty when came in. Whose
horse was it saw at the door?''
''That-that Dutchman's from the
Meadows" returned Miss LovilIa in 4
tone sayoring of the snap of whip.
Alfred threw his head back and roar
ed Dutch Jor' Still laughing. he
entered the living room, raising his
voice as he continued. "By Jove! He's
the thirteenth too That's unlucky for
himself or some one else. His mark
can't be too crooked either, for If
there's man this side of Meeteetse
without Conscience
The closing kitchen door shut out the
rest of the sentence
/ Sniffle was throwing a long shadow
eastward that afternoon before Miss
Loyilla sat again in the doorway with
her tattin' and greeted the stray pros.
pectors as they struck the trail across
Brown. 1t was Kilbraid of Meeteetse
that finally brought look of alarm to
her eyes and sent her gaze searchingly
down the canyon.
Clutch Jo come up behind me fight
in drunk" said Kilbraid. laughing
"swearin' like pirate and hittin' Oui
with his quirt at every flower he pass
ed. It's a right good plan to be on los
best side such times as this"
Miss Loyi!la glanced behind her al
the ominously crooked thirteenth lins
ind shirered when her informant Ee,
ridden on. Then she laid her tattin
aside and watched for the appearance,
rf brown hat On the canyon trail
/ simultaneously with its appearance
igure emerged from the shack on T.;
side of Spar and disappeared amo ;