The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-09-09
Well, it happened that Laura and I

Well. it happened that Laura and I
wanted ncw blouses for the autumn,
and we Thought we might as well have
them by the time the count came. So
mamma answered a dressmaker's ad-
vertisement in the Herald, and we
called that we engaged her on the spot.
She was quite unlike the usual dress
maker who goes out by the day. Miss
Croft looked quite a lady. She was
tall and pale, and she must have been
very beautiful once. What struck US
particularly, however, was her sad and
spiritless air. Laura was much inter-
ested in her and, Of course, invented
a romantic story about her. We gave
up our little sitting room at the end
Of the hall to her when she came to
work. for, although the count appar-
emily regarded papa as merchant
prince" I shouldn't call our house
palatial. Laura and l took it in turns
to help Miss Croft with the work, but
did not find her very companionable.
With Laura, it appeared, she was diff
ferent: but, then, Laura has way Of
drawing people out. In fact, one day
Miss Croft told her history, which
greatly rejoiced my sisters romantic
soul. l confess it Interested me not a
little when Laura told it to me. 1t
but she had resumed her maiden
name, as her marriage had been such
an unhappy one and she wished her
husband to lose all trace Of her Her
parents had kept hotel. and once
when she came home for the holidays
from boarding school gentleman
guest much above her in social posi-
tion had paid her great attention and
had eventually proposed to her
Her parents were ambitious and
were most desirous OF the match,
while she herself was much attracted
by him, though the difference in rank
troubled her. He overcame all her
misgivings, however, by protests that
undying affection like his rendered diff
ference in birth an empty phrase. So
her handsome dowry. for her hus-
band was poor in worldly goods. He
gave out, however that "love in cot
tage" was his ideal. She had rude
awakening. Her husband ran through
all her money in year. then i'll treat
ed her and finally deserted her when
she refused to ask her parents for
more. Just as she had reached this
point of the story broke in upon it.
I had been watering the plants in the
drawing room when, to my surprise
and alarm, l saw the count walking up
the path which leads to our front door.
You could have knocked me down
with feather. as the saying goes
few down the passage to Laura, for |
knew she would wish to change her
frocA. At first she looked little cross
at the interruption, but when | whis-
pered who was there she colored up
with pleasure and managed to rush
upstairs before the front door was
opened.
We felt SO vexed that we had been
taken Dy surprise In tnat way, Dut we
had not expected to see him so soon.
He must have followed us on the next
boat. The best tea service wasn't out.
! the flowers in the drawing room were
| faded, and we hadn't our new blouses
after all. Still, things always do hap
| pen ''contrariwise," and it didn't really
matter, for the count was just as
| charming and amiable.
He professed himself charmed with
our house, and his compliments were
just as flowery. While we were at
tea young Peters, great admirer of
Laura's, came in, and the count looked
quite jealous when he called Laura
by her name. I must say that Peters
| didn't seem nuite at his ease in the