The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-10-07


your mind, Miss Susie, you can send
Swanson over to my place and let me
know, and III git here so quick you'll
think I've been setting by the gate al;
the time. but I'm likely to be to home
messin' around the Kitchen" returned
Mr. Loring gloomily as a whiff Of
warm berry pie came temptingly
through the front door.
Again there was silence behind the
morning glories.
Mr.. Loring's manner changed to one
Of grave anxiety. "You heard what l
said, Miss Susie?"
II heard" snapped Miss Susie.
when change my mind I'll not send
Swanson. I'll come right over myself
and tell you"
II amt lookin' for no miracles In
these days." retorted Mr.. Loring good
naturedly. Then his voice became Sc
rious. Il hope you're keepin' watch
on the river, Miss Susie. Last year
your brother pretty near got aoated
off. and it wasn't anything to what 1t
is now. It's rained for nearly a week
up in Harpers, and If that bridge goes
well. your house and crop III go too"
'T'm not afraid SO long as we don't
get any rain here" returned Miss Su-
sic comfortably.
You better make that lazy Swede
keep an eye on the river. and II 1t
rises any more I'll come over and help
you. Well, l must be movin' along!
Afternoon, Miss SUSIE"
Afternoon" returned the lady be-
| hind the morning glories.
| Miss Susie strained her eyes for q
: backward wave of Pete Loring's hand
when he reached the corner of the last
| field, but his head was turned toward
the river. whose yellow current was
gradually rising to the level Of the
steep banks Once or twice he glanced
back at the low browed house lying 50
near the bank and felt some degree
of relief in the recollection that his
own comfortable dwelling was perched
| on knoll above highest water mark
and must necessarily be place Of
! refuge for his less fortunate neighbors.
/ Six months previous Miss Susie had
! come from her eastern home to live
! with her widowed brother. but scarce
: ly three months had passed before lie
had succumbed to an attack Of heart
disease and thus had left Miss Susie
mistress of the hundred acre farm and
the we'll meaning but sluggish Swan
! son and his capable wife. Selma
Comely. dark eyed Miss Susan had not
lacked for advice and vigorous assist.
ance in managing the farm. for she
found kindly neighbors all about her.
and Pete Loring had been her chief
adviser in caring for the crops that
had been planted by the energetic
brother. but Pete had spoiled all things
by desiring Miss Susie to change her
quarters and become the mistress Of
the Loring home. and his quiet per-
sistence had vexed the usually ami
able little woman to the point of an.
tagonism
"He might know couldn't make up
my mind all of sudden after being
single for forty-fve years." she mur-
INJURED rs she watched him ride ont OF
sight. She thought of the miles Of
whispering grain fields that divided
her farm from Pete Loring's place
and her face grew somewhat anxious.
In the northern counties rain had
fallen abundantly. but in Painted Rock
the crops were slowly crisping in the
merciless heat. and now this swelling
tributary Of the Missouri. fed by the
copious rains at its source. threatened
complete annihilation Of the harvest
With little sigh and sense of
guilt Miss Susie responded to Selma's s
call to dinner As she ate of the
toothsome viands and tasted the de-
licious berry pie she thought of the
hungry little Lorings' dining on mush
and milk. They were lovable chill
dren. helpful. obedient little things.
and it was too bad that they were
motherless: there was only the busy.
kindly father and the drinking. igno.
rant old Indian woman. Mahona. to
care for them.
'"Take one of these pies and pail.
full Of the dinner over to Mr.. LOring's,
Swanson" she said. going around to
the kitchen door after dinner. and II
was with some relief that she watch.
ed the slouching figure Of the Swede
riding down the road, large basket
swinging from one hand.
1t was long after midnight wher
Miss Susie awoke to the drip Of rail
on the roof and the soft rush Of wa
ter outside her window. There wa.
sickening motion to her bed, and
she was conscious that the furniture
/ In the room was creaking and stirring
ominously.
, She called Swanson desperately
There was no response. but sh'
, thought she heard faint cry from
, outside 1t came from above.
"rhe roofr' she said dazedly. HI
Is up there! Why. the house is afioatr
). The floor slanted perilously as sh'
slipped to the edge Of the bed ant
tried to stand upon her feet. Some
) how she managed to strike mattel