The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-04-14

| BY and by came young man in
evening clothes and sat upon the third
bench from the prince. For half an
hour he smoked cigars with nervous
haste, and then he fell to watching the
face of the Illuminated clock above the
/ trees.
| His perturbation was very evident,
and the prince noted in sorrow that its
cause was connected in some manner
with the slowly moving hands Of the
timepiece
His highness arose and went to the
young mans bench.
Il beg your pardon for addressing
you." he said, "but perceive that yon
are disturbed in mind. If it may serve
to mitigate the liberty | have taken
will add that am Prince Michael, heir
to the throne of the electorate of Val
leluna. l appear incognito, of course.
as you may gather from my appear
| ance
at is a fancy of mine to render
aid to others whom I think worthy Of
| it. Perhaps the matter that seems
TO distress you Is one that would
more readily yield to our mutual ef-
forts
The young man looked up brightly at
the prince-brightly, but the pcrpcndic
ular line Of perplcxity between his
hrows was not snoothed away. Ile
laughed, and even then it did not But
still he accepted the nIolnentary diver
sion.
'Glad to meet you, prince" he said
good humoredly. eyes, I'd say you
We're incog. all right. Thanks for your
offer Of assistance, but I don't Sc"
where your butting IN would help
things any. It's Il kind Of private af-
fair you know. But thanks all the
same"
Prince Michael sat at the young
mans side. He was often rebuifed.
but never Extensively. His courteous
manner and words forbade that
"Clocks.'' said the prince. ARE
siackles on the feet of mankind |
have observed you looking lscrsistently
at that clock It's face is that of
tyrant; its numbers are false us those
on Il lottery ticket; its hands are those
of a bunko steerer who makes an
appointment with you to your ruin.
Let me entreat you to throw off its
humiliating bonds and to cease to
order yonr affairs by that insensate
monitor of brass and steel"
II don't usually said the young
man Il carry a watch except when
I've got my radiant rags on
Il know human nature as do the
earnest dignity. 81 am Il master Of
philosophy. graduate in art. and |
hold the purse of a Fortunatus. There
are few mortal misfortuneS that can.
not alleviate or overcome. | have read
your co,Intenance and found in 1t hon.
esty and nobility as well rs distress
| beg of you to accept my advice or
aid DO not belle the intelligence
see in your face by judging from my
appearance OF my ability to defeat
your troubles"
The young man glanced at the clock
again and frowned darkly. When his
gaze strayed from the glowing horo-
loguc of time it rested intently upon a
four story red brick house in the row
of dwellings, opposite to where he sat.
The shades were drawn, and the lights
in many rooms shone dimly through
them
'"ren minutes to 9!'' exclaimed the
young man. with an impatient gesture
of despair. He turned his back upon
the house and took rapid step OF two
; in Il contrary direction.
"Remain!' commanded Prince Mi.
chael in so potent voice that the dis.
turbed one wheeled around with a
somewhat chagrined laugh.
"Ill give her the ten minutes, and
then I'm off, he muttercd. and then
aloud to the prince. IN join you III
4 confounding all clocks my friend. and
throw in women too
'Sit down., said the prince calmly.
81 do not accept your addition. Wo-
men are the natural enemies Of clocks
and therefore the allies of those who
would seek liberation from these mon.
sters that measure our folics and linl-
1t our pleasures. If you will so far
late to me your story"
The young man threw himself upon
the bench with reckless laugh.
"Your royal highness, | WILL" he
said in tones of mock Difference "Dt
you see yonder house-the one with
three upper windows lighted? Well
! at & O'Clock stood in that house will
the young lady l am-that is. | was
engaged to. had been doing wrong
my dear prince. had been 4 naught,
boy, and she had heard Of 1t. want
ed to be forgiven, of course. We are
always wanting women to forgive us
aren't we prince?
- want time to think over it. sale
She There is one thing certain
will either fully forgive you or will
never see your face again There will
be no halfway business. At half pas
s. she said. at exactly half past s
N you may he watching the middle uppe
window of the top floor If decid
! to forgive | will hang out Of that win
$, dow white silk scarf. You vii
s knew by that that all is as was be
fore and you may come to Inc. /
e you see no scarf you may conside
o that everything between US is ende
70 forever That" concluded the youn
l. man bitterly. ''is why have bee
z watching that clock. The time fo
., the signal to appear has passed twer
II ty-three minutes Do you wonder tina
I am q little disturbed my Prince G
n