The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-01-02

looked ut Dorothea curiouSly as he told
the news one night.
Allowed to see no one" he finished
briefly" "delirious most of the time
typhoid
Dorothea crept numbly UP to her
room. DO you think she asked the
terrier fearfully. that he will die:
And does he care for me still ! won
der? Because if I thought that he
cared would 80 to him now tonight
Put how can one tell? Men change
Perhaps he was glad after all to br
free He did not wish to love lne." the
girl went on musingly IL made him
do it. He always said my horrid mon
ey kept him from me. but now-if !
could only he sure that he cared
Dorothea sprang to her feet 'I.over
she cried contemr:mously. Love-" If
he had known the meaning of the word
could he have remained silent. could
he have stayed so long away?'
When Paul Richard. turning rest
lessIy upon his cot mt the hospital.
looked up once r, ore with rational. see
ing eyes. the nurse held out to hlm a
great bunch of roses-bride roses they
were-filing the room with their fra
grance Fer u moment the bright color
famed in the sick mans face. and with
an eager motion he reached for the ar-
companying card
Il will read it to yon." the nurse Of
ho cd, 81 yy-1,n had
bestowed the bouGnet would not have
been f1attered ut his attorneys sudden
lack Of interest in his gift
''Taka them away" Richard said tes
| tily Il can't bear-f1owerS."
Dorothea had known pretty fash
| ion of wearing roses in her hair Down
| low she wore them, tucked into that
| wavy knot just below her little ear
The fragrance had heen waited to him
across the musty lawbooks. he re-
memhered. when she had sat there in
her fathers chair. so invitingly near
and yet so seemingly far away Why
had she bridged the forbidding chasn
of wealth and caste only to leave him
with heartache and memories In the
end? Or had she realized her mistake
| perhaps with the return Of her OLD
time lover?
She had been with Bob MaheN
much lately Tommy Ryan kept hin
informed of these occasions. And whe
could stem the tide Of Tommy's gar
ru,ous tongue? For this she had blam
ed him rightly. and yet Tommy was 9
stanch friend. his unconscious com
radeship as free from impertinence as
that of child That the boy woulG
do or die for him under any ani
all circumstances Richard never doubt
ed, and perhaps at the bottom OF hi.
heart was fellow feeling for thi:
courageous lad of the streets. wh'
was striving even as lie had striver
against difficulties
Richard turned to the nurse again
mo lctters?" he asked and sank wear
lily back at her gesture of assent.
what fool you are!" he grumblct
tiercely into the pillows. IF she care!
for Bob Mahcw can't you let her hav'
her happiness?"
whats that?'' cried CHEEKY voic'
from the doorway. and uninvited Tom
my Ryan entered the hospital room
doctors wanted to throw me ont" IN
announced pleasantly. "but told thin
was your particular friend
Richard smiled fecbly. and with
skilIf,ll throw Tommy hung his cal
on the post of the bed
''Ye look as II ye hadn't been over
feedin'" the boy continued; then as h
stood looking down at the thin. wor
face TonImy's voice sank to husk.
Mr. Waltcn" he said Its up to YOU
If there's anything that's worryin' jis
throw ii off your mind"
Richard laughed shortly How
busness?" he asked
The boy chuckled ''Fine." he ;r
swered. "if it weren't for the flower
iist chokin up the place They kee
comin' in for you. and as We haven
been in Il state to know flowers fror
cabhages. sir. we held thin dow
there"
Richard sat up with unexpecte
strength You didn't destroy th
cards? o. he questioned anxious!y Ton
my. who was making haSty scare
through various pockets. laid Il sna
package upon the co,Inl"rlE,ne. the
shrewd and watchfml eyes. The squar
Jaws tigl,ened a.greSSively as lsichar
read the cards and one by one lai
them quietly aside.
II thank you. Tommy he salt
Come in again
Miss Dorothe:. entering the Ott1C
upon the following morning. met wit
n cool reception from the usually obs
quinuS Office boy
Father in?' she questioned. AM
this hein. fathers unrhanycable iuncl
J con hour. Tommy Ryan might be e.
ruSed the stare of surprise which We
D his only response Perhaps Dorothe
n hoped that the boys talkative tende
.es might be turned to her own ;dva
I .age. for she smiled into the obdurat
frecklcd face
"Your employer improvingy 81
questioned carelessly.
Yep" said Tommy
Il am glad to hear ii" she conti
: led with assumed indifference
TIE boy leaned forward That
u nip.-sage?" he asked quickly For
4 moment D0roihea'S eyes wavered h
I fere his. so krenly searching
mo. she answered at last. and h