The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-04-24

hour ago we had not met, yet I could
describe to you her every mood. could
picture the soft, dark waviness of the
hair her hat conceals."
"Bobbie." / said sharply, have you
grown fanciful too?"
He strobe away at that. deeply Of
| Tended, but afterward l saw them Of
ten together standing side by side Oh
| Lovers bridge. Bette Jones and ]
| talked it over.
'"That girl hypnotizes every one"
Bette complained. Here is the rector
/ himself asking me to invite her to my
lawn party; says it Is a personal re
quest concerning the stranger within
our gates Between you and me, Nan.
I'd rather not. Her face gets on my
nerves."
| "Never mind" l said nervously;
don't try to remember, Bette" And
then 1 went with her to bestow the re
luctant Invitation. Her much discuss
ed guest had just returned from a
walk, the hotel keepers wife informed
us. and she called to her from the foot
of the stairs.
.Missie Beller' called the woman In
her caressing southern way. "Oh.
Missile Belief"
In spirit of mockery BETTE and l
took up the name. So the girl became
known among US. With pretty diff
dence Missile Belle refused Bettie's
generous invitation.
Bobbie was more like himself as we
rode i'm his car few days later.
"You will believe some day that !
am in earnest. Man," he said, "just as
much in earnest as Ned. Why, would
would consent"
"You do not mean to say that you
have asked her SO soon?" l cried In
alarm.
asking her all the time,' Bobbie
coolly replied. ''She will not have me,
Nan, and that's the truth. Puts a
quick stop to every word on the sub
ject"
"But what do you know Of her, Bob
bic BronsonY said impatiently.
what has the girl told you Of her
self?"
Nothing" Bobbie sighed. IL do
not wish her to tell me. love the
girl. Nan. That answers everything"
So how could one reason against SO
convincing an argument? From the
sudden illumination of Boobies colln-
tenance l knew that his divinity was
near, and. sure enough. down the path
came little Missile Belle.
"Yon-you said you would be busy
this afternoon" poor Bobbie STAN
mered. Twill you ride with us now?'
Missile Belle shook her head. II can
not" she answered. II have another
engagement"
Even as we fingered there came
swiftly toward Us a high. smart, car
riage. Its driver. a vulgar appearing
man, held the ribbons In approved
fashion With easy familiarity he mo-
toned the girl. and she sprang up
lightly. taking a seat at his side.
81 have seen her driving with that
man BEFORE" told Bobbie. do you
know who he ISL"
Bobbie steered the car about. IAN
I know Of the girl is her unconfessed
love for me and my love for her," he
said.
Oh, I was glad. glad when Ned
returned from his travels, but when
pointed out Missile Belle in the street
l turned aside with an almost hyster-
zeal laugh at the>words I knew he
would say.
where have I seen that girl be-
| fore7" unused Ned. Then his face
cleared visibly. Il remember" he con-
tinued; ut was In New York city.
She was passing Grants monument.
! walking arm in arm with sporty
| looking Individual I recollect the cir
cumstance perfectly, though can't
tell why l do. By Jove," Ned ended.
'there comes the fellow now"
And as Missile Belle and her former
companion passed on together Ned
looked after them In troubled way.
81 am sorry old Bob has fallen in love
there" he said.
The next morning as I started into
town the Bronson coachman stopped
the pretentious old family equipage in
the road, while Boobies mother beck
oned me to seat inside.
my DEAR" she began at once, 1.-THE
rector and I have been exceedingly
anxious about that strange little crea-
j ture who stays. alone at the hotel. AS
we we're returning last evening from
visit to the mining section we met
the girl running.as one pursued across
a field in the lower part Of the town.
Her hair hung disheveled about her
shoulders, while her skirt was ragged
and torn. l am sure she must be
either In need of advice or assistance"
It was evident that Boobies mother
had no suspicion Of her sons infatua-
ton for the strange girl she would be-
friend
But exciting events followed in
quick succession after this. and our
sleepy village awoke to scan eagerly
each fresh arriving city paper. for
the undesirable stranger, who had
been seen often In the company of