The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-02-06

He always took thought for me and
tried to make 1t as easy for me to bear
as possible, but when 1t come to dying
l reckon everything else seemed little
alongside of letting you know, so he
asked me, and I've come. I'd have
come sooner. but l Couldn't just
couldn't But along about month
ago see a piece in paper about you.
1t said you hadn't wrote any since your
husband died Everybody was pushing
you for stories and poems. but you just
raulln't get started to work again. |
There was picture Of you too, f"n
looked kind of sad and sweet. as If
you didn't see much in life, and all at
once my heart softened to you all at
once! fell down on my knees along
side the little girls crib, and cried
| oh. my God. how I cried! And prayed
too And somehow it got easy for m"
to start So I'm here"
Mrs Grandon was pale and trembling
! with emotion 81 am distressed at yonr
pain. cannot imagine what yon have
| to tell me, but If he wished It :"
| much
| "Yes, he wished 1t. ! didn't think
you'd know or that you eyer cared for
him, but he-he just worshired yo"
like he did the little girl"
But that was great many years
ago. r.
"It lasted as long as there was life in
| him That was what ho wanted !
! should tell you He said he couldn't
| lie in his grave without yonr knowing
it. He-right ut the last-he asked mo
to swear I'd tell you-tell you that
there hadn't been day In fifteen years
that he hadn't thought of you and seen
you just as plain-just as you used to
look and dress. He spoke particnlar
about white hat you used to wear. 1t
had wide brim, rolled back and faced
with white silk. There was wreatl,
of green holly leaves and red berries
around the crown"
"Oh. this is terrible! pray you say
no more
1--WE come all the way from Dead
wood to say more. At first. of course,
/ hated you awful. / could have put
my hands around your pretty slim neck
and crushed the life out of you. |
didn't find it out till after the little girl
was born. He just would name her
Carella. 1t was such a queer name
wanted to know where he got it. but
he wouldn't tell. Well. one day an old
friend of his family come to see the
baby when she was six months old
She was looking over the album when
. she come to your picture with your
. hair down in one braid and your face
all dimples and mischief. and she cries
out: Why. good land, here's Carella |!
Do you let Valentine keep her picture
now? That's the way. She couldn't
make bread, and yet every young man
in town would have give all his eyes
for her. never see her beat She
could have married all of 'em at once.
She couldn't make bread. Her names
Grandon now. and they do say she's
handy with her pen-writes pieces for
the magazines. That's the way. \
, woman can be good housekeeper and
, wife and mother and work like a slave
, ADDING her duty, and along comes an
! empty fool head of a woman and gets
all the men. Carella, she couldn't
: make bread!
We'll my heart Just opened and
shut l saw everything then. When
she was gone I went at Valentine like
a Wild panther. ! guess. He didn't
deny thing. He said he'd as soon
, deny Christ rs to deny he loved you
He said he always had loved you and
he always would love you, but thai
you didn't care for him, so he didn't
think it was wrong to marry woman
he liked and be a good and faithful
and affectionate husband to her.
suppose"-she laughed drearily-"there
is a difference between love and affec
tion?"
Mrs Grandon said gently: II thini
there ls But. implore You. tell ms
no more"
There amt much more to tell
You'll see more in it, maybe. after Tn
gone and you set down alone ant
think it over Get 1t clear that wor
SHIPPED Valentine from the minute
first saw him and never had though
of any other man. Well. it nearl.
killed me- I used to set and look a
your picture till my eyes would al
most jump out of my head-and hate'
your She arose and walked M ant
down the room. But after year 0
two I conquered it. He was so goo'
and gentle to me, | reasoned 1t ou
that love isn't love unless It's Willin
to 60 along without eternally thinkin
of itself made up my mind to e
on allowing Valentine just as unselfis
and silent as he'd been loving you
and did After the little girl die
he seemed to get closer to me an
fonder of me- He couldn't bear m
out of his sight. and used to Ia
\ awake nights and listen to him shaf
ing the crib and saying. There. ther,
ST little girl and | got the notion tha
n all thought of yon had gone out OF HI
II head But when his last sicknes
: come on so all Of sudden he was o,
e. of his head and he called everybod
h 'Carella.' 'Carella,' he'd cry ou
d a-thnwing himself In bed, I've name
1t the baby after your or. 'Carell
s, where's your hat7 The hazelnuts Al
IN ripe
Il Mrs. Grandon's agitation was det
or and real ''Oh, can bear no more"
O: "It was worst Of all" said Mrs. Me
re edith. unheeding. when he'd drop b
voice till it was so tender and sa
~ 'Carelia. come and kneel here alongsi'