The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-02-27
who are faithless- the women Of BEL

castle. ana Snulenly from the nlSO
window CLEANED light How often
! | had watched for this light at even
| ing. sitting before our narrow cottage
| door. And when it shpne out silvery
! patch across the sea it came to me as
/ a silent message from her.
1T is THUS | bid you good night, Paul."
she had said smiled grimly that
| the recollection Of her pretty fancies
| still had power to stir my heart. And
what II strange trick was this which
fate had played. After all the years
Of silence and separation to meet Bob
npon ), train and to recognize in the
distinguished physician my boyhood's
old time friend Bob himself was
nveri,,; ;Hl ut the meeting
"You have evidently been prosper
pus, ranl." he said. with al inclusive
glance which rested approvingly upon
my belongings and my person.
"Yes." answered briefly. II have
been fortunate, and y0u2"
BObs face solered.
"As far as money goes | am not
quite sure he replied "Bnt am do
ing good where it is sorely needed"
TIe slpiled Il am physician in charge
to yGur old friends 1T the village.
Paul"
"Married?' l questioned curtly.
Rol'S laugh rang ont why. no. "
he replied Il have been too busy tn
think Of marriage
cleared my throat Strange how
difficult it was to mention her name
"And Helnis." | asked-"Helois and
her husband live with yon?"
Bob looked at me quickly. rs Il
possible that yOn have not heard:" h
said '"The, are both dead. The nld
man didn't live long. and I1elois d"'
a year after you went away
Ii was long time before either 81
lis spoke.
Paul" Rnh said impnlsiveiy. ''wh,
can you not stop off ut Rellnire npol
your return and pay me II visit? |
would do me y world Of good. old man.
So this twilight walk OF mine was tn
outcome Of his hearty invitation
It was all 50 exactly as had left
one and twenty years ago the 10,
celed hall with its great fireplace. eve
the CHEEKY faces Of the old housckeeI
er and her husband, whom time h;,
touched 50 lightly. while Bob. with hi
warm welcome and old enthusiasm
seemed still the happy hearted hoy.
1t was drawing near the hour of mic
night when the telephone summone
Bob to his study. and he came back
say that he was needed immediately !
the village.
Il am sorry he added regrctfull!
but Martha will make you comfortable
and you will find plenty Of books IN
|, cigars up in The old panel room"
The old panel room. This was whtr
we had spent so many happy evening
together. she and |. With cOnflictin
+ feelings. made my way up the oake
) stair Fireiight fickered rosily upo
i the shining panels. and at the fartht
end of the room softly shaded lam
Il threw its radiance about the readin
e table. leaving all else in shadow. \
Il my eyes became accustomed to the dil
| light | was startlngly aware Of IL
n distinct outlines of wolnans viii
# clad figure showing against the wall
Il scoting. For moment my heart han
S nered away in foolish fear: then fe
: ture by feature, line by line. the visio
o revealed itself 1t was Il painted po
Il trait of Helois. life sized. perfe
! portrait, fitted cunningly into Il sing
If high carved panel ! examined it clos
II iy. Her wonderful dusky hair ";
i knotted loosely at the back Of h
q sllapely lead. and in it's soft wav'
I nestled rose
d So the past came back to me poi.
IA antly. with reality so great. so tr''
that held my arms out to her ~
$. spoke her name. Then AS size bron
ID ed over me. calm and pitifnl. CALI
d again. "Helois. | cried, "Heois." Al
!, declare to you | did not sleep
er dream. Neither had my morbid ina
,e inings imposed upon my reason VIII
n happened is Il fact-an indisputat
i'd fact. As though in answer to u
is yearning call. the tall picture sway
s uncertainty toward me: then wi
&c charming diffidence Helois heis'
H. stepped from the oaken frame i
~ stood before my very eyes. ! fe'
g. ed to speak almost to breathe. Il
ne she should vanish from me.
ne Dear" | said brokenly-"d
| have loved you always but never
IS. much as now" Helois drew ba
I'd against the panel with stitied 81
st and there was that in her eyes viii
er | had never seen there before. A.
Il. sat helpless she glided with an alu't
lmperceptible movement into that y
nd tured inanimate thing which hll
lio upon the wall Dazedly | pressed
be hands against the canvas, then ca
fully searched each corner Of the roo
II The key was still turned in the lock
| had left it, and the hallway. whel
is looked out. was quite deserted. I'll
If. as / stood utterly bewildered sol
nd thing upon the floor at my feet
he tracted my attention--it was fr'
Ter cinnamon rose. With fingers that u
ny bled strangely | placed the flower
ay nv notebook ..And sometimes" gra
father had said. they leave a tOl
nd. behind. these women OF Rellaire
m rose, perhaps. or bit of silken seal
lat Ny visit was TO end that evenl
ne and after delightful day spent
III Viewing old familiar scenes Bob
liz prevented ut the last moment n
! ! accompanying me to the stat
nto When | reached that small struct
the ! it was only to find that my train
ow iuiled ont. so retraced my steps.
70 | listened to the pch0ing sound Of
old brass knocker. And. as tue n