The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-09-04

"OId you prIn9 all tnese TOR me, hoos
erta?"
the best of care l can live only few
years and that's thanks to my goad
constitution
"A few years." she shifted What
did you expect, at your time of life!"
He thought it wise to change the
subject and hurriedly leaned ove:,
raised the napkin and peered into the
basket
"Why! Did you bring all these for
me, Roberta? That was very thought
ful of YOU"
II guess you don't need them. Pre-
tending to he sick to get peoples SYM
pathy because you've been beaten"
He smiled, not in amusement at her
asperity. Its like you to cover up
kind act with sharp words. What
an escape the men had that you
wouldn't marry"
"There weren't any to escape"
"Yes, there were. remember that.
You were what they call beauty.
weren't you? Why" he asked in snd-
len curiosity, didn't you marry some
,ne Of them?'
Because" she said simply. ''you
were too busy being fn love with Anne
Dunmeade to notice me-"
"Eh? l-why. Roberta" He stared ut
her blankly. Then his manner quickly
softened She perceived the change
and drew herself up even more sttily.
If that were possible Her lips straight
ened in a severe. thin line.
You needn't be sorry for me,
have been glad | escaped. ever since
| found out the kind of man you We're.
Id have made man out of you"
II guess" he smiled grimly. you'd
have found it hard job, as you seem
| to measure men. But ! guess you
could have. if any one could
She turned on him in little unex.
pected gust of ferceness. But not
the kind of man you are! Not cow
ard to quit fighting the very first
! time you are beaten. ! thought you
were one when you left your regiment
before Gettysburg. but ! excused you
on the plea that we needed men at
home too But now Her unfinish.
ed sentence was eloquent
His establishment was genuine Eth!
| believed you thought me a bad man.
You ought to be glad was bcat
"Bnt John says you're better man
than Sherro1."
Only" Murchell amended. shrcwdly
guessing. "he put it that Sherrod is a
worse man than | am, didn't he? |
don't believe I'm coward. few
months ago did intend to quit was
very tired and my sickness was COM
ing on. But now-Robcrta. can you
keep n secret?'
"l've kept one for forty years"
so YOU have. Well. the other day
got my doctor to tell me the things
must eat and must not eat to kecT
alive as long rs possible and then tolt
him to go to the devil. Roberta. it wa:
the first time I've sworn since | JOINED
. the church"
Miss Roberta kept her smiles for rare
. occasions Il wish ! could have heard
you" Which concession she imme
diately negatived by adding. Il sup
pose you're going to do the same kin'
Of thing over again"
!, Roberta. you're the most consistent
~ inconsistent person III the world
+: You mean am l going to turn reform
: er: You can't teach an old dog ne'
). tricks"
Not il he doesn't want to learn.
. expect"
= She rose to go. He followed her e'
ample. though urging her to remall
!, She went few steps toward the doc
then suddenly turned and walked bac
= to face him.
:. = "Wly don't you help JohD"'
1t was his turn to stiffen anSrii
: . "You ask that after the way he a
= tackled me and created a sentimel
against me that paved the way II
'o Sherrod to beat me? He's responsib
:" for Sherrods getting on top. do yt
= know that? l gave him q chance u,
= years ago, and he wouldn't take it.
will do nothing for him.
~ And besides" he added more mil
le
ld Continued on Page -Four.