The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-07-16
of theirs. | ask you to do the same t.


There was a moment of intense ST.
lence. broken only by the purr and
crackle of flames in the open fireplace.
The old major, straight and massive
and gaunt, let his eyes flicker for a
second or two into the eyes of each of
his gnests, but he did not smile. Jesse
briggs, fiorid. powerful. smooth shay-
en-; his brother Tol thinner and more
precise; Bud Hall, blond and romantic:
Iank Cary! Summers, and the sallow,
mystic son of Fitzpatrick. each met the
glance in turn.
1--WE all hope you'll live long to enjoy
life, ajor, exclaimed Jesse briggs,
with sudden return of his natural
buoyancy.
1.-The SOUTH" said Fitzpatrick fervid-
~, has none too many of your kind
left, sir
81 knew that you gentlemen were all
sons of your fathers said the major.
| with Il prophetic smile. when you re-
sponded SO promptly to what must
have struck you as my strange invita-
| ton If folks have forgot the road to
| Clibourne hall it's my own fault. l
haven't beer hospitable I've felt that
my day was gone. And if I've called
| you all out on night like this it was
because of II special occasion. | crave
your indnlgence-for an old mans
idea"
Why. we were all just too glad to
| n,,srr ol.,f,
ed The others supported the asser.
ton heartily.
/ Il hope that your recollections of to-
| night" the major said. Twill be no less
glad"-
..They will be-" several interpolated
ed Jezebel to get US up a little dinner
of the kind that used to delight MS IL
the old days. l dare say that 1t is
ready now, although that rascal Jerry
has failed to notify us. Let us adjourn
to the dining roon.''
The dining room. like the other apart
ments of Clibourne hall. had gone into
gentle decay The red silk that hat
once adorned its walls was tattere6
and stained The two large portrait.
--one OF the major in the pride ant
glory of i, new gray uniform and an
other. very formal. but beautiful not
withstanding of Mrs. Clibourne VIII,
had died thirty years ago-were like
wise tarnished with age and neglect
Yet Jezebel and Jerry, the two oil
servants, aud possibly the major him
self. had evidently done their best t
give the place an air of festiyity
Here also was an open fire of hickor
logs. There were a good many candle
about A good dea! of the ruin wa
concealed by clnmps of holly or tn
red and gold branches of sweet CUR
and oak
AT the door stood old Jerry in in al
titude of respectful attention. He ha
doHned wrinkled dress suit of III
tique cut and a pair of white cotto
gloves.
Tol briggs was the last to ente
"Jerry." he asked in a hurried whi'
per, what's this all about?
D The negro raised look of agon.
God help us. sah!'' was all he said.
It was o'clock by the old hall cloc
a when they sat down. The dinner VIZ
served with slow solemnity. And
spite of the excellence of Jezebel
cooking, the scuppernong wine. the st
:. ries told with hardness and skill |
!, Jesse briggs and the gallant. almo
y cheerful speech of the major. the
!, kept recurring to the thoughts of mo
than one who was present-perhaps
;. all of them-a sense of vague impen
ing tragedy. 1t was almost midnis
) when Jerry. tiptoeing out of the ROOF
closed the door behind him.
:. Instinctively the five guests look
y at their host.
- Gentlemen" he said. I've summo
- ed you all to do me a great favor. L
:, done it because of the names you be;
: II the spirits of your fathers are he
;, with us tonight-and who can say th
- they are not they will look. Z
youtly believe. with appreciation
what am about to say and OH What
r. am about to do
He looked from one to the 9th
y kindly. but searchingly. as though
: detect any sign of weakness or q
trust. Then he drew quick brea
- and said softly. Henry is not here
night"
For II moment no one spoke. L
~ ticking of the hall clock became a 10
and important sound. Then Bud ID;
,-9 the romantic one. expressed hlms
- - with something like sorrowful REM
no ~strance.
= "Henry's mighty fine boy. majo
There was murmur of approval.
- Il thank you. sir. the m;ljor repll
u thank you ALL I've never been I
air suaded that his mothers hopes
= mine were vain. He may have *
wrong through kindness OF heart
through tloughtlessness or thro,
-, pride. know that he expected to
:, great things for Clibourne hall !
=. lieye he wanted me to pass the rem;
- der of my days III luxury. He told
. SO
.I .Is The major smiled. His guests
- watching him with.strained attentie
,., srlien there was that furry in
~ cotton MARKET used to be interes
lnu in the cotton market-and the rs
s!isiocatioll suppose. OF well
= plans. It used TO be that way.
''' nose it is the same today. And lie
is reported in the newspapers Us bt
Aeu short in his accounts some $1.0Oo
81 50 $1,000"
'u', The majo drew from his pocke
..I;n,,;r,u which