The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-02-05

throws himself down and slides along
on the grass on his little stomach as
he sees the real players do over at the
bail grounds. Then all Of sudden.
before | knew it,, just did the same
thing, and we slid tc the flowerpot
we use as Il base together. each on his
own stomach And what did Billy do
but begin right there on the grass the
kind of tussle we always have in
the big rocking chair on the porch.
Over and over we rolled, Billy chuck
ling and squealing while laughed
myself all out of breath I'm glad
always would wear delicious petit
coats, for there. looking right over
my front fence, ! discovered Judge
Benton Wade. / wish l could write
down how l felt. for l never had that
sensation before. and don't believe
III ever have it again.
I have always thought that Judge
Wade was really the most wonderful
man in Hillsboro. not because he is a
only white sprinkle in his lovely
black hair. that grows back off his
head ike Napoleon's and Charles Wes-
Iey's. but because Of his smile. which
you wait for so long that you glow all
over when you get 1t. I have seen
him do 1t once or twice at his mother
when he seats her in their pew at
church and once at little Mamie john
son when she gave him flower
through their fence as he passed by
one day last week, but l never thought
| should have one all to myself. But
| there it was, u most beautiful one
long and slow and distinctly mine-at
Billy. | sat up and blushed as red all
over as I do when first hit that tub
Of cold water.
| Il hope you'll forgive an intruder,
Mrs Carter, but how could mortal
resist \ peep into the garden of the
gods if he spied the queen and her
| faun ut play?" lie said in a voice as
wonderful us the smile. BY that time
had reefed in my ruffles around my
feet and pushed in all my hairpins.
Billy stood spread legged as near in
front of me as he could get and said
in the rudest possible tone of voice:
Get away from my Molly, manr'
never was so mortified in all my
life, and | scrambled to my feet and
came over to the fence to get between
him and Billy.
It's a lovely day, isn't it, Judge
| in
terest, which didn't really feel in the
! weather. but what could 1 think of to
say? \ woman is apt to keep the i'm
age of a good many Of the grand men
she sees passing around her in quees
inches in her brain, and when one steps
out and speaks to her for the first time
it is confusing. OF course l have
known the judge and his mother all
my life. for she is one of Aunt Ade.
lines best friends, but had a feeling
from the look in his eyes that that
very minute was the first time he had
blushed some more as l put my hand
up to my cheek so l wouldn't have to
look right at him.
about the loveliest day that evel
happened in Hillsboro," he said, and
there was still more of the delicious
smile, though l hadn't noticed it sc
especially untiI'-
But l never knew what he had in
tended to say, for Billy suddenly swell
ed up like a little turkey cock and cu
out with his switch at the judge.
"Gft, man, git, and let my Molly
aloner' he said in perfect thunder
tone of voice, but l almost laughed
for it had such a sound in it like DR.
Johns at his most positive times will
Billy and me.
mo, no, Billy, the judge is just look
ing over the fence at our flowers! Dom
you want to give him rose? hur
ried to say as the smile died out o
Judge Wade's face and he looked a
Billy intently.
How like John Moore the youngste
is" he said, and his voice was so COLI
! to Billy that it hurt me, and l wa
in peoples voices always makes m
feel just like ice cream tastes. Blu
Billy's answer was still more rude.
You better go, man, before brinl
my father to sic our dog on you," b
exploded. and before could stop hin
, the garden path toward home.
!, Then the judge and l both laughed
We couldn't help it. When two peopl
laugh straight into each others eye
, something feels dangerous and you ge
, closer together. The judge leane'
| farther over the fence, and went
little nearer before knew it.
''You don't need to keep persona
dog. do you, Mrs. Carter:" he aske
? with a twinkle that might have bee
i a spark in his eyes. and just at tina
moment another awful thing happened
Aunt Adeline came out on the from
porch and said in the most frozen ton
Of voice:
, MARY, wish to speak to you in tn
, house, and then walked back throug
, the front door without even looking i
, Judge Wades directions though he ha
waved his hat with one of his mother
, own smiles when he had seen her bt
, fore did. One Of my most impossibl
habits is when there is nothing else
do laugh. | did it then and it save
the day, for we both laughed into eac
+ others eyes a second time, and befor
, we realized it we were within whisper
: ing distance.
? NO, | don't-don't-need any dog,
Id SaetlI laa ,.lll.. ola lal.ilax ont frou