The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-02-12

find out why he has never married.
Men are very strange people They
are like those horrible sums In algebra
that you think about and worry about
and cry about and try to get help from
other women about. and then. all Of a
sudden x works itself out into perfect
iy good sense Not that thought
much about Mr. Carter poor man!
When he wasn't right around | felt 1t
best to forget him as much as could.
out it seems hard for other women to
let you forget either your husband or
theirs
know now that | really never got
any older than the poor. foolish. eight
cen years child that Aunt Adeline mar
ried off safe" all the time was the
refuge" sort Of wife would sit and
listen while the other wives talked
over the men in utter bewilderment
and most times terror. then ] would
force myself to a little more forget
ting. and poor Mr. Carter must have
suffered the consequences But all
that was a mild sort of evaporation
TO what widow has to go through
with in the matter of of. well ! think
hazing is about the best name to
give it.
Molly Carter" said Mrs. Johnson
just day before yesterday. after the
white dress-Judge Wade episode that
Aunt Adeline had gone to all the
friends up and down the street to be
consoIed about. IF you haven't got
sense enough to appreciate your pres
ent bissful condition somebody ought
to operate on your mind"
was tempted to say. why not my
heart:" | was glad she didn't know
how good that heart did feel under my
tucker when the boy brought that bas-
ket of fish from Judge Wade's fishing
trip Saturday. have firmly deter
mined not to blush any more at the
thought of that gorgeous man-at least
outwardly.
Don't you think it is very-very
lonely to be widow. Mrs, JohnsonT
asked timidly to see what she would
say about Mr. Johnson. who is really
lovely. | think He gives the the gen.
tlest understanding smile when he
! meets me on the street of late weeks.
Lonely. lonely. Molly! You talk
about the married state exactly like
an old maid. Don't do tits foolish.
and you will get the lone notion really
fastened in your mind and let some
fool man find out that is how you
feel Then it will be all over with yon.
have only one regret. and 1t Is that
if ever should be widow Mr. John
son wouldn't be here to see how quick
| Iy | turned into an old maid. by the
grace of God" Mrs. johnson sews by
assassinating the cloth with the needle.
and as she talked she was mending the
sleeve of one of Mr. Johnson's shirts.
81 think an old maid is just wo-
man who has never been in love with
man who loves her. Lots of them
have been married for years." said,
just as innocently as the soft face OF
pan of cream and went on darning
one of Rilly's socks.
"Well. be that as 1t may. they are
the blessed members of the women
tribe" she answered. looking at me
sharply. Now ! have often told Mr.
Johnson But here we were inter
rupted in what might have been the
rehearsal of glorious scrap by the
and with her came a long. tall, lovely
vision Of a woman in the most wonder
ful close clingy dress and hat that YOU
wanted to eat on sight hated hel
instantly with the most intense adora
ton that made me want to lie down al
her feet, and also made me feel like
| had gained all the more than twenty
pounds that I have shaved of me and
doubled them on again, would have
liked to lead her that minute into DIR
Johns Office and just to have looked a
him and said one word--"string beanr
Aunt Betty introduced her as Mis-:
Chester from Washington
| "Oh. my dear Mrs Carter, how gia(
| am to meet your' she said as sh,
lowered over me in willowy way, ant
her voice was lovely and cool almos
to s.imness. Il am the bearer of 81
many gracious messages that ! an
anxious to deliver them safely to you
Not six weeks ago | left Alfred Ben
nett In Paris. and really-really hi
greetings to you almost amounted t
steamer luggage. He came down t
Cherbourg to see me off. and almos
the last thing he said to ME was, Now
don't fail to see Mrs. Carter as soon a
you get to Hillsboro. and the more yo
see of her the more you'll enjoy you
visit to Mrs. Pollard Isn't he tn
most delightful Of men,? She aske,
me the question. but she had the mos
wonderful way OF seeming to be talk
Ing to everybody at one time. SO Mrs
Johnson got in the first answer
; Delightful. nothing! But AL Ber
nett is 4 man Of sense not to MARI
any of the string OF women suppos
he's got following him." she said. Mis-
Chester looked at her in mild kind O
wonder. but she went on murderin
Mr.. Iolnson's shirt sleeve with th
needle without noticing the glance a
all
We'll. well. honey. l don't kn0y
!, about that" said Aunt Bette as sh
famed and rocked her great, big. dal
I ling. fat self in the strong rocker
always kept in the breezy angle of th
porch for her "Al is not old enong
to have proved himself entirely. an
from what hear
She paused with big. hearty smil
that she always wears when she b,
: gins to tease or matchmake, and sh