The Bossier banner., 1915-03-18

favorite cousin and mas no secrets from
NE am inclined to think that with
woman's perversity In such matters
bel principal object Is to torture her
suitors
Christmas has passed. and our wo-
men are preparing for New Years day.
They are making great ado about
cleaning the best room In which to re
reiVe their visitors but what for J can.
not conjecture, for it is cleaned regn-
larry once week and between times
is locked so tight that no dirt could
possibly get into it. Last evening |
spent at my aunt's, and she reminded
Katrina that she had promised to give
decision before the end of the year
as to whether she would marry Olaf
Van Vrankin or not But there SEEM
I'd to be no use IN Katrina's coming to
a decision. for her mother declared
that if she did not consent to marry
Olaf she would lock her in her room
till she did
Katrina begged her mother to let her
off till the first day Of the year instead
of the 3lst OF December. and her
mother consented. was sorry for
my poor cousin. But what could | do I
would gladly marry her myself. but
have not 200 pelts. as Olaf has, nor
can match Katrina's fortune When
| left my aunt's at O'Clock to go to
bed Katrina followed me to the door
and seemed very respondent
81 wish you to help me. Diedrich."
she said
How can help yonT'
Il have plan. J shall tell mother
| that I will marry Olaf If he will come
| for my decision when the clock strikes
| y on New Years day. IT he does not
then arrive for my answer | will mar
~ the man who makes the first call
after l2 O'clock Mother Is getting
worn out with trying to get me to
marry the man OF her choice and will
| gladly consent to this condition since
all she has to DO is to send him word
to make his call exactly at L."
"rhen 1t is all settledY
Il wish you to delay Olaf"
Il see
But wish q certain person to be
the next man to call"
who would have believed, Katrina
that one with such mild blue eyes an6
hair like the fax in the rope walh
would be capable of scheme! Whom
do you wish to call first after the moor
hour?"
'"There Is Peter De Witt"
oh He is yonr chotceT'
He will attempt to call Immediately
after II, but / wish you to delay hin
too"
But do not understand Why
Then there Is Hans Kieft."
$50 it Is he you will marry?"
"He must not come either"
Not he. either! Are you to leave
your choice to chanceY'
AFTER you have put these men In a
way to be late in calling. come and
stand by the door till the clock strikes
twelve. Then come in, and you will see
the man ! will marry
"Oh. Katrina. You are going to lei
him in at the back door,
Never mind what am going to do
but act as tell you. and warn yol
that if you let Olaf or Peter or Hans
come here before II O'Clock you will
regret It."
"Tsut how about william Van Schoon
hoven? He has been one Of your favor
ties"
"Never mind about William Var
SchoOnhoven | will take care OF hin
myself r.
SAT last the secret Is out William Il
the man of your choice"
said this very despondently, be
cause. to tell the truth. could no
bear to think of my cousin marrying
any one except myself. and /. being to,
poor to marry her. must see her wed
ded to this William Van Schoonnoven
whom. now came to think of 1t,
hated more than all the others.
1t is New Years night This day ha
been an eventful one. arose early
for | had much to do ! must keeI
three men from calling on Katrin;
until after the noon hour. Yesterday
saw each one excepting Olaf. to Sc
whom did not accord with the plan
had laid. telling Peter and Hans tina
Katrina had agreed to please he
mother by being betrothed to Olaf Va
vrankin provided he called the mex
day at II to ask her to marry him: tina
was commissioned by my cousin t
delay him and that Katrina woul
marry the man who would make tn
first cali after 12 noon also told eac
Of these two men was to arrange tha
he should be the first man to ca
, after II.
These lovers were as radiant rs wa
doyncast. and each agreed TO be guit
ed by me. | told Peter to meet me o
| the shore under the guns Of the batter
at 10 o'clock in the morning, and Han
! was to meet me at the tavern faein
5 Rowling Green at II. When 1 me
t Peter put him aboard sloop. tellin
5 him it was necessary that lie shoul
+ keep away till near y O'Clock. But
; told the skipper to keep him out till
) and | would pay him for the job.
l Hans met at the tavern. and v
sat down together to a glass I
: schnapps. While he was not looking
4 dropped powder into his glass. ar
: he was soon asleep. Telling the Ian
a lord to put him to bed and wou
|, pay the reckoning. | went of to tiT
Olaf He was sitting on fenc