The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-04-06

OF the season, after which lesser So
cial lights might presume to shine
with authorization, everybody who
was anybody made it point to be
there and compare artillery They
made 1t special point this year since
Governor Waver's term was expiring.
and share at least Of the governors
social glory would flicker out with his
Office
Molly Marley in the first breathing
moment after the grand circle of intro
ductions led Fern about the stately
modern mansion with an air of pro-
prietorship, for this was her second
visit, and she displayed with glee the
conservatory fountains, the marble
swimming pool. the pipe organ. the
outdoor sleeping rooms and the sunken
gardens, all of which she had mention
ed to SledSe the previous day. She
had not known until afterward that
she had had this very place in mind.
"It's dream" declared Fern, with
awed enthusiasm. "Wouldn't you like
to own wonderful place like this,
Molly?'
ut isn't worth the moral price,"
judged Molly. looking about the beau
tiful grounds with sigh of admira-
ton, nevertheless. 'It would be nice.
though. after ALL" she finally admitted
Mrs. Waver doesn't seem to enjoy
It," wondered Fern. "She hides as
rouah &c rnccihlo 7 kh;yI>
"She has never overcome her fear of
using the wrong fork" guessed Molly
THAT wasn't nice, Fern" she quickly
added. Mrs. Waver is a good. sweet
woman, like my own mother, but /
don't believe she is quite comfortable
In all this magnifcence. Governor
Waiver, on the other hand, likes it and
consequently looks as If he belonged
here"
That's the trouble with most mar
riages," observed Fern from the depth
Of her twenty-one years of wisdom.
They're so unequal. It's perfectly
ghastly, Molly, for either a man or a
woman to marry beneath ones own
capabilities of expansion
What does it say on the next pager"
laughed Molly.
They were winding up out of the
quantity lighted sunken gardens, and
they both stopped to admire the cold
ly severe beauty Of the big white mar
Bile house as it lay cleaning in the
moonlight
THAT there's no danger of that with
you and Bert, you lucky GIRL" replied
Fern, with queer note in her voice,
at which Molly wondered. "Bert's a
dandy fellow. 1t makes me hopping
mad on your account when anybody
knocks him"
HAS the Lord Help the Absent
Member club got at him, too?" asked
Molly, with smile. Il thought only
women were eligible for discussion"
They take anybody" dryly CON-
mented Fern. But after all, it is
you who are up"
mel" gasped Molly. "TelI me the
worst about myself"
You've made q sensational hit," gig
gled Fern, land that's enough to send
you to the electrical chair any place.
However. they're taking it out in
pity"
They must hate me, then" Molly
felt assured at last Of her success.
But why pity?"
Bert" responded Fern. HE isn't
here"
HE telephoned me this afternoon he
might be late" said Molly, with a
slightly worried air. What of it?''
Common malice, on view in the
cloakroom, has it that he is at the
present moment unpresentable," stat.
ed Fern and waited. 1T would be
absurd if it were not so mean. gave
one cat a piece of my mind about it,
the feather chinned woman with the
purple coincidence ribbons fastened on
her cerise chiffon with brass furniture
tacks."
Molly howled at the description.
Vow she gasped. "Thats Mrs.
Senator Allerton. What did you say
to herr"
'tThat she seemed so happy to be-
lieve the worst and that
'I'I give you my little spangle fan
for that as soon as we 60 home"
promised Molly. -.'
you're almost as liberal as Sledge,"
complimented Fern. II wouldn't give
up that spangle fan for worlds. What
do you suppose is keeping Bert, Molly?'
Hes probably 'slewed,' to use the
Sledge dictionary" responded Molly
calmly.
"Does that mean the same as jag.
gedY' ..s....
"Spif1icated," )" "elucidated Molly. Dom
look SO shocked, Fern. Bert isn't in the
abit of it. Any of the boys will tell
you that he's so sober he breaks up
most of their parties"
"Then why did he show off tonight!''
Il believe they call it drowning their
sorrows" explained Molly quietly. HE
lost everything today-money. bust
ness, prospects. Sledge broke him."
"Poor Bertr' sympathized the warm
hearted Fern. why, that putty faced
old thief! Molly! He did it on youl
account! Isn't he clever! How on
earth did he work it?'
Had Bert tie up all his money, in
cluding some he borrowed, in property
Sledge deprecated in value, ther
Sledge had the bank call the loan
Bert can't pay, and the bank seizes the
property. Moreover. nobody will in
vest in Bert's enterprises since they
know that Sledge is against him."
II don't blame him for getting-wha
does Sledge call it?''