The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-12-20
And Chestwick told her.

And Chestwick told her.
You see, the difficulty is that the |
presents must come in the name of the |
girl. And" he continued, with an
amused glance at the trim figure by his
side. ''the only girl l know within a
| thousand miles is Miss Marion Sea-
ton
The girl looked at him swiftly aud
flushed scarlet Then she laughed low
and merrily.
Are you gamer" he asked. Il know
it is lot to ask. but l need the
money"
| The girl gazed at him compassion
ntely.
.'Poor boy!" she said "You must be
In bad straits"
And so it was settled. The invita-
tons were to bear the address of the
little office where Miss Seaton assisted
her impoverished mother by conducting
small business.
Within a week 300 letters were
speeding eastward from the little Cali
fornia town, among them letter to
Robert Chestwick. ST., which read i'll
,, part:
Dear Father-I know you will be glad
to learn that am about to follow your
advice and settle down In life. Miss
Seaton Is poor, but of good family and IN
every way such person as you will con-
slider an addition to the family.
All of which was true, save for the
minor detail that Robert junior had no
, intention Of marrying the estimable
Miss Seaton.
In time the presents began to arrive
The rush was preceded by an enthu-
siastic letter from Robert senior, con-
, tanning check with three figures and
: the offer of junior partnership IN
paying business should his son desire
to return east.
= Each day Chestwick visited Miss
,. Seaton's office, where the pair enjoyed
their secret hugely.
'It is the most impudent thing ever
: heard Of" the girl would announce be.
u tween bursts Of laughter.
u After carefully removing the ad.
. dresses, Chestwick, laden with pack
'e ages, would return to his now first floor
q front, for as funds went up Chestwick
! came down. The spacious room soon
4 resemblcd a jewelers. shop. Bric-a
brac, china, cut glass, silver and ever
s. gold sparklcd from every corner, like
s the treasures in pirates cave.
By the third day the amazement o.
ID good Mrs. Seaton knew no bounds. II
Ill think that this youth, who short TIM
:" ago had been without the price OF hi
e. room rent; this philosophical youn'
d. man. who despised the treasures tha
IS moth and rust do corrupt, who ha'
even thrown them away, should be tn
It. recipient Of such wealth as this! Her
IT was an enigma indeed! At length tn
M worthy woman could restrain her cur
NJ osity no longer. On pretext she yis
rd tied Chestwick's room, where she foun
oo him examining a wardrobe fresh froI
IN the tailor's. Mrs Seaton glance
around and blinked her feeble eyes
"a the CLEAN and glitter OF SO much pr
m cious metal.
I'm "You have lot of silverware," 81
ventured.' "Or perhaps it is not yours
ht 'Oh, yes. It is mine," Chestwick a
l,v sured her. "They are presents"
,o "Presentsv echoed Mrs. Seato
.ho presents! And from whom, pray"
~, From my friends. lit is my brit
no. day"
an "Your birthday" gasped the Ian
70, lady. "Your friends must be very for
or, Of YOU
80 .They are" said Chestwick. Il a
80 quite touched at their generosity. But
:. he added to himself. II mean u
rso friends are touched"
Mrs. Seaton left the room more I
wildcred than ever. His birthday,
- deed! What young man, she Wou
like to know. would receive teaspoo
and saltcellars as birthday present
There was something suspicious hel
Could 1t be All! She had it! Re
crt Chestwick was burglar!
criminal, probably escaped from sol
eastern penitentiary! He said he cal
from tile east. She would call the
81 lice at once! She wouldn't have
] Jail bird in her house another hou
~ not she! On second thought. thoul
III she would wait for Marion. Mari
III must be consulted.
81 So Mrs. Seaton placed her valuab
under lock and key and III fear
Al trepidation awaited her daughters
In turn.
"A Meantime Robert Chestwick,
n sconced i'll generous Morris ch
T1 (the gift Of Aunt Lucy, was pursu
Nj IL new line of thought, suggested
Il Mrs. Seaton's questions.
I'm dished this time and no II
take" he told himself. "In the eas
am married man. Ergo, being mil
wife. am exiled What an as
am! l don't want to spend my d
wandering up and down those parts
the world in which l am not kno'
OF course my wife might die. By Jc
w. That's it! She shall die! Mrs. Rol
WH chestwick, Jr.' he announced solel
Vz1NM Iy to an imaginary listener. "you
sM doomed to an untimely end. | am
ry. my dear, very sorry, but 1t is q
impossible that you should live
ON longer"
W" He fastened out into the street
returned shortly. carrying square
} the under his arm. After carefully clo'
inted his door he undid the fastening, ren
,htcr. ed the wrapping and. raising the
inted drew forth some deep bordered mo
/, sto- in. paper He seated himself q
ii es- handsome black walnut desk (the
e.ard of Uncle Peter, took up pearl
~. .11od non ftho Gift Of Susie Th0mn