The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-10-25
'om anxiety concerning his cxpecte,

0flue.
Miss Withers went to Ovcraker's
room. knocked gently at the door and.
receiving no other reply than snorc.
pushed the door open sufficiently to
enable her to look in at her slunlber-
ing fiance. He seemed so dead tired
and was resting SO comfortably that she
had not the heart to awaken him. Go
ing downstairs to her friend, she said:
Il don't know but that we had bet
ter permit him to remain in ignorance
of the fact that he Is in private
house. He is very sensitive as to his
treatment of others, and to know that
he had spoken to my friend and hostess
as IL landl;ldy would dampen his spir-
its for the wedding SO soon to follow"
81 have been thinking Of the same
thing and quite agree with you." re-
piled Mrs Chester. There will be no
necessity to make an explanation.
You can tell him about it at some
future time
At the end of two hours after Miss
Withers' arrival the time appointed for
the wedding arrived. and the butler
was sent to Overakers room to awak-
en- him and announce Miss Withers' ar
rival. The announcement tended to
arouse the lieutenant, who completed
his toilet and. going down into the
dra wing room, embraced the girl who
WIS soon to be his bride. She ex-
planned the delay in her arrival. and
her presence uniniured did away with
the shock that might otherwise have
been expected.
II think we need some refreshment."
said Overaker and, stepping to an elec-
tric button, pushed it. The butler en-
tered. and Overaker said:
Bring us in bite Of anything you
may have in the larder and let me have
| wine card"
The butler had been coached and re-
tired with simple "Yes, sir" The
| bride to be was about to inform her
lover that he was making a mistake,
but changed her mind. concluding to
let the matter take its course. There
being some delay in serving the re-
freshment, Overaker rang the bell
again. intending to give the butler a
| piece of his mind for being so long.
But tile man brought with him tray,
On which were dainty luncheon and a
bottle of wine.
"Ail right" said Overaker. where's
the wine card ?"
"The landlady says that it will be in
the BILL" was the reply.
Lieutenant Overaker and his bride
to he enjoyed q very delicious luncheon
together. Overaker. it must be admit
| ted, was more in condition to make
merry than his fiancee. who was be-
ginning to feel somewhat concerned as
to tile treatment the friend who. was
permitting the use of her house for
the bridal was receiving at the hands
Of her lover This belief that Mrs.
Chester was landlady and was to
receive pay for what she was giving
was becoming embarrassing. Some.
thing must be done to change the
| status.
"Don't you think" said Miss With.
ers, that since Mrs. Chester has been
so kind as to make the arrangements
for our wedding we should invite heI
to lunch with usg'
Certainly. Bring her in"
Miss Withers went out and returned
with Mrs. Chester, who played her part
as Iandlady admirably and treated the
bride and groom with the respect due
them from one of her station Over
aker drew the line between his land
lady and an equal, much to her amuse
ment. while his fiancee was trifie EN-
barrassed at the situation.
The wedding was set for 4 o'clock In
the afternoon. Overaker was to leave
to rejoin his regiment at 5, while the
bride was to remain for brief visit
When the parson arrived the house
hold entered a room that had been
i properly decorated and awaited the
coming Of the bride and groom. Tho
latter was somewhat surprised at the
richness of the decorations and votel
the landlady who had prepared them q
trump. But what surprised him more
was to lind her gowned and jeweled In
a manner not befitting the landlady ol
the Chester inn. There was still an
other surprise-a necklace that only {
person of wealth could afford. which
Mrs. Chester gave the bride for we'd
ding present.
BY this time Overaker began to sus
Feet that something was wrong But
he did not communicate his suspicious
to his bride Shortly before leaving the
house he said to her:
II suppose am In for some expense
in this matter"
''l1ot ut ALL" was the reply. .Sinct
we could not be married III Chicago
where all the expense would have
fallen on my father. the bills here arr
all paid. the same as II the wedding
had taken place at my homo"
But began the groom ard paused
But what:'
"How about the luncheon aud wine
orderedt'' stammered tho lieutenant.
The bride broke into laugh callet
her friend. ''the landlady." and al wa.
explained to the groom.
His remark on being enlightened wa.
indicative Of the selfishness OF man.
IF this gets out In the regiment In
gone up."
II am delighted" said Mrs. Chester
with the outcome of this affair. Wher
this morning l received the Telegram
announcing the accident was filled
with terror lest we should have soEle
thing very different from wedding
had no idea in permitting I.ieutenan
!, Overaker to remain in error, turnin:
the affair into bit OF fun. He should
certainly thank me for saving hin