The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-12-06
erAdYenturous
Night
1t Had an Important
Result
By AGNES q. BROdAN

Miss Pauline Chester, art student
and would be illustrator, stood ut the
curb of the busy street awaiting a
home bound car. Home! She smiled
derisively in the semi-darkness at the
meaning Of the word. Surely the big,
bare room, half studio, half housekeep-
ing apartment, was poor substitute
for home. And it was all she now pos
sessed.
She thought as she stood there aside,
yet III the very midst of things-alone,
yet crushing her way through the
throng to the car. how typical it all
was of her present life. Even in the
brightly lighted apartment, as she
passed down the corridor that led to
her room, not one of those whom she
met each day might speak welcome
because she had not been properly In
troduced
Polly was not sure she would care to
know them If she had. They were all
such silly, chattering women, over
dressed and Indifferent; such rude,
staring men-all but one. Polly thought
of ''him'' gratefully. Something per-
haps in the grave kindness Of his ex-
pressien, his deferential yet unobtrus-
i've courtesy. brought back the old days
in Brookfield.
Each morning he raised his hat as
simultaneously they appeared in the
corridor locking their doors for the
days absence. Always Polly smiled
and nodded, but the man vouchsafed
no word. She was glad, and she was
sorry-glad that he was so very much
the man she wanted him to be, sorry
that one SO alone as she might not have
the comfort of an understanding friend.
In despair Polly had added to the
cheerless furnishings Of her studio the
companionship of a cat. He had fol-
lowed her, this big yellow cat, from
some darkened area the night she had
bought the fish. After his coveted
meal had become n thing Of the past
Patsy. as she called him, still deigned
to remain her friend.
He had, she discovered, certain en-
barrassing and stubborn tendencies,
one of which was to pry into the af-
fairs of his neighbors, SO that twice
the nice young man across the way
hal oh kr,. Dot k1vy
and place him outside his door.
Both times Miss Chester apologized;
both times the young man bowed 81
lently and pleasantly and withdrew.
Polly found herself making little
sketches of the grave faced man and
the yellow cat during times Of inter-
mission at the art school.
You poor thing" she Knocked herself
one day as she hastily destroyed her
drawings, filling up your, head with a
man and yellow cat just because
they've been little human
1t seemed impossible to make pre-
scntable sketch at home, the boys In
the fraternity room overhead were SO
very noisy, while player piano banged
away below. She wondered as she sat
through endless evenings just what 1t
would be like to ningle with the gay
throng outside, to be with one who
could sympathize and understand.
"He' was lonely too She was sure
Of that. Among them all he seemed. to
live apart. At those times when she
had rescued Patsy from before his
door she had caught glimpse within
of an open book, half smoked cigar.
So he, too, sat each night alone. His
eyes, she fancied, were strangely visit
full. Or was it fancy? Polly sighed
impatiently.
Always" she rebuked herself, "your
thoughts 60 back to that man.
It was all very ridiculous, so she fell
to drawing in earnest. No better sub
| ject at hand, she drew painstakingly
the yellow cat lying stretched before
the fire.
This accomplished, Polly studied re
! flectively an opposite vacant chair
then with sudden dimpling smile she
bent again over the drawing board
She was SO absorbed she failed to no
tice the cessation Of the player piano
and gradual growing silence settling
over the building.
Raising at last q flushed face, she re
garded with much satisfaction hel
work. The figure pictured In the chair
opposite her own was remarkably true
to life. The mans open book lay
| upon the table beside him, his hall
| smoked cigar in his hand, Patsy com
| fortably stretched at his feet.
Twelve" chimed the little clock II
sharp, even strokes. Mercy r. exclaim
ed the girl, and jumped to her feet
There was something the matter witt
the lock as she attempted to fasten hel
door for the might, SO she thrust it wide
open, intending thus to close 1t secure
". A mysterious rustling sound. as d
some person or persons stealthily NOV
ing farther back among the shadows
caused Polly's heart to flutter uncom
fortably.
Not long ago there had been rob
berry in this very apartment. She wish
ed that she were not alone. No ligh
showed from beneath the opposite door
no evidence Of "his' presence. In trepi
dation she reached for the door handl,
to close herself in when, apparentl.
from nowhere, mans figure confront
| ed her. A rather good looking youn,
man hp Nuy,on rod IN hn %bo,,eyy, u,