Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-11-28
against me. But once a ball of such sort

against me. But once ball of such sort
is set rolling, it requires hand of pecu-
liar force to stop it. Mine was not able
for the feat, and my friends arranged
their plan of action without me. After
all, l think was not sorry that he should
make fool of himself publicly before
Miss Eleanor. 1t would be sure to de-
stroy any sentimental liking she might
have for him, so held my peace and the
eventful day came on.
How nervous I was that evening!
remember l was obliged to call in the
assistance of one of my friends to adjust
my necktie, and he was obliging enough
to tell me that / looked as yellow as a
guinea. A comfortable assurance, truly,
when had wished to look my very best,
for l had not seen Miss Hartley since
my unlucky story, and wanted to make
my peace with her. But when, with an
apology on my lips, drew near the sofa
where she was sitting, l found, to my
infinite regret, that no apology was
necessary. She was as friendly in her
manner as ever. She was exquisitely
dressed that evening in-well, I can't
! exactly say what-some dead white me-
terial, that fell in delicious folds about
her stately figure. That girl could al
ways dress herself to perfection. She
looked superb. Beyond a doubt, she
was the queen of the party; certainly
we all felt proud of her as if each one
of US had been her father or brother.
She did not speak to our new conner,
and this relieved me. But at the dinner
table felt little more uneasy. She
and he sat at opposite corners of the
table. 1t seemed to ME that she was
quietly watching him, from time to time,
and at such moments there was in her
face wonderful light of happiness and
pride. I understood it all presently.
The long dinner passed, dessert was on
the table; the usual toasts had been
given and responded to. Then my friend
rose, and in few serious words which,
as some of us knew, yelled real irony,
proposed the health of the youngest man
at the table, our distinguished guest,
whose arrival had been so long anticipat-
ed ana so eagerly hailed.
All drank the toast, and there followed
an awful pause. Every eye, Eleanor
Hartley's among the number, was fixed
on our new conner. He rose to his feet,
and ventured to glance at her. All
was explained.
oh, woman, what strange being you
are! Soft and yet triumphant was the
beautiful face of our queen. She was
bending little forward; her eyes glis-
tened; you would have said that she was
listening to some exquisite melody.
About him, too, there was change.
I was excited, and, of course, what I
saw and heard was colored in my mood,
but / could have declared that the young
mans form had expanded, and that an
Understandable dignity had crept into his
gestures. He stood upright, his voice
was clear and unfaltering; he did not
shrink from, he rather courted, the null
titude of glances that were bent on him.
As for his speech-sir, have knocked
about pretty much, as you know, and
now and then at dinners and elsewhere
l have Knocked up against distinguished
men, but | have never heard speech
to match this one. In substance it was
a review of the time he had spent in the
settlement. To hear him one might
have believed that he had seen through
our practical jests from the first, and,
while seeming to be their victim, had
been quietly amusing himself at our ex-
pense. Its manner, the delicate irony,
the wit, the forced piquancy, I should
be glad indeed to reproduce, but of
such an effort I am incapable. Here
was a turning of the tables! My friends
were bewildered; those not in our
secret applauded vociferously. alone
knew who it was had planned this
triumph; and was not surprised when,
few days later, it was rumored abroad
that Eleanor Hartley and our new conner
were engaged to be married. Rumor,
for once, told true tale. Before that
cold season was over l was invited by
Eleanor Hartley's father to his daugh-
ter's wedding.
"And I would wager" said the gen.
tleman who had asked for the story,
"that my lady kept him in order.''
"On the contrary" replied our guest,
=" she was q model among wines
voted, adoring. I believe she thought
that man half divine, Well, poor fel-
low! he was always delicate, aud, after
two or three years of happiness, he
died."
And his wife7"
I" l think you have met her.
"What! She cannot be"
II see that you have guessed. Thank
me for giving you a peep into the char
acter of Eleanor Walthingham."- Cas-
seWs Magaz,ne.