Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-05-17

to meet a sweetheart, she cant attend
to matches of any other kind, said Mrs
Bender, facetiously
Did Miss Laura 60 to meet a sweet
heart, eh?" he asked, with an air as if it
didn't signify in the least.
"She went by appointment, Mr.. Dew
ems, to meet young man, too. L don't
see why it should be kept from you"
Indeed! did Miss Vaughn tell you
SOP"
Not She, It's dead secret, but it
leaked out
so it seems.
''Laura's something of a firt, like the
rest of us, There was young Sample,
the clergyman-in fact it's her nature
to be on with the new love before she's
off with the old"
Mrs. Bender, Miss Vaughn is a
friend of minc,' said Devens, reproving-
ly, while he thought bitter things of
her himself, and made desperate re-
solves.
And I'm sure Laura and I've always
got on well together. But it strikes me
that we must be tolerably familiar with
a young fellow when he signs himself
Jack and nothing more. Shouldn't
you say so, Mr.. Devens? | shouldn't
axe Prue to be on such terms with any
but declared lover myself
Does Miss Vaughn show you her
love-letters?" he asked, already caught
in the snare.
Not muchly Mr.. Devens. But mur-
der will out you know. l believe my
self that it is dangerous innovation to
teach servants reading and writing, as
the Vaughns do, No good comes of it. +"
Mr. Devens experienced a strong dis
trust straightway. Not being versed
in the wiles of women of the Bender
type, he mistook her airy insinuations
for law and gospel. Laura had played
false, had taken advantage Of their lit
| tie quarrel to encourage a rival. Should
he not return the compliment by be-
slowing his attentions upon some other
damsel? Naturally Miss Prue became
the recipient of his temporary favor.
1t was Prue who drove with him
through the lanes that led to Laura's
school house, where they were pretty
sure to meet her going or coming. and
see the quick color deepen in her cheek
and forsakc her lip; it was Prue who
played backgammon with him IN the
lighted parlor, with the curtain of the
window looking out upon the Vaughns'
premises raised and the interior visible;
and it was poor Laura, in the darkness
of her own room, who watched the pref
ty game, with tightness at her heart
and tears in her eyes,
What blessing postal cards are,
to be sure" reflected Mrs. Bender, as
she looked at the pair. Now, if that
one hadn't been thrown in my teeth, so
to speak. he would have been spooning
over at the Vaughns this very minute
Mr.. Devins, blinded by his feelings,
failed to perceive that the situation
looked peculiar; he never guessed what
a topic he afforded at the sewing socie-
ty and the Bethel meetings, nor how
much occupation he provided for the
neighbors eyes and ears. He never
once staid to question how his behavior
affected any one but Laura Prue was
used to flirting with Tom, Dick and
Harry, and she had never received
wound.
Its kinder natural and handy, living
under the same roof said old Mrs.
Goodhue, looking over her spectacles at
the spectacle. Il s'pose Prudence and
her ma cosset him within an inch of his
life; the way to mans heart is through
his stomach; you must pamper his APP
petite or fatter his vanity, and the Ben.
ders are equal to the occasion, | rcck-
on.
Its propinquity, remarked Miss
Blue who read mental philosophy and
novels, and represented feminine culture
in Chester. When Laura left her school
again and again to the tender mercies
of Ellen Dow, and repeated her excursion
to Boston, MIR. Devens never failed of
being made aware of it. On the third
occasion, indeed he condcscended to fol-
low in the smoking-car, pursuaGing him
self that he really ought to hunt up
college chum. He was rewarded by
seeing Laura meet handsome young
man npon fremont street, who turned
about and disappeared with her inside
the Studio building. Mr.. Devens did
not hunt up his chum that day. Through
Mrs. Bender's application to her nei gh-
bors' affairs it came to his ears whenev-
er Miss Laura received boquet by ex-
press, and he once discovered a bunch
of violets blooming in wine glass in
her window, which he well knew never
bloomed in a Chester green house.
One evening he was congratulated on
his engagement to Miss Bender
= am engaged to no one," he said,
with a sudden giddiness about the head,
as if the ground shook under him.
No? Well, folks do say you oughter
be if you aint,' returned the disap-
pointed gossip.
Indeed? Folks seem to under
stand my duty better than their own
He walked homeward, half benumbed,
revolving the subject drearily Had he
indeed gone beyond his depth unawares?
he asked himself. Was Miss Prue mis-
taken, like the rest, with regard IT, his
feelings? Had he misled her, in his
blind selfishness? Ought he to marry
without love, because folks" talked?
AS he drew, near the Vaughns' in the
failing light, he perceived two figures
family outlined: woman had just
closed the garden gate, and stood Within
a man departed, yet fingered with the
others hand shut in his own; the tall
hedge had hidden Mr.. Devens; in min
ute more he would be in sight. He
wished neither to listen nor to encoun-
ter his rival, nor to surprise them love-
making. He took step backward, still
behind the hedge.
TO morrow, then,' said the mascu-
line voice, with tender intonation, Il
shall be the proudest, happiest-' Dev-
ems found himself actually bending all
his faculties to hear, but the end of the
sentence escaped him. Il should be
glad to invite handful of friends TO
witness my success" pursued the same
voice, IF you do not object"
Il object" said Laura silver treble,
Il, who owe you so much and can re-
turn so little!'
Goodbye" A little silence followed;
then-could Mr.. Devens believe his own
ears? The jackanapes had kissed Lau-
ra, and she had not rebuked him! He
turned hot and cold alternately; his
heart seemed throbing in his throat; he
glanced toward the gate where she still
leaned; he longed to take her in his
arms and claim her love, in spite of that
mans audacious kisses. Then he re-
membered Prue, and what folks" had
said. Had he not put his own happi-
ness beyond his reach? In teaching
Laura lesson had he not learned more
than he cared to know himself? He