Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-10-31
He did not talk about himself but dis.

which they were interested. AS he was
leaving her, however, "Old Clifford" he
observed, "has been seen about here late
ly."
THE dearp' said Bertha, provokingly.
"HoW sorry | was to miss his call p
ibid you?" Guy chimed in, sympathet-
ically. II wonder If 1t wouldn't be de-
sirable tor me to become acquainted
with such a delightful man9 He might
improve me IN your eyes,"
ooh, yes, he would do yo1 ever SO
much good" she assured him.
"1ll be on the lookout for him." said
the young man, cheertully. Good night"
He sauntered down the lane towards
the woods, and Bertha remained stand
ing under the apple tree where he
had LETT her, enjoying the rising sunset
light. Thus employed, and idly pulling
to pelces bolt of grass, she did not no.
tlce the approach of another person, I'M
til an aged voice close by her, hailed her
with, "Good- evening, Miss Flnch," seem
ing almost to prolong Atlee's "Good-
night" which was still in her ears.
1t was Clifford.
She turned her head and greeted him
with decided GOODNESS.
"Glad to see ye at last,' he continued
sitting down on stone. "It's awful
warm And he removed his felt hat, to
sponge out the interior carefully with
bandana which he produced for the pur.
pose. "Dii you get thuse pills? First
rate to brace up with this weather. Good
for lassitude, rheumatism, govt, neuralgy,
headache-but / suppose you read the
bIll?''
"No, I haven't yet" announced Bertha,
with threatening brevity.
"Now that disappoints me-" said Git
ford. You don't know their virtues.
Why, my second wife, she couldn't get
along without Them
''HorrId old wretchl' commented his
listener, internally, and proceeded aloud
"You mean they saved her life!''
eyes, yes" returned the dealer, DELHI
erately, ''they did-as long as she lived.'
"Well, mine is pretty we'll saved with
out them,' said the GIRL "and anyway I
don't have those troubles that you men.
ton. So I don't think I need the pills"
mot just now, maybe" Clifford ad-
mitted; "but then you won't always be
so young as you ale now, and your bound
to have rheumatism. You'll be an old
woman before you know it, and an ounce
of preventation's worth pound of cure"
81 think I'll watt said Bertha, find
ing her venerable idol very repulsive on
this second interview; "and If you'll ex-
cuse ME now, Dir. Clifford. | must 90 into
the house,
ITO get the boxes he inquired. Gall
right. But l wish you'd wait minute.
I've got something particular to say to
you
"Something particularly
eyes. Thinking of that young Atlee,
81 made some inquiring, and, as far as
could see, you are the young LADY,
"What young lady9 Anyway, Mr.. Atlee
has come back now.
ooh yes, know that. But you never
fancied him much and guess he dom
stand IN the way
81 don't understand what you're talk
ing about.
That's just what I've come to now,"
said Clifford. "I'm sort of lonely, but
I've got some property laid by, and I'm
looking around for wife. What do you
say to me?"
"You! I think you are horrible"
Bertha cried, frankly. ''An old, old
man like you, that's been married twice,
looking for wife, She recoiled in
voluntarily.
"There's nothing like an old fellow
that knows his own mind, and the ways
of the world" he argued. Then sudden
ly-Bertha could hardly believe it true
he dropped on his knees. won't you
have me?" he entreated.
She moved toward the house, rapidly,
as II escaping from hdeous sight.
"Stop! stop!" cried the ancient sutton.
in a remarks ably vigorous voice. eff
you do that, rll tear all my hair out"
Something in the tone arrested Bertha
Finch's flight, and she looked around.
At the same instant, the anomalous old
man, standing up very tall, flung his en-
tire head of white hair at her feet, and
stood revealed, felt hat in hand, as Guy
Atlee!
She covered her face in confusion, but
both of them burst into a hearty laugh
the next instant, as he advanced toward
her. "This is more foolish than my dis
appearance" Guy was confessing, stbut
the temptation was too great. Are you
angrv9"
at was you all the time2' demanded
she, still slightly bewildered.
"Of course. The real Clifford died
couple of years ago. That day IN the
train I was just gong to get out here to
try my experiment, when I saw you at
the depot, and you walked right in to sit
down next to me-"
Bertha turned hot and cold as she ran
over the Car conversation in her mind. to
see whether she had committed herself
IN any way.
"You have rejected me twice now,"
continued Guy, coming very close, and
standing in tall humility before her
''once for being too young, and once for
being too old. Don't you think you
could make sort of compromise now,
and take me apart from my age, as a
man who is willing to devote himself to
you, young and old? You are not angry9''
"No,' said Bertha, looking down very
much indeed. II have been foolish, too,
Guy
She made the compromise.-Harper' 8
Basar.
A Lost Note.