The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1880-11-13

rangement OF nay top-knot, sir, and for
no other reason in the world, unless in.
deed 1t might be that was expected to
come"
"Oh! said the gentleman, with pc.
cullar mystif cation of conntenance and
tone, which for the moment seemed to
quite restore the young lady's good
spirits.
An hour later, at the reception, Ger.
trude, who was slipping cup of coffee
and chatting gayly with her new friend,
heard heI father, who, with ber grand
mother had seats directly behind her, re-
mark cautiously sly-indeed, the e-rs they
were intended Tor scarcely caught the
low tones:
"He says there isn't the slightest truth
in that report we heardn
Mr.. Bently went to get an ice tor his
companion, and on his return Gertrude
was nowhere to be seen.
"She has gone to have chat with the
BRIDE" Mr. Gregory explained; but the
gentemans manner of looking about the
room seemed to Mr.. Bently to contradict
the statement.
However, there was nothing to do but
wait, and this Court Bently proceeded to
do with an excellent grace. He talked
European politics with an elderly Eng
lishman, and chatted with q matronly
French lady, introduced by Mrs. Greg
ory, in the lady's own language, much to
her delight.
When it was time to 90, Mrs. Gregory
went in search OF the truant, and Mr.
Bently did not see her again till he Of
fered her his arm to the carriage
Grandmother had been lecturing. That
was plain, for Gertrude's cheeks were
painfully flushed, and her hand trembled
as it touched his arm.
Mr.. kBently wondered what it all
meant, as who would not2 but he said
pleasantly, as he took hls seat beside
| her:
"You SAW the bride off, l suppose,
Miss Gertrude!n
mo, didn't, she answered, perverse-
ly. and then, leaning forward 70 address
her father: "Papa, do you know that
Carrie Shelville--I mean M Knight
lacks month of beng az old as am
"she looks quite mature, Mr.. Greg
ory replied.
And | suppose you think that is
enough" Gertrude resumed, III higher
KEY. MIR. Bently,' she continued,
What do you think OF the way girls are
driven into unsuitable marriages IN these
daysi'
Il thought, Miss Gertrude, in these
days that young ladies did about as they
| pleased the gentleman answered
II am not talking Of young LADIES,
was the petulant reply, "but the girls OF
my age.
"Pardoa me, Miss Gertrude, J, said Mr.
Bentlv. ..but was not aware that girls
went into society IN New York"
This was a hard hit, but his compan.
ion was equal to the situation.
"Well, they do,' she replied, "if they
happen to TAX ard look mature, rs papa
saws A girl might prefer to play with
her dolls to going into society; but that
wouldn't make any difference If bel
4 folks had reasons Of their own tor push
| ing her out, and she happened to be tai
enough to hitch a train to, and unaWk
ward enough not to break her neck witt
It"
By this time Mr.. Bently was nearly
eonvulsed with laughter.
This glrl---or whatever she was pleaset
to call herself-Was certainly the mos
original and straightforward specimen n
had ever met. He knew that her fatne
u and grandmother we're bursting Wit
rage. and this only increased his merrl
ment.
Il sometimes think Gertrude consider
herself martyr Mrs. Gregory remark
ed. in her most Indifferent manner.
8 Bv this time they had reached home
and Gertrude's "Oh, Grandma! wa
| the beginning and end of Ler lnd1g
: nant reply.
She knew, and SO did Court Bentl,
d that the old lady had planned this m.
r ment for the delivery OF the few wore
Z which were intended to deceive him !
reference to her granddaughters oplnlo
]. Of her own grievances,
n The next morning Gertrude appeare
at the break fast table IN llght-piu
u cashmere, trimmed gillishly with velve
:. and her magnificent brown hair hangln
| Loose on the back, as she had threatene'
onlv she had managed to tasten 1t on Il
: neck. 50 that its wanderings were co
| slderably circumscribed.
!. The effect was fine and almost star
- limo. Court T r9ntly was afraid he shou
: make himself obnoxious by his freqne
! clances in her direction; but IN all
Il travels he had never seen pretter p'
u ture, and Court Bently was very app
e.l ciative OF the beautiful IN po'h ha'u
1llsand art. 80. i
7osIw Grandma Gregory did her best to
lncial. but the figure opposite was g
Sently too much even tor her serenl
zarId the old lady's breakfast was no