Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-12-28

dance?" he asked.
many people going from here-.young folkA"
.Indeedl L. MI. Penrose goingr"
II think he is"
Sid he invite your.
sYes; and told him you had asked ma But
II you have changed your mind he will take
mo-"
Il mover change my mind" said Bushman,
frowning what night is it to be?"
Thursday night"
Every well. must soc your father about
the horse; unless it is possible to hire one
somewhere else."
Il don't think it is" said Evangeline. 3There
is no livery stable here"
The landlord and his wife both gave their
consent to the ball going, and Mrs. Bodson
oven helped Evangeline to prepare an elabo-
rate toilet The schoolmaster was extremely
moody, and treated Bushman with GOODNESS
that raised that spirited young gentleman's
mercurial temper to an occasional high pitch
that threatened danger.
A night or two before the ball, Bushman
was attracted to the window by q sound Of
heavy rain-drops, and saw another letter
hoisted to Evangeline on the end of a stick,
Immediately upon the delivery Of which the
dusky figure hurried away without waiting for
an answer.
@The contemplate sooundrel!" was
Bushmans inward comment @He is
Never mind; he will soon be gone; he has
made himself decidedly unpopular in this
community; l understand he is not likely to
get the school another term"
Mr.. Penrose dressed himself with extreme
care and neatness, and set off for Pipton on
foot an hour before old Fanny was brought ont
for Bushman and Evangeline.
The schoolmaster's purity plucky," re-
marked one Of the regular frequenters of the
tavern, looking after him as he strobe away.
Il reckon he can hoe it down with the best Wv
'em when he gets there, of his walk don't tire
him too much"
The other gentlemen sitting round the room
with clay or corn-cob pipes in their mouths
smiled approvingly, and one of them wondered
"ef he furgSt his pumps!"
The ball was a more brilliant affair than
Bushman had anticipated, and he became
deeply interested in the figures" danced,
and In the manners and style of
the company assembled He danced
once with Evangeline, and then lost sight
of her. 1t seemed that she was quite belle;
one after another of the Pipton clerks and
other young swells about town solicited her as
q partner, observing which, Bushman retired
little to one side, and taking out his note
book jotted down few things which struck
him as being peculiarly characteristic" and
likely to work up we'll in his romance con-
versation between two young men, evidently
from the country, attracted his attention be-
cause it referred to Evangeline and one of her
admirers.
"Jim Turner pears to be maxim up to Ev
Bodson," one Of them remarked. wants
some o the old mans money, reckon"
@Bodsons purity well off, amt he?" asked
the otLer.
Gowns half county, shouldn't wonder!"
well, l wouldn't have the old woman fur
another in-law, if he owned ten countes!"
That school sa;a ma sr.+ up thar you'd
say he's gon' to marry Ev Heard o. the old
man money, an went thar purpose to Gus
round his daughter"
did he fetch her here tonight"
Dunno: reckon he did,
sDdn't Walt Wrayburn used to fancy herr"
sDoes yet reckon. Look thar: he's a.
waltzin' with her now. Wouldn't the old
lady spin en- around Of she was here? She
gev Wrayburn his walkin' papers once"
Bushman turned his attention to the
dancers. A good many fair forms and smil-
ing, flushed faces swan and circled before his
eyes, and then came Evangeline, most radiant
Of all Her partner was tne-looking man,
very young, and even at the first glance, sim
gularly attractive That is the best face I
have seen in Pipton," thought Bushman. He
may lack something in education and culture,
but he has both character and intellect"
When the waltz ended, Evangeline
brought him up and introduced him
with smiles and bushes. aYou remem-
Der our visit to his mother?" she said. sShe
wants him to take me over there little while:
1t is only step: would you mind if l went?'
Not a. all" said Bushman, who had shaken
hands with the doctor in . very cordial man
ner.
In half an hour, or thereabouts, after they
wer gone, a note was put into his hand by
strange young man, which ran as follows:
will you please come over to Mrs. Wray-
burns as soon as you get this? Evangeline."
He lost no time in obeying the summons.
When he knocked at Mrs. Wrayburns door,
that good lady herself opened it cautiou ,ly and
then let him i'll in a great futter. Two or
three strangers were in the room, among them
clerical looking gentleman, the sight OF
whom gave Bushman shock that opened his
eyes to what was gong Oh. Evangeline in her
white ball dress, came in through an @ posite
door, leaning on the doctors arm. The
clergyman stood up and repeated those few
solemn words that have united so many
lives for veal or for woe, and Walter
and EvangeLne were pronounced husband
and wife"
AS soon as the few friends had offered their
brief but heartfelt congratulations, Bushman
rose. and was approaching the bride, when
she dropped her husbands arm, rush ID up to
him, and caught both his hands. you will
forgive me, will you not?" she cried, her
bright eyes brimful of tears Il told you you
would be sorry if you brought me. Are you
not sorry"
sNot if have been the innocent instrument
of happiness to you," said Bushman, and
added with smile, But indeed you have
treated me with scant courtesy. Why did you
not make ne party to this interesting ro-
mance?"
"Oh, I did not dare tell anybody" said
Evangeline. Not soul knew but his mother
and the you: man-there he is-who carried
the note to you, and who has brought great
many from Walter to me-"
And har ! them up to you on the end of
stick?" asked Bushman, smiling
i. i 11o.,~a
Evangeline in amaZement
Your room is next to mine, you know, said
he, sand sometimes the pebbles struck my
window instead of yours"
The Whole company burst into laugh, in
| which til faithful letter-bearer joined most
heartily.
Lucky it want the schoolmaster's win.
dow" said hes cor we wouldn't a had no we'd
| din tonight"
An elegant little supper was spread in the
next room, of which Bushman was urged tc
| partake After that he shook hands with the
with a rueful smile, Il shall have lonely ride
| home tonight"
~Perhaps Mr.. Penrose will go back with
YOU" said Evangeline mischievously. She
followed ! 4 to the door, leaning upon he1
husbands arm, begging him to come and set
warmly seconded by young Wrayburn.
So happy a pair Bushman had seldom
seen Al. he was himself so happy il
thinking of them that it never occurred to hin
that his own position in the affair was rather
suspicious and likely to be q trying one He
returned to the ballroom to look for Penrose
but, not finding hun, ordered old Fanny to be
brought out, and drove home alone, rejecting
that Bodson's Creek had few attractions left
In the morning, when he went down-stairl
efound the household in a terrible commo
ton. Penrose had just come in, pale ani
haggard, with the startling news that Evan
geline was married.
@An' it was all your dom! Oh! you villain
GUS, blasted critter!" shrieked Mrs Bodson
shaking her fist at Bushman he entered til.
breakfast-room. ITO think how we've har
bored you in this house! Last week you tool
her down to Pipton an made a visit at oil
Mrs. Wrayburns, an las night TUX her thai
agin to git married! An you was at the wed
din, an you helped eat the weddin' supper
Oh, my! oh, my!
you havs been very diligent gather
ing up information" said Bushman II
Penrose. With the utmost patience and calm
ness he set himself to work to dissipate tn,
storm, after which he began to feel indignant
at the part he had been compelled to play.
When he had made it clear to all presen
that he had been duped as well as they, tn
schoolmaster's exultation became so apparen