Dodge City times., 1883-03-01

enough money to carry him home, it
seemed to her that her father could not
object when he learned his name, if
she should let him have the twenty dol
lars in the old money-bOX, that he had
put aside for taxes, particularly as the
young man promised to return it in
the first mail after he reached home,
with five dollars for interest
So she went to the bureau, opened
the box and gave him the money. He
took it with a profusiOn of thanks. and
gave his name as Edgar Montague. AS
he left the door. he stopped and kissed
her, declaring that he should return as
soon as the illness of his mother would
allow him, and gain her fathers con-
sent to make her his bride.
1t seems almost incredible that any
girl could be deceived by such disgust
ingly abrupt love-making and gross
compliments. But Tiida knew nothing
OF the world, and her book heroes and
heroines were OF this character.
No sooner had Mr.. ''Montague'' gone
than came Patty, one of the neighbors'
daughters. "Mother had SPELL" she
said, land could she borry some
camphire?'
:;'Oh my what splendid ringr' she
''It's my engagement-ring,' said
Tilda, proudly; "or just as good. The
gentleman who gave it to me lives in
New York, and never saw him before,
but he fell in love with me at first sight,
and / shall probably marry him right
away
Away went Patty with her budget of
news. In few hours, every neighbor
within half a mile knew that Clotilda
had diamond ring" and was going
to be married to New York gentle
man.
Tilda was awakened from her dream
OF magnifcence by the arrival of her
parents and her brother. Mrs. Fry
went upstairs to remove her bonnet.
and then gave a shrill and terrified
shrek: An earthquake and cyclone
combiaed would hardly have created
more confusion.
Her husband and Tilda and Jim
rushed upstairs. A scene of confusion
met their eyes which Will not soon be
forgotten. Every drawer and closet had
been sacked and their contents thrown
about the floors. Somebody had dressed
himself in Jim's best broadcloth and
left in their place threadbare, dirt
crushed clothes and q shocking bad hat
The old gold watch, an heirloom, all
Iilda's little trinkets, valuables of every
kind. were gone.
Tilda remembered the noise she had
heard upstairs, and resolved not to
mention her diamond ring or more
of the conversation of the Young man
her father friend then she could help.
But she forgot that simple Patty knew
all about it, and that Patty was the gos-
sip of the neighborhood. In forty eight
hours. everybody in the country was
talking of the robbery. and laughing at
the silly girl who had contided in
smoothly-spOken rogue, dressed up in
her own brothers clothes, and had even
lent him money out OF her fathers desk. |
AS for the ring, that proved to be
utterly worthless. Poor Tilda! Never
was a girl more thoroughly mortified.
In the confusion the book she had been
reading was taken up by her father.
He lad it aside, and the next dav,
after showing her it's character, he took
it between the tongs and threw it in the
fire, declaring that if he ever saw any
more such trash in the house he would
shut Tilda in her room and keep her on
bread and water for a month.
The apshot of the whole affair was
hat the tramp. an accom- mplished villain,
who had already served his time in
States Prison, was soon arrested, and
Door Clotilda suffered the severe morti-
caton OF being obliged to identify him
n court. Even he, when he saw her,
burst into a coarse la oh, while the
ongfaced Judge and the lawyers had
Ill they could do, as she told her story.
% suppress their smiles.
But the cruel lesson suff;ced. Ro-
nance had lost its attractions for Ler,
md sensational nov Is and strangers
ire just now both alike repugnant.-
YOUTHS Companion.