Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-07-12

gate and come slowly down the road
which led to a neighboring village.
Nv first impulse was to walk forward
and meet him, but am a sad coward,
and my next was to conceal myself in
the thicket near the road, and take a
look at him before l threw myself on
his mercy, for / felt that he was deter
mined to prosecute me. Perhaps he
was a gentleman, though / doubled it.
I doubted it still more when he drew
nearer.
Ellen's beauty and hero was short,
squat fellow with ruddy face, and an
ili-natured, coarse mouth. Not young
man by any means-forty years old if
he was a day, and although his hat was
shiny and new, and his coat, also, he
was evidently i'll at ease in an unaccus-
toned garb.
He did not walk, he actually trotted
along with an ugly frown on his fore
head Iwould just as soon have APP
pealed to the courtesy of tramp; SO
trembling in every limb l skunk back
until he had passed.
OF course, had / been a sensible, right
minded girl, should have gone strai ght-
|
thing to my father. But 1 was as fool
ish in that as I had been in the whole
wretched business, and my only object
was to hush matters up, though what
steps to take did not know.
My father met me at the door, and
looked keenly at me. "Who is your
visitor-this Mr.. Reeves?' he said.
''Zeb told me you were out, and l met
him in the hall and asked his business
with you. Have you contracted any
debts at school, Aura? The man looks
to me like an importunate dun, and it
is not proper that you should deal with
such people. What do you owe him?"
Ifound my voice at last, and told my
father this Reeves was the cousin of
my roommate, and had perhaps brought
me some message from her. He looked
unsatisfied.
hurried to my room, and threw my
self face-down on the bed. Oh, if my
father only knew the manner of debt
for which this creature was dunning
me! With a shudder of disgust remem-
bered his looks. l almost wished l
could die, then and there. But l had
to rise and 60 about my tasks with a
heavy heart. No more ornamenting
the rooms for me, and under the plea
of fatigue locked myself in my room
until it was time to dress for the even
ing.
All, girls! 1 hope none of you will
ever lace silk bodice over as aching
heart as l carried that night. l had
made up my mind to confess everything
to my father the next morning.
The guests had assembled and dane
! ing began, when saw Uncle Zeb at the
door making frantic efforts to catch my
eye. l excused myself and hurried out.
"Hc's done come agin, Missy" he
whispered. "He SEE he's bound TO hab
a word wild you eff he has to come to de
ballroom to say it. l tuck him to de
sittin' room Gaze nobody's in dar Send
him bout his business, little Missy
hardly remember how my trembling
feet carried me to the room. The man
came forward with hateful smirk and
outstretched hand, which l did not no.
tice.
"This is an unwarrantable intrusion,
SIR l said, trying to look stately. 81
sent message to you by your cousin.
which ought to have sufficed any gen.
| tleman.
He laughed disagreeably. "Oh, wher
young ladies write love- letters to gentle.
men they can't expect to 90 scot-free
at their word. Come, now, don't put
on airs. declare, 1 love you just as
much
"You scoundrel, )" cried Harry voice
from the inner door, and l saw him
make rush for the man and strike him
to the floor. / saw no more, for utter.
ing scream after scream 1 rushed out.
and tainted at the foot of the stairs.
was very i'll after this, so i'll that il
was weeks before l heard all that took
place. My poor, impetuous Harry had
beaten the man so severely that it was
a long time before he could crawl
about, and then he brought against my
brother an action for assault and bat
terry. But that was nothing to the no.
toriety given to the whole matter, and
the humiliation l have brought upon
those who are dearest and nearest tc
me.-Marie b. Williams, in Youth.
Companion.