Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-03-20

like to see her at least once before the
die was lrrevOcably cast, SO when
reached the town l hunted up cousin
OF mine who knew her and told him he
must arrange for me to call on her in
cOgnito. He assented very readily, and
rs only reached there the day before
the wedding was to take place, we
called the night of my arrival. She
came in directly. and l was introduced
as Mr.. Falkner"
"And such a girl! The moment
laid eyes on her grew rigid with in
dignation to think that my uncle dared
impose on me in such way. He had
led me to believe she was everything a
man could want in wife. l found her
painted like an Indian, dressed in hor-
| rid taste, talking at the top of her
voice. and altogether the most ill-bred
creature had ever seen. l could not
stand it, so wrote a note to my uncle,
left the town that night, and have new
er been back since learned to-day for
the first time that the girl l saw was
not the one was to have married, but
friend of her cousins whom he had
taken into his confidence, and that her
horrid curls and her vulgarity were as
sumed for the occasion, all part of
Dicks little pleasantly; and my
financee, who Dick says is the prettiest
woman he ever saw, was so cut up by
my brutal behavior and the note
l left that she ran away, and for a
long they thought she had drowned
herself. Of course there was q big
sensation, and everybody denounced
me. Dick, cowardly knave. hadn't
the nerve to tell the truth about it
and acknowledge his part in the
affair, but the girl who abetted his
fiendish deception went straight to my
uncle and told him everything as soon
as she heard was gone.
'When he saw how it Was he swore
that we should both be found, dead or
alive, and if we were alive the marriage
should be consummated. They started
detectives after us and advertised us
everywhere, and at last they got on the
track of the girl and they've traced her
to this very town. Think of it! Dick
says they are sure she is here, and he
was here looking for her when he acct
dentally stumbled upon me. They'll
find her OF course; it is only a question
of few hours, and then l must be
dragged Up, like schoolboy that has
been playing hockey, and married to
wife of some other mans choice, or
leave here between two days and give
up good position"
He turns toward her, but she man.
ages the palm-leaf SO that he does not
see her face, and asks presently in
hesitating way: but if she is as pretty
as they say she is and-you would get
the money besides, why do YOU OBJ
ject?'
because am in love with somebody
else, ard I'm done with matrimon al
negotiations by proxy. will attend to
my own love affairs hereafter"
He proceeded to carry out his resolu-
ton by insinuating an arm between the
shelving and the slight figure that is
resting against it.
'Tve been in love with somebody else
ever since found her crying in a corner
not thousand miles from here, and if
she can only say the same of me I'll
whistle the fortune down the wind and
defy all the detectives in Christendom.
He draws his arm little closer about
the yelling figure, and, screened from
view by the swaying fringe of gloves, he
feels safe in bringing the other arm into
position, SO forming a complete circuit.
The acc ,mmOdating palm-leaf is quite
large enough to conceal two heads, and
Il sound like half-audible OSCILLATION
issues from behind it.
A long, low whistle breaks the silence.
Proceedings are Immediately ad;ourned,
and haunted by visions of presuming
and prying cash-boys, they both start
up and confront-Dick.
"Have you found her?' asks the cash.
Ter, deiectedly.
90 yes, I've found her." says Dick,
leaning heavily upon the counter, as he
wiped the moisture from his brow.
Miss Dawson. allow me te Introduce
my cousin. Tom Winfield; Tom, Miss
Alice Dawson. The introduction seems
to be \ little subsequent, but we have
done the best we could"
$50 another wedding feast was spread
beneath the hospitable roof of Mr.. Hum
phrey Dawson, and this time to some
purpose; for marriage was solem-
nized, at which ceremony Dick, his sins
forgiven, officiated as best man, and his
periidious accomplish, minus paint,
curls, and all Objectionable features,
made charming bridesma;d.-Cicago
Tribune.