Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-08-21

How should feel, announcing at the
next rehearsal that must be excused
MIR. Coleman was not willing to
have me connected with the operettap
What would MIR. Lynde thinkp''
ssOh, if his opinion has more weight
with you than mine, will retire. !"
'John, you're too absurd. Can't
you see how ridiculous it would look
for me to throw up my part the mo-
ment you came home? People would
say you are Jealous OF Mr.. Lynde."
The jacknapes!''
John, I'm not sure but they'd be
right
If I'm a tyrant, Rufelle, you're an
amazingly fearless Fatima.''
II don't propose to be your Fatima,
What did Rue intend by that? The
wrinkle in Mr.. Coleman's forehead
deepened into trench, his brown
face flushed like an oak in October.
PLEASE lay aside paradoxes, Ru-
felie. DO you mean you don't wish
to marry me? Rumor has told me as
much"
In truth, Miss Rue had meant moth
ing ofthe kind, but her lovers insulting
tone exasperated her into silence.
Had it come to this, that she could not
wink without first consulting his lord
ship. Her blue eyes flashed ominously,
the steel hook in her fingers dartcd in
and out OF her crotcheting with muir
derous rapidity.
''Rumor has told me as much"
| Il ~
pressively as if he had been addressing
jury.
And you let people talk about
me, John, and listen to what they
say ?"
Il might have known that girl
who would not respect my dig
| nifty could not value nv esteem.
Tyrant or not, Rufelle, at least I've
no desire to riyet CALLING fet-
tiers. llenceierth you are free to
smile upon Mr.. Lynde Or any other
gentleman.
Had he omitted the last sentence.
atfectionate, kindly little Rue could
even then have "made up with John,
but this was too much for her
temper. Scratching the golden cir
clet from her engagement finger,
she flung it ut her lover, with checks
;af1ame.
""Take back your ring" she cried;
''the girl who wears it should be q saint
or a simpleton, and I'm neither. Good
bye, John.''
Auburn head erect, chin in air,
she swept out of the room will.
all the stateliness psssib]e to a slight
| girl'of five feet two. She felt hers to
be a:rlghteous Indignation. John had
no reason-no earthly re;sson--to
treat her SO. She would not personatc
| patient Griselda for the amusement Of
the village.
''John wants to bend the whole
world to his will,' mused she, angrly,
.peeping through her chamber blind,
rs he staiked away chewing his black
mnstache; ''he wants to bend the
whole world to his will. and wont
be bent. Our engagement is broken,
and I'm glad OF it. "
For full fifteen minutes she was une-
auivocally glad.
John Coleman thought that he, too,
was glad. Walking tiercely on, he
squared his shoulders, and told him
self that the engagement had been 8
mistake-an error OF Judgment. A
grave self-made man Of thirty should
have been wiser than to trust his hap
piness to the keeping of 4 gay, capri
'cious maiden. Why had he been SO
dotingly fond of the child, SO hood
winkeA by her coeuetries? Blind drive
ling idiot that he was. the sooner he
was buried again in the law the bet
ter. The mau's soul was hot With
him. He reviewed his lonely, joyless,
orphanhood, his sharp tussel with the
world to wiring from it his present
competence. Not until the latter had
been secured had he allowed himself to
think of marrying this bright young
beauty, who as q school girl had first
captivated his imagination. To have
asked Rue Haywood to become his
wife while he had no adequate means
for her support would have been in his
opinion dastardly and contemplate.
No; he had awaited the time when he
could offer her name and a position.
He had woOed her hOnOraply. and
from that day to this had hardly SO
much as glanced at any other girl.
That he had not wanted to glance at
any other girl had no bearing what
ever upon the case, yet the lawyers
stern eve moistened as he thought of
the three months of happiness which
| had been his BEFORE this brilliant new
organist appeared upon the scene with
| the graees and accomplishments admir-
! ed by ladies, and scOrned by himself,
matter.of-fact John Coleman. From
the outset he had distrusted the win
| some gallant's influence over Rue,
with what reason the sequel had
! proved.
! Shocked at his partners i'll looks,
Mr. Riggs in greeting him asked if he
| had had chill
Eyes, something of that nature"
was the grim reply. "How about the
suit of Ingalls, UersNs Wade? l find a
| flaw in the indictment.
Mr.. Coleman was in the mood for
finding flaws. His habitual self-con-
| troll had deserted him. Once he nearly
annihilated Mr.. Riggs for casually
mentioning Mr.. Lynde and his reported
engagements.
| 1Oho! I recollect now; Coleman
had lien on the young woman him
self. Queer / should have forgotten, y
unused the discomfitted advocate. dip.
ping his pen in the ink. !
That night Mr.. Coleman had a chill
no metaphorical heart ague, but a
genuine physical bone-shaking rigor
that emanded blankets and hot bricks
and heroic dose Of quinine.
stHe's caught malaria from some Of
those COMPOUNDED western bog-holes,'
said the doctor aside to, the landlord.
sunless we break it up he's in for a