Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-04-24

upon the two ladies on the lawn at the
side of the Dangerfield homestead.
tom. Iexpected you this morning,
SO WI We're just putting the croquet
into order for a game. Mr.. Snick-el-
fritz and | can beat you an Barbara
all holler."
.Barbara!" unused Mr.. Bitter.
Sweet name, but too grand for that
dainty mite. Isn't she q daisy?"
They played several games.
Mr.. Bitter made himself as agree
able as possible to his partner and
played very poorly.
Little Barbara Mccarthy was silent
and slightly distracted. for several
times she caught MI. Blitzer's big blue
eyes regarding her closely, and e dis
turbed her not q little. And I'D kept
making nice little speeches to her at
every opportunity, and cheating OUT
torrent of playful abuse from Miss
Dangerfield.
"Pshaw, snick," said he t~auntingly,
after the fifth game, '.you and julie
had better give It Up. Go into train
ing. In time you may learn to play.
My partner, even with such Indifferent
backing, is invincible. Suppose we
have a bite Of luncheon by way of
change. Isee Aunt Phoebe looking inn
ploringly this way
They dropped their mallets, and in
pairs strclled to the dining-room.
''Miss Barbara" said Mr.. Bitter, as
ne walked by her side. you play GRO
quet WE'LL"
.'Do I?" she said.
Beautifully. Barbara!" said he.
She blushed wildly.
excuse me. May I call you Bar
bara? l hate a prefix before the names
OF my friends, and we are going to be
great friends I foresee."
II don't know" she said, her face
still very red; ..would it be propergg'
'Of course. Why not? We af9 as
good as cousins already: You wouldn't
you Barbara. would you?'
Il might" she said, glancing. into
his face with girlish naivete.
'1E'sgood George is away from home.
He would be making love to you like
mad before a week."
Then I am glad that he is absent"
"You wouldn't like ftp"
"No," she said, emphatically.
"And you are just the style that
George would lose his head about"
HE has poor taste"
ellis taste and mine arc very like"
he answered, with seeming innocence.
"There, don't blush. I will not make
love to you; Julia might object" s
''Mr. Blitzer!"
Cali right. Let's talk about George,
bones" 1
'.Mr. Blitzer!"
Fact: Half of his patients die, poor
things"
Mr.. Blitzer!!"
Truth, that. Ask Julia. She runs
George numerically. I hope he Will
come home soon."
just like mel hope he won't"
Five weeks passed away.
MI. Bitter and his friend were often
at Oak Grove.
''Blitzer," said S%nickelfritz one day
when they we're alone. '.I'm mashed
%fearfully."
Ditto, Snick," said Mr.. Bitter"
Riding. boating, %croquet, music,
poetry, to say nothing of fishing and
flirting, helped amazingly to while
away the time.
Mr.. Bitter had neglected Julia
%shamefully. conining his attentions
exclusively to her cousin. But Julia
seemed well content under the gallant
pilotage of Mr.. Harry Snickelfritz.
Call me Harry. julia" said Mr..
Snickelfritz, imploringly, one day. II
hate Snickeifritz!"
mo, sir; Snickelfritz is good
enough" said she.
To-day Mr.. Bitter and Barbara Nc
earthly are seated upon the picturesque
shores of a miniature lake, under a
magnolia tree with spreading arms
draped with pendant masses of somber-
gray Spanish moss.
They are fishing.
julia and Mr.. Snickelfritz have wan
dered off in search of wild orange bios
SONS and solitude.
"Don't you know that father wished
me to marry Cousin George?" said
Barbara, waiting for a bite.
Hang George!! said Mr.. Bitter.
'Stop talking If you want to catch any
fish. Yes, the old man intimated as
much to George a year or SO ago;
George is not worthy of YOU"
..Do you think not?"
"Would you marry h'm?"
'.No," she said, sadly, II shall
never marry. Oh, that horr.d fish. 1t
has stolen my bait. Quick, put an
other grub on before he gets away
the fish, l mean. / am determined to
catch him."
Let the fish go. I want to talk"
t.No; I want that fish,"
"There, then, Miss Contrary. Drop
in your line. Keep still now"
A moment of silence and waiting.
There, there. Pull up. 1t is run
ming away with your cork. Oh. it is
a brim. That makes a bakers dozen.
Are you c%ontent?"
81 suppose so. Where is Julia?'
she said, looking about them.
II don't know and don't care"
said Mr.. Bitter, piqued.
..Mr. Blitzer!'
"Wor't you ever stop Differing me.