The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-08-06
A LOVERS QUARTETTE.

"
"Well, if you can't get your own con-
sent, Mrs. Deery, I suppose you can't, :"
said MIR. Perrin, his reproachful gaze
fixed upon the fly prOmenading the wild
ow's plump wrist Il had hoped on re-
flection that you would come to consid-
er my proposal favorably, but it seems
you think you couldn't be happy with
me-"
II couldn't be happy with Roxana, "
responded the lady impetuously; then,
checking herself, she flushed like the
woodbine at the window, and in her
turn gazed down upon the itinerating
fly.
''0h, if you refuse me on account of
sister, Mrs. Deery, / really can't take
mo- for an answer" cried her suitor
with an encouraged air.
The widows gaze never swerved
from the insect, now chatting its stiff
ened legs upon her thumb.
You'd have no trouble in getting on
with sister, I'll wager" persued the
eager wooer. ''You rarely see an even
er-tempered woman"
"Yes, that's just it, Mr. Perrin; Rox-
ana's too perfect, " broke forth the lady,
brushing away the fly with startling en-
ergy. 1T would fidget me to death to
i've with her. She's chosen vessel,
and I'm only common clay"
The widow Deery, common clay, in
deedi Mr.. Perrin would have OWNED
the contrary unaided by the officious
sunbeam which darted out at that in
stant to point out her manifold attrac-
tions. Being deeply in love, he took. ad-
vantage of his opportunity to pay a
handsome compliment and to renew
his suit.
For one intoxicating moment his
fair listener wavered, but the moment
passed.
Hush, please, Mr. Perrin! Don't say
any more about itrn cried she, with a
toss of her bewitching brown curls. II
might care for you the tremor in her
voice was very nearly bis undoing II
might care for you, but / could not
breathe with Roxana- Think how my
little boy would worry herl She wouldn't
speak an unkind word, but every time
he left sticky finger-prints on door /
should feel that she wished that he and
his mother had staid away"
II might Mr.. Perrin paused,
shocked at his base impulse. Had he
actually been about to remark that he
might provide sister with another
omep--sister, who but for devotion to
his interests, might nov be matronizing
home of her own2 Dear, faithful
Roxana! Could he ever requite her for
those weary years of watchfulness be-
side the couch OF his helpless, dying
wifep The full measure OF the sacri-
flee he had known at the time, but now
had no doubt that for Climcna's sake
and his she had discarded Joel Kirby.
No, no; sister should never be requested
70 vacate the dwelling over which she
had ruled SO long and 50 we'll! And to
Mr. Perrin's credit be IL stated, that In
the ardor Of his passion for the little
widow he closed HE lips On tho disioyal
words that perchance might have won
her, and gtrods forth from her cottage
arejcctcd lover.
Mr. Pcrrin'g feet had trayersed the
meadow and ascendcd the slope Of the
pastare adjoining ere bis rnind had
caught up with them. Then he MUIR
INJURED half andibIy: II wonder wheth-
or kirbj' dia call this afternoonp When
1 saw his team coming over the ridge,
Il struck me 4 might as well steal of
through the orchard Considering he's
In the neigbborhood looking up old
friends, he cant ciyilly pass By Roxana;
and 4 wouldn't be . hindrance in
case,
His soliloquy merged into q low
whistle ol satisfaction. He had
reached the bars opposite bis own gate,
and at the gate, his fore-feet deep in a
hollow paved by their impatience,
stood Mr.. Kirby's gay sorrel.
At the spectacle Mr.. Perrin's heart
bounded within him and he grasped the
topmost raj for support. Should he
lead the forgotten horse away to tho
stable, or should he By so doing ap.
pear to take TOO much for granted'
He desired to be hospitable. he desired
10 be exceedingly hospitable, but he
rnnst not convey the impression that bic
WAS over-zealous for i brother-in-law,
apd TINS annoy Roxana- Sister was 81
f&&tidiolisf
! In unprecedented excitement the ha-
pstuaily easy going man debated with
q a'snseN regarding the course Of con