Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-11-06

~
"1ouare an extraordinary young voman +"
II am very rude. I fear"
eNot at all; don't mention it," he replied,
Il like rudeness of this kind; it does one
good. You're straightforward, il I'm not"
"Ahl l remember. said last night you
were not straightforward. and you were Of
fen :ed."
craftsmanship never mind that. Now
tell me, Miss DAILY, has my nephew asked
you to marry hima"
"Once to marry him-several times to run
away with him"
aAnd you have refused him the several
timesv"
Eyes"
And The once to marry him'-when was
thata"
"Last night"
u thought 50; and you said MOI"
Eyes; ! a bear him-I could hate him
a~lmost-haven't I said Soft he wasn't such
q fool and a child" she added, ~passionately.
"There, a K him away, sir; take him away,
and do your duty for once"
"Uron my word, Miss DAILY, I was never
talked to in this way before. I have been
ell my life doing my duty"
You have failed here, I think" she MUIR
INJURED.
Sand nave you done your duty, Miss
Dalys Let me ask you that in all kindness,
and as a mar of my age may do to a young
tion?"
shave tried. We can all but try" she
answered. II hope Ihave not wholly failed
4 have been asked several times to run
away with my nephew implies a patient
listener: l wish you had not said several
times but only once; and then a sound slap
to his leathern chaps, and a gallon of that
bad tea thrown over him"
"Yes, it might have been wise" was tho
quiet response; but one has to bear a great
deal, and take everything as a jest, behind
the counter, or else the proprietors say we
are disobliging and bad tempered, and ruin
ing the trade. And perhaps it was a Jest
for him! It is difficult to take in earnest
everything he says"
"He's a fool, Miss DAILY" said tho excited
major; "a perfect fooli"
II am afraid he's not particularly clever
"Perhaps," he added, III I did look after
him q little more. 1t would not be lost time
on my part"
Il don't think it would. he is naturally
sgood tempered man-mo Of the Juncti On
girls like to see him at the station"
"And you will not be sorry to part with
him?"
II shall bs very glad" she answered
frankly.
ut has struck me that a few Of the young
ladies in your position are fond Of attention
even from men like young Todd"
"a few, perhaps. But there are not q few
deserving Of kind words and honest ok
sympathy"
81 trust So"
@Try and believe so, Maj. Crawshaw,
when you are inclined to be hard in your
Judgment upon us" she murmured. sGood
day"
"Are you going now2"
Eyes, il you will allow me-"
II would not detain you for tho world
against your will. I am obliged, deeply
obliged, by oil that you have told me. II
think you have taught me my duty. in
stead of my teaching you anything" he
said. "May I shake hands with you before
I goY
Certainly" she answered, putting a little
yloved hand in his.
"1should like to ask you ono question. il
you will let me?"
She bowed her head in assent.
Are you satisfied with your position at
OuiICtAOu: 1t luQuIoO. y" ulQ
you not he happier in a different sphere Of
lfe?"
She hesitated for an instant.
My mother, who was a widow, died sud-
denly and left me very poor. was alone
In the world, and Mr.. Freshwater, who is
my cousin, told ME this was the b,st that I
could do for myself"
Hes as big a liar as young Todd" cried
the major. "You haven't been happy in a
berth Of this kind-you!-it's impossible"
zone is never very happy without friends
but" with a sudden sigh, II exist; and I
hope for better days"
"They will come TO such as you-better
days and truer friends than you have found
at Battleton. Good. by. Miss DAILY; God
bless you! II you will allow an old soldier to
say So"
"Thank YOU" she murmured in reply.
Mai. Crawshaw raisel his hat with for
mality and to a considerable height. and
then strutted away like a man at tho head
Of his regiment, and Ruth Daily went slowly
and thoughtfully homeward.