The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-03-15

L UEcQ young III New I6t
ven. Miss Belle Ind q soul above these
tribes. Her lectures and her classical
concerts. her German and her histori
cal course. her Wednesdays at che
Microscopical Society, and her Satur,
days at the Mission School took NJ
most Of her time. If she deigned to
converse with a. man under 40, you
may be sure only such topics were per;
mirted as tended TO enrich the mind
and improve the understanding. Shs
did not dance. She only cared for
moonlight as an illustration OF thu
power OF solar rays in reflec.
ton. Three were better than
two, at all times, in her opin.
on, and woe unto that Wanda
who thought these pretenslons non
sensical and a. bore and ventured tc
pay a compliment to the young lady's
eyes. He got his walking papers ir
short order. II the truth be told,
this eccentric young woman could not
cook nearly as well as her younger
sister, who was strongly addicted to
the aforesaid trif1es. But that was o!
small consequence since, if she ever
thought OF marriage, is was in the
light of a union between Mind and
Mind in the search for Truth, a con
dition Of high thinking and as low liv,
ing as was necessary.
After Mr.. Groat had conversed with
this young lady a cor of times, he
had reason to. flatter himself that he
had made q good impression. And
! Miss Norwood afterward confessed
that Archibald Groat was at that
time quite her ideal of q rising young
man. There was nothing remarkable
in his looks. His light hair was comb.
ed back SO as to make the most Of his
hubby forehead, his straw-colored
m~oustache had a thoughtful droop
and his black coat, gray trousers, sat.
in tic and trim boots were q scholarly
and gentlemanly costume. He used
only the finest cambria handkerchief,
and the considerable bosom of his
shirt was always immaculate. He
was a college tutor now, and doing
very well. Miss Norwood thought lit.
tleof his person, which, sure, was un-
objectionable; it was his good sense
and seriousness that pleased her. He
offended none OF her prejudices. They
talked only on grave subjects, and
she found Archibald's mind was well
stored with useful and accurate infor.
maticn. II they were on the water it
was the habits of the fishes that oc.
cupied their thoughts, or the botanic
oil curiosities along shore. When they
walked abroad on the hills, Mr.. Groat
always carried hammer, convenient
for the study of geology. If they
looked at the stars it was TO seek an ex-
pected comet or discuss the theory of
an intermercurial planet. The sly rogue
sent her no extravagant dollhouse
flowers; not he. An early Caltha Pa
l~ustris, bits OF mineral, queer coins,
odd specimens Of all kinds were his
votive offerings. Once he ventured to
present her with a book. It
was The Dog. An introduction to the
Study of Vertebrate Animals. The
young lady was not insensible of his
respectful devotion. One day he grew
bold enough to ask her to marry him
and was quite surprised at his own
ardor. She answered gravely that she
liked him very we'll and respected him
more than most men of his age, but
but she feared she didn't like him we'll
enough for that, and he must wait.
They shook hands sedately. as they
parted.
1t was while Mr.. Groat's affairs were
at this hopeful stage, and he was read
ing very contentedly in his rooms one
night that the door was thrown open
with a bang and somebody entered
with a rush and slapped him on the
shoulder, and somebody's voice, with
a familiar ring, cried "Groat! Archy,
you old worm-eaten, dog-eared her.
NIT! Don't you know me?"
"Why, bless my soul!'' mnrmured
Archibald, III it isn't Malmsey! Ora
cious me, how you've changed, Malm-
sey! How do you DOT"
do? Magni6cently old chap" says
the handsome, hearty fellow, throwing
himself into Archibald's easiest chair
and smiling at HIM in the old way.
Been down at Newport with Tom
Lennox, who lives here, you know, and
Pm to stop over with him a day orso
and go the rounds. Lots OF nice girls
here, Tom says, Ell, you rascal?' Been
in New York for the last year-on the
Tocsin. Still driving quill, you see.
It's all I'm Fit for, / suppose. Heard
you were here and came right UP.
Glad you're doing well, but why aren't
you married?"
Jack ratified this off breathlessly,
and burst out laughing when Mr.. Groat
Redeemed and simpered at the last
words. Introduce me,you dog, or I'll
find her out myself. Who is thelucky
winner of suchaprize?" And they
fell to talking about the old days and
the old friends till neardaylight. But
Jack could not get the promise Of an
introduction to the subject of his old
chum's tacit confession; not even her
name, for Archibald was q prudent
and timorous lover and wanted no
such goodlooking reprobate as Mr..
John Matmsey disturbing Miss Nor
woods chasIe and aesthetic medita-
tions. And the better to excuse him
self he resolved to 20 of to Hartford
the very next day or. q long-delayed
visit to a maiden aunt. And SO it
happened that when the unconscious
man was well on his journey, chuck
ling over his strategy, Mr.. Thomas
Lennox was having the great pleasure
Of presenting Mr.. Malnisey to his
cousin; Miss Norwood. What q week
that was!-that week OF poor Archie
bald's absence-and when / fear he
was missed by Miss Norwood much
less than he hoped Tom Lennox,
rich, popular, idle, outrivalled him
self In devices to divert Mr.. Malm.
sey and prol0ng his stay. What
yachting parties on the Sound; what