The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-09-08
MONA'S CHOICE,
BY MRS. ALEXANDER.


speak better, and more grammatical Eng
lish than the English themselves"
81 am learning good deal today" said
Miss Morton, coolly.
Mona hastened To turn the subject.
81 have always had great wish to see
Damascus" she said. sis it very beauti-
full"
"Yes, very lovely. The most picturesque
place. 1t is completely encircled by hills.
The site is something like-oh, like o fry
ing-panl The city, with its garaens ard
abundant trees, lies at the bottom, and a
straight white road sloping up slightly
looks like the handle, and leads to Bey-
rout."
'Here comes your nephew, Mr. Craig,
and the young lady" cried Miss Morton,
interrupting herself-her seat was opposite
one OF the windows. There is another
gentleman with them. / seem to know
him. Why, it is BERTHE Everard, and he
has rod in his hand. | thought he had
gone with the deer-stalkers. Now he will
expect me to drive him back What O
borer'
In few moments Miss Black came in,
blushing brightly from pleasure at seeing
Mona, as well as from habitual shyness.
She came straight to her, and kissed her
with quiet cordiality. Kenneth, too, had
no eyes for anyone but Mona, until he had
greeted her.
'fThen Miss Morton called out
'tHow goes it, MIR. Macalister? Come
here and sit by me. What a provoking
creature You are to be out when / have
taken the trouble to drive over here"
Kenneth colored crimson and explained
to her and TO his uncle that he was not fit
to sit down to table, after dragging net,
until he had changed his clothes. Then
he made his escape.
Everard went up to MI Craig.
Every glad to see you. sir,' he said,
with unusual civility. II have been COM
ing to call on you two or three times. Now
have made my way here at rather an un-
suitable time, which l hope you'll excuse"
''Sit yc doom, sit ye doon!'' cried Uncle
Sandy. "Al times are suitable-'specially
when food is ready. Bring mair cups and
cookies. We arc nae denuded, though the
housewife has been awa'."
81 thought you had gone with the deer
stalkers." said Mona.
az intended going, but Iisls was in such
beastly bad temper thought wouldn's
venture. We would have been sure to
quarrel This place looks uncommonly
well-ever SO much better than when Fitz-
allan had It. That's partly your doing, eh,
Mona' Thank you," as she handed him
his tea. II must say women can be of use
In making the inside of house bearable,
III In nothing else"
81 believe men would do it better IL they
put their minds to It," said Miss Morton.
"You ought not to say so, even IL you
think it," returned Everard. 1T isn't
good form for a woman to run down wo-
manh~ !hn, ,0,,, rr, ,,.n, .o,vnr, ,r,.,
Miss Morton. Then interrupting herself,
as Mary was about to take the seat beside
her-"No, mol that is Mr.. Macalister's 8
place"
Poor Mary fed TO Mona's side of the Ia.
BILE.
Come by me, dearis," said Uncle Sandy
bursting" nearer the end of the table te
make room for her.
why, you never do anything else" con
tinued Everard, speaking to Miss Morton.
"You bully all the women up at the
Lodge to no end"
why do they let me, them They are SC
weak, cannot help it."
'The apostle says-"began Uncle Sandy
with some solemnity, intending to convey
adigniied rebuke, and TO say q word in
season.
(Which apostle'" asked Everard, quick
ly. '"The Apostle Paul was man OF the
world He might have an idea or two on
the extremely complicated question of fe-
male character, but the rest are nowhere
on such a subject
You are really the most contradictory
creature | ever met, Bertier' exclaimed
Miss Morton. "You are always railing at
women yourself, but IL ! say word against
them, you are up in arms"
in arms! Whose arms? Yoursf am
afraid you would give me more of q bears s
hug than q loving squeeze"
"Wellr' cried Kenneth, who had return
ed clothed in his very best kilt and plaid,
hastily swallowing n lump of short-bread,
and reddening vehemently with the effort
as also at the sound of his own voice, 81
say that no man is good for much who
thinks the world would be worth living in
were it net for the ladies'"
Bravo, KENNETH" said Mona, while
Mary clapped her hands, and Uncle Sandy
again essayed to express his views.
''The mon wha has ma kindly thocht
for the mither that watched over him,
snd-"
''Ohl mothers don't count in Mr. Ever.
ards world" interrupted Miss Morton.
"He Is SO devoid of human feeling, that he
must have been Matched by some patent
Incubator, like the funny little fluffy chick.
ems one sees in that window in Regen,
Street"
''Thank you," said Everard 81 am large
ly in your debt When," turning to Uncle
Sandy, "are you going to let Mona come
back to us?"
800! when she likes, when she hkesp'
''I am not going from home again, thank
you" said Mona. 81 am conceited enough
to think that / am of more use here than
anywhere else"
And SO you are, my lassie, so you arep'
"Why we will all be inconsolable, and
Lisle will be tearing his hairl Come, Miss
Morton, IL you have done deluding that son
of the mountains, it Is time to drive me
back to the Lodge"
"Why, are you not going to walks"
''Not il ! can help it.
''Then suppose we must CO." to Ken
Meth "You will be sure to tell me wha,