The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-07-20
"You will be leaving him som, time,

~ 49,
next door to see you"
81 never thought of that" said
Flossie: "and | guess I'll come" said
she aloud, and then to herself, 81 wish
l dared ask him how long he thinks
he is going to live"
"Pve a good mind to take you at
your word, Blossom. Pm a pretty
old man, but hearty yet, and there is
one thing | haven't forgot, and that's
how to treat women folks. I'm a
very lonesome old duffer, too, with all
my money. child"
1.-THE back gate would be real con.
venient for papa, wouldn't it?" said
Flossie into the trumpet, and in a
tone which IA just on the edge OF a
sob. But by what gate could Jack
come in?" was the next thought, and
now the cob was softly shattered.
and the April tears fell in a binding
mist.
Blossom. what's the natter" said
the old man, with real concern. at
cant be possible that the Judge has
really been enough to make you
cry?"
"Oh, no. indeed!" said Flossie. 81
was thinking how nice it would be to
] have all the flowers | wanted"
"You could have had those at any
time" was the somewhat disconcert-
ing response.
"Yes, Mr.. Nicklepod"-Flossie was
determined to be honest ever in the
hour OF her greatest deceit-"and all
the money"
The scanned and wrinkled lace took
on a grave expression. and the old
head shook a little at the mention OF
this word.
money isn't everything, Blossom"
he said "Money won't provide me
with ears, or keep the rheumatism
out of my knees, or the loneliness
from my heart. But you shall have
money. Now go and tell John to
cut all the flowers you want, and
then run home and tell your pa of
my offer; | think you had both better
come in and take dinner with me to-
night, and We'll talk it all over"
"He doesn't act particularly hilari-
GUS, seems to me-" said Flossie, as
she turned away. "But Pm engaged,
anyway-plighted to an oc%togenarain,
or a centurion, Or something of that
kind. Jack'll hate me, of course;
bat when he finds l have done it for
his sake he'll have to relent. If I
don't have but a million, that will
be better then scraping and twisting
tor years to save five thousand
dollars. Papa always said that
riches would be very becoming to me.
| Poor Dapai Poor ,Jackl"
When the Judge returned to his
home. about3 o'clock that afternoon,
he was much surprised TO find his
daughter reclining upon the library
lounge with her head tied up.
whats the matter Flossie? What
is it that smells SOP"
"Vinegar, papa. I've hadhysterlcs,
and this is the reaction"
81 hope you are not getting cranky.
and weak, and nervous, like the girl
of the period, Floss"
"Pm not getting anything, papa;
I've got. I've got all l want. and more
than [ want. I've got old Mr.. MCKEE
pod and his ear-trumpet for my fu-
ture husband, papa, and there's mill
ions in it; but whereof, where is
Jack?"
For a moment the Judge stood as
if petrified and then burst into q
perfect fit of laughter. At this point
the vinegar bandage vas discarded
and the prospective millionairess
came to a sitting position.
"Isn'titfunny? Isn'tit very funny?"
she remarked. with flashing eyes.
"But you are responsible for it, with
your talk about $4,000. l went de-
I%iberately into Mr.. Nicklepod's and
made him propose to me. l was
bound to settle it to-day. And now,
papa, will you break the news 80
Jack? We are to dine with the ear
trumpet tonight, and then eXeunt
parties and dances, with Jack so
handsome and lovely in his full-dress
suit, and enterlong-sleeved gowns and
old age without ears"
"You'l have ears enough for BOTH"
said the Judge. They seem to have
grown longer since morning"
"But, papa, Mr.. Nicklepod is GER
tainly over so, isn't he?"
"Flossie, what have yon been do
ing?"
"Truly. papa, just what I said. O.,
dear me, how my head aches! Mercy!
how my heart aches!!"
upon my word I thought better of
Nicklepod," said the Judge to himself
a while afterward. "But | pity the
man-young. old or middle-aged-who
gets my Floss" and then the Judge
laughed again, though there was a
touch of something besides merriment
in his heart.
That evening the millionaire was at
his best. Carefully dressed and "val-
eted," as Flossie remarked, he looked
much younger then when in his garden
or on the street.
"Good for forty years. I should say,
Floss" whispered the Judge, wicked
ly.
"He is real handsome was the as
tonishing reply, land 1 shall live to be
proud of him."
81 suppose Blossom has told you OF
our compact" Mr.. Niklepod began,
when at dessert, the servants having
left the dinniEg-room.
The Judge nodded, the ear-trumpet
being on Flossie's side
care you agreed?" was the next di-
rect question put by the old gentle
man.
mod up and down." said Flossie.
"Don't you dare do it sideways"
The Judge reached for the trumpet
and yelled into it.
"We'l talk about that later"
every we'll. "said Mr.. N%icklepod; Il
am. as l told Blossom, an old man,,
and perhaps not very good company;
but l know how to treat women folks
let 'em have their liberty, and give
them plenty of money-eh?" and now
the m~illionalre's face vas fairly radi-
ont