The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-04-12
A Strange Mail Carrier.

N SlldllSC MtllA No1llCl.
People seldom look for romance in
a quiet country town, and yet trag-
edics and comedies are daily being
lived in rural lilc.
An unwicl'lly hay press would cer-
tainly he the last means ofcommuni-
rauion which one could suspect u
love-lorn maiden of choosing. Yet
such an unpromising medium deter
mined the happiness OF Katie Samp-
son and George I-uiliin, but wait un-
til you hear the story.
Bert TarloS and pretty Katie had
been children together. They had
attended the same school ever since
they had tenrtully mastered the mys-
terics otthcir 4 i C's together. They
had qu,rrcllcd and "m;ulc up as
often as most children do.
Then suddenly. at the mature age
OF twenty years, Bert awakened to
the fact that he was desperately in
love with the playmate Of his child
hood.
why, it's all nollcscnse, Bert, ;"
cried katie, as he told her his tale of
love in the most approved style.
"I'vc known you ever since, why,
eversincc You were SO high" waving
her brown hand at II ridicnlously
short distance from the floor, and
looking ut him in utter dismay.
All, there was some comfort in the
fact that she had to look up ut him.
"Wcll, am taller than that now,
and older" responded he complacen-
tly rising 10 the full height ofsix
feet.
eyes, but you amt much wiser
than you was thenif you don't know
better than to talk this way" re-
tortc,l Katie.
"Do talk scnsc'! he exclaimed i'm
patiently.
That's just what I'm trying hard
todo sllcnnswcrc,l sercnely. "ThHt's
just what Fd be glad to have you
do, too"
"It's no laughing matter to me.
I'm in earnest, Katie" lie cried ,lcs-
prratrly. 'Ifyou won't marry me
Ill-I'll blow my brains outr'
"Oh, no. you WON'T" and katic's
voice wascooly cXaspcrating. "You,
wouldn't do that, because you would
spoil your good looks, and besides,
the loss would he all your OWL"
"lOu are, you are u woman" cried
Bert hoarsely. ".Iust talk sobprly
for five minutes will you, can your"
II wish could return the compli-
mcnt and call you IL man. rctortc.l
katc snucily. "iherc, Bert,
we'll be quarrclling soon. SO will
talk ns sohcrly as you wish now"
well. then. Will you marry me,
or not, katic?'
"Or not, guess, Bert. coul,ln t
do tlnt.'
"Why not: Whycouldn'ty you mar
ry me kntir?'
II like you, of course, Bert, but |
don't love you. I'm very sure, be-
rHusc-
because what! Because you love
somebody else, | suppose. oh,
Katie"
That's just it," said Katie de-
ridedly, raising her anxious eyes
IcIilntly to meet his glance of star
tied rcpronch. "Thnt's it, exactly,
Bert. have promised to bc George
l.uiliins wife in the Spring, and |
couldn't marry you both Then
with Il rustic of light dr;,pcry she
WAS gone, leaving him to find his
way out as best he could.
''Ioi never shall marry George,
Lufkin. swear it!" nuttcrcd Bert. /.
as lie hasped the garden gate and
stopped long enough to shake his
rlrllrll"d hand at the cheerful light
in kHtic's window. then walked rap
idly away through the gloaning.
Bat. although he imagined himself
desperately in love, Bert Tarbox was
not one To neglect the main chances
in life.
lie purchased n hay press, and set
to work with such dill igcnrc that. it
hard labor could have killed the
grand passion, his love would have
met ~ speedy death.
His crew consisted ot three besides
himself. Ilitc Savage, Charlie Ken
dali and his brother Jasper. In
course of time duty called them to
the spacious barn of .Jcln Sampson,
The .thcr of pretty Katie.
"iou can eelcr every day. now,"
said Charlie hnntcringIy. Make
hay while the sun shines Bert"
"ics. Faint heart never won fair
lady my boy" added IIitc. "You
wont have another such chance be-
fore next year at this time"
George Lufkin is lnmbering np
in Chapman, and this hay is going
straight to his camp Don't you
wish you had II dynamite cartridge
or so To put into these bales, Bert?"
asked Jasper, jokingly, but Bert an
swcrcd not II word lie was think
in" how he could best surprise Katie
alone and obtain another interview.
knti"'s wits were quicker than his,
however. and the coveted chance
was not found.
katic's fair face was palcr than
usual. and her bright eyes had evil
IDENTIFY been 'limmcd by weeping.
Bert noticed this with secret salts
faction. and drew his own conclusion
from the fact. He reasoned that the
gossip ofn lovers quarrel between
her and George l.ufkin was correct,
as indeed it was.
Call it fate, chance, whatever you
will, there is ii power which some
times flvors unhappy lovers, and
this power WAS now preparing to
aid pretty Katie in u strange way.
".Jasp. is sick and wants to 60
home. Can have your man until
can get another" asked Bert ns
they arose from the table the next
morning.
Yes, OF course, business nin very
driving today" answered John
Sampson.
"IIe'll only have to pitch added
Bert. "lIitc and Charlie will tend
TIL" hos. while ! drive team
You'd better come out and see
how we press hay this afternoon.
kniir," said Charlie, crossing to
where she stood.
"And throw II wish bone into IL
bale, Kate It's going to l.ulkin's
camp" added Iiitc in an undcrtonc.
Katie turned away with IL bright
I