Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-11-27
A LOSING GAME.
The Moral to This Tale Is Some.
thing About Edge Toola

The Moral to This Tale Is Some.
thing About Edge Toola
"I am going away tomorrow, Miss Cling
stone"
Robert Sweetwilliam uttered the words
in the rich, opulent Oswego bass voice
which fitted his throat SO WELL Yet, withal,
there was faint tremor in that voice-a
tremor such as quivers upon the air for sew
eral moments after the dinnergong In q
fourth-rate hotel has received the final
stroke. Roderick had practiced the tremor
many days for this occasion and had got it
down to fine, delicate point.
''Going away so soon?" sighed rather
than spoke Gladiola Ciingstone.
Then for long time neither spoke, and
as every thing else was also still, silence
reigned.
| The descending sun of a late August day
shot withering glances through the over
| hanging branches to where the two sat
deeply immersed in such thoughts as they
happened to have handy. From afar, borne
on a breeze so gentle that Gladiola's sigh
would have been hurricane in comparison,
came the fervid exclamation of some hon.
est, callous. .palmed farmer, addressed to the
nigh horse which showed disposition to
lag. A small, thn-voiced mosquito winged
| its fight on gauzy wings from the neighbor-
ing swamp and alighted on the end Of Glad
iola's nose, whence the insect rose again
with tiny shrek of fiendish joy as it nim-
bly, lodged a terrific righthander aimed by
Gladiola, which now spent itself upon the
nose and crcumambient air in about equal
parts.
"Yes, can stay no longer; must return
to my duties in the city. go away to NOR
row." reiterated Roderick, after many min
utes.
Both were playing waiting game. From
much perusal Of the ephemeral literature OF
the present time each had learned that
when a young man states to young woman
in whose company he has spent a large por.
| ton of his summer vacation that he is 60
ing away again, and does it, with the
tremolo stop pulled out to it's full extent,
the young woman may be prepared to hear
man is eligible.
Gladiola was waiting for Roderick to say
something additional Roderick was wait
ing to be encouraged to go on.
Couldn't you stay two or three days
longerl" asked Gladiola at length. At the
same time she sighed so violently that Rod
erick involuntarily pulled his hat down
more firmly, as he would have done had q
breeze suddenly sprung up.
"Would you be pleased to have met"
ITO have you, Why, Mr.. Sweetwilliam,
r.
''To have me stay, meant"
"What did you think thought you
meantm
Nothing"
"What you say often means nothing, Mr.
Sweetwilliam,' remarked Gladiola, who
was quite an expert at repartee.
"You fiatter me, Miss Clingstoue; but
few Of US have the ability to converse free
ly about nothing. But suppose should say
something that did mean something; sup
pose should ask you to BEL
'SThere comes papa, Mr.. Sweetwilliam
ask him, Roderick," exclaimed Gladiola
who, in addition to her many other accom-
plishments, had acquired the art of mind
reading and could tell beforehand wha
Roderick wanted to ask.
with your permission, desire to make
you my father-in-law," calmly an
nounced Roderick, when Gladiola's father
the owner of vast estates and oceans o
wstered stock, approached.
"Ha! hap laughed Mr.. Clingstone, with
out changing the position of even a single
facial muscle. ''And what are your pros
poets in life, young man!''
'Prospectsl daily no longer with pros
poets. live on the proceeds of the past
My uncle was worth a million when he died
am his sole heir. Seer"
"Presumptuous youth Begone from 10,
sightl How dare you ask me for the hant
Of my daughters You'll the representativ,
Of plutocracy. My daughter shall wed
poor and worthy young man unencumberet
with wealth and possessed of nothing bu
his prospects. Begone / say"
Thus having spoken, Mr.. Ciingston'
: turned and went away.
"How long has your unfortunate fathe
been afflicted with paresisl" asked Roder
lex, who had failed to begone, when Cling
stone pera had vanished from view.
ut isn't that" murmured GlRdiola
HPapa wishes to be considered eccentric
He will succeed; but 1t strikes me he i
OVERRIDING it, responded Roderick. sBu
listen; have plan"
For half an hour thereafter Rodericl
poured words into GIadiola's left ear
When he had concluded Gladiola said:
"Sincewe shall be as one it will be mer
form, and papa can not kick. " GladIola ha'
one fault. In moments Of deep emotion
she sometimes became addicted to the US
OF slang.
ssYou here again! told you yesterday +
begone," aDgrily exclaimed Rufus CHING
stone when Roderlck Sweetwilliam cam
into his presence again at half past ten q. m
the following day
Il was gone, but returned" replies
Roderick, respectfully
"Well, what do you wantln
Your daughters hand. See, nere Is
!. paper conveying to your daughter all M
property am now poor; / have nothinI
put my prospects. Truly am worthy 70 b
your son-in-law.n
You have done thisi The papers are a
drawn up!"
Drawn up aud signed. Here they are
am not worth penny now"
. ,'So see, y replied Mr.. Clingstone, afte
9 hasty perusal Of the papers swell
7 young man." he continued, in . sorrow
: ful tone, II deeply regret TO be compelle
70 inform you that since yesterday hay
0 changed my opinion regarding the choice Q
ahusbald fov ny daughter. think. ate