Mower County transcript., 1890-11-12
product Of . moro luxurious and In.
tricate civilization. .55 @ 4
miss Josylan, 4 bolieve,S said Bon

product OF . moro luxurious and In
tricate civilization. rs
Miss Josylan, 4 believe, said Bon
nell. @az 4 II s Z
She bowed slightly. Sho stood regard
ing him with . glance Of quiet inquiry.
She was graceful girl Of perhaps eigh-
teen or twenty. Her gown OF smoke
colored cashmere had never been FASH
ioned by q Kansas dress-maker. It was
artistically plain. 1t fitted her rounded
young figure with glove.like smooth
ness. II have come, }" said Rob, with an.
embarrassment foreign to him, "from
Henry Dreier." "e.z "@ IS .
The face before him-a very delicate,
sensitive face it was. with dark.lashed
hazel eyes and . beautiful mouth
famed scarlet from soft hair to white
throat. @G,..s
HE did not receive my letter then?
You are Mr.. Bonnell?' 80.
Rob assented. l.
II wrote him." hurried on Linnet
Josylan, that would not 20 to Belle
Vile as he desired" -
Rob felt himself placed in an unpleas-
ant position. Assuredly the girl was
neither narrow-minded nor spiritless rs
he had supposed when he agreed to full
fill the REQ euest of Dreier. For, though
her words were brief and simple, there
was vast deal of resentment in both
tone and expression. But how in the
name of Heaven had such q woman
promised to marry Henry Dreierl Sud.
denly and curiously no was answered.
'That's right, Linnet!' piped up ono
of tho group who stood gaping at the
stranger, 'don't ye 60 heard ma tell
pa yistlday, that ii you went to git mar.
ried she'd have to hire help, an that
the lessn she'd have to pay 'ud be three
dollars week. Don't ye go!''
Linnet looked up from the freckled
and persuasive countenance of Master
Give Leonard Leroy Blatchford. All
the color went out OF her face with .
rush. Something set and resolute came
into it.
~ shall 60 with you," she said to
Bonnell. She turned and walked toward
the house.
"Poor little girl" said Rob. He knew
now why she was going to marry Henry.
She would be her own mistress. She
would be independent. She would
be free from repellant labor and
petty despotism. If the absorbed and
passionate devotion all young hearts
crave it was not in the nature of Dreier
to give her, she would at least receive
kindness and affection. And. morbid
sentimentalists to the contrary, half q
loaf is preferable to no bread.
Bonnell went back to the road. He
stood by the buggy waiting. He could
hear within the house the sounds Of
:ngry and aggrieved protestation.
When, carrying a sachel, Miss Josylan
came out, down the path, and to the
buggy, her lips were set in q mutinous
red line, and her hazel eyes were black
with rebellion. Silently he helped her
in. Silently they drove of. Warmer
the day had grown. The fresh, half
pungent scent of ''broke" ground drift
ed to them. And family heard they the
murmurous whirr and hum that pre-
ludes the summer.
It is about three-hour's drive from
Concordia to Belleville. They had
travelled more than half the distance,
and almost in utter silence, when all at
once Linnet broke down in fit of child
ish weeping.
''Turnv she painted. "Go back, I
can't marry Henry Dreier. He is good.
Yes, know that But to be with him
always! O, no-no. was foolish.
only wanted TO get away from Blatch-
ford's. IL didn't think of the sin Of
marrying for such a reason. Take me
back-please!'
A force mightier than his will, might
ier than himself. mastered Rob Bonnell.
Traitorous- -dishon orable? Perhaps But
he could at that moment no more have
held back the words that sprang from
his heart to his lips and overflowed
them than he could have restrained the
fierce fury of mountain food.
"Linnet," he cried hoarsely, II love
you! Marry mel"
''O," she whispered, and shrank back
trembling. He had stopped the team. He
turned in his seat and faced her. Their
eyes met. There was that in his, Inn
perious, steady, fervent, thatcompelled
surrender. Linnet's lashes drocped.
Rob bent and kissed her. That broke
the mad spell that was upon them both.
"Don't!" she said. ''Go on. l could
care for you-yeS But the disloyalty
would be more wicked than-than keep
ing my word"
Bonnell snatched out the whip. He
gave the horses q lash. He drove
straight on towards Belleville. There
he left Linnet at the hotel He then
went straight to the Office. He found
Dreier alone. and in high spirits.
"Well," he cried, "that elevator bust
ness was fixed to-day. We've come out
several thousands ahead. What is the
matter? You look like ghost!"
do II" with wan smile. II ought
to look like scoundrel. I've fallen in
love with your sweetheart Henry. I
asked her to marry me. kissed her." :"
Dreier said not q word for several mo-
ments. When he spoke it was in his
ordinary bland and drawling voice:
If Linnet likes you better than me,
it's all right. Mistakes shouldn't be
made in matrimony any more than in
business. Mistakes are poor i policy.
They don't pay. Anyhow, Bob Saw
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