Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-03-28

| was seen WEeH tne young lover, VIII
Letty's consent, made formal pre-
posalt to the guardian for the han,
OF his ward.
"No, sir; decidedly, mol" reptile,
Bittles. II have nothing agains
you personally, Mr.. Cooke. Your re
spectabillty is undoubted; but l d.
not consider you, nor will any on
else, match for Miss Archer in for
tune. l have examined thu state
ment your counsel laid before me
and find you have barely four thou
sand year, while the property o
my ward yields ten times thai
amount, most of it in real estate
that is rising in value | should bt
false to my duty if | approved OF the
the match under such circumstan
| ces."
Every good, sir" retorted Cooke
Ear be it from me to say that dis
appointed pretensions of your own
prompt your refusal l will admit
that it is a mere sense ofduty, if that
admission pleases you. But / am
authorized by Lefty to say that
when she arrives at the age of 81,
should your consent to our marriage
be refused we will marry without it.
That will be the next move on the
board, Mr.. Bittles."
"You are playing a costly game
SIR"
mot at all, sir. At all events,
shall call on the bishop to capture
your queen" replied Cooke. good
humoredly, and bowed himself out OF
the office with mock courtesy.
When Lefty heard of this positive
refusal, in spite of her avowed con-
tempt for money, she was disposed
to be downcast. But Carter whis-
pered to her secret, a proverbially
dangerous thing to do to a woman,
and Lefty, after look of astonish-
ment, burts into ripple of silvery
laughter.
"Oh, you dear, delightful Carter!"
she exclaimed, "Who would have
thought itp'
And Lefty renewed her laughter,
for the secret seemed to her the most
comical thing in the world.
Bittles did not desire at all to exact
the penalty; but he did very much
desire to break the disagreeable con-
nection. But how? Lofty went into
society under the chaperonage of
Mrs. Burroughs, Bittle's own sister,
a well to do widow, who was four
years his senior. and liked the mild
kind of dissipation which she enjoyed
by virtue of her office At all routs,
kettledrums, parties and the opera,
or wherever Lefty went Carter Cooke
was sure to be; and Lefty suffered
him to assume the right of prospec-
tive ownership in way that drove
all other suitors from the field. Lefty
made no secret of her feelings, and
wore her engagement ring openly.
Mrs. Burroughs, who liked Cooke,
tacitly aided and abetted. 1t soon
became known that Bittles
frowned on Cooke, and folks were
curious to learn how the affair
would end, as though, in such case,
with two willful young persons, it
could end in any way but one. Bittlps
was duly informed of his open court
ship, and the lectures he bestowed on
Lefty in consequence only increased
his wards dislike to himself until it
deepened to positive aversion.
Bittles trusted to time and the
chances. He did not believe that
Lefty, when the pinch came, would
sacrifice so large n portion of her
for n mere girlish love,
which might be destroyed at any time
by lovers quarrel; nor that Cooke,
whom he had brought himself to he.
icve had nercenary motives, would
care to take her with so much less
money. Nine thousand IL year to
one ofLetty'sexpensivc habits meant
almost exclusive rural residence; and
ne knew that Lefty did not like
living in the country, except during
the time of flowers and sunshine, and
then varied by Newport and Sara
5oga. Bittles waited, not without
hope.
He had calculated on an ally in his
sister, and, to insure her co-opera-
ion, told her of his hopes and fears.
She laughed at hilu.
James," she said, "this is the
most absurd thing possible. She is
about half courage. You have staid,
Did bachelor habits, and Lefty,
,hough she's good girl, is fond of
life, society and rTcket. She'd
lrive you mad in six months, and
out you in the grave in less than
iear. Ifyou must make an exhibit
ion of yourself fundamentally,
,hoose some rich widow of 30 to 40,
Who would suit you better"
Hang rich widowsI'
Quite polite and complimentary,
that | am n widow with
income. You had better
rive it up. / have sounded Lefty to
he depths, and | know that she loves
,oung Cooke; and he is-bairing to
or.une--a capital mate for her.
' ould have preferred her to have
made richer match, but they will
AVE enough between them"
mo, they'll not; for I'll never give
ny consent. I'll take her from you
ock her up, if need be-
"You are n lawyer, and know bet
err, James. You may refuse your
onsent, though every one will pene-
rate your motives and laugh at you:
Tut as to the locking up-they do |
uch things in plays and novels, not |
n real liie."
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