The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-04-17

/ OF union between them which produced
the most perfect unanimity Of feeling.
Franklin William paced his room 50
distractcdly that he was suspected Of
having become poet by his anxious
landlady, and she tren.bled for the fate
| OF his board bill, which was assuming
| gigantic proportions. should this prove
| true.
Lorenzo" said Franklin William,
solemnly ono evening, ''our last resource
Is gone 1t was annoying to hear him
include Mr.. Hops in the matter. AS
you advised. sent an offer OF marriage
yesterday to Mary Eaton. that highly
cultivated young female with the big
nose. 1t was dire necessity and thought
Mary would be willing to marry any
BODY"
And the answer?
.IIer father returned it unopened
with note to the effect that Mary
had gone as missionary to the Sand
witch Islands or the Cannibal Islands,
forget which"
That's bad" reflected Mr.. Hops.
Every things bad" groaned the un.
lucky one. ..IIow am | different from
other men? Haven't | right to marry
II | want to? There's only one Of two
things left for me to do now"
What's that?'
Either suicide, or marry tho land
lady. And l haven't any choice
But the landlady's married already
and you know it." gasped Mr.. Hops,
who began to fear for his friend $ reason.
Il might make away with her hus-
band, you know, said Franklin William,
with a CHASTITY grin.
But you know other girls"
mot well enough to propose to them,
and it's too late now to get better ac-
quainted."
Mr.. Hoops rubbed his chin medita-
lively and then said, with determine
ton: There Is one chance left, you
must go to Miss Brooks again.
Il won't do it, I'll give up the money
first
Not bit Of it. feel sure you'll win
this time"
You feel sure every time.'
''Yes, but this is different. Besides,
you love her.
'.You said that made no difference"
expostulated Franklin, feebly.
Il may have been wrong" admitted
Mr.. Hops; but do make last effort.
You have barely week left until your
birthday
Mr. Franklin William Lee argued the
question Oft and on for two days and
seriously contemplated blowing his un-
lucky brains out. But Mr.. Hops was
pertinacious. and on the evening of the
third day the victim rang the front door
bell at the home Of Miss Anastasia
Brooks.
BY the time he had pacifed Miss
Brooks Scotch terrier. upon whom he
Inadvertently trod upon entering the
parlor, the young lady herself came in,
dressed in distra..tingly becoming
manner. Miss Brooks was graceful and
very much at ease. Mr.. Lee was nei-
Their While she tried to carry on the
conversation alone, he turned and
twisted himself in embarrassment until
he managed to strike his elbow against
an elegant crystal vase on the stand
near him, and the delicate trifie fell
shivered to fragments on the carpet.
Just my luck. Miss Brooks" burst
out Franklin William, standing aghast
and gazing upon the havoc he had
wrought. I'm dreadfully awkward.
Now you think it bad enough to have a
fellow like me laundering around for an
hour or SO, and, of course. can't ask You
to take me for the whole year and all
your life
Miss Brooks smiled and blushed very
prettily. indeed. 20. you haven't asked
any thing of that kind yet, Mr.. Lee,"
she said, archly.
well, am going to-" exclaimed
Franklin. greatly emboldened. Il want
you to marry me. | must be married
before my birthday to get that fortune,
and haven't week left, you know. O,
! assure you. it's desperate case" con-
cluded the wretched youth. the perspira-
ton streaming down his visage.
Miss Brooks rose Indignantly. 81 am
not in the habit of marrying young men
in order to secure their fortunes for
Them" she said, coldly.
20. l didn't mean--O. don't be Of
Tended" he began in alright, continu-
ing dejectedly, Il knew how 1t would
be. Of course. ] might have married
scores of girls-that is. not all of them
at one time, Of course, but--but one at .
time no, no-but how can marry any
one when you are the only girl can
ever love? I'm going-I've offended
you terribly, and Of course you despise
me. don't care for the fortune; I'll
never think Of it again, and I'm going
now" He stumbled out into the hail.
Its just my luck, Miss Brooks, Ill GO
away somewhere and never bother you
again."
He could never tell exactly how it
happened, but suddenly Miss Brooks
was very near him, indeed, and his arms
were around her. And just at that mo-
ment Franklin William did not consider
himself the most unlucky fellow alive,
after all.-Herbert Hall Winslow, in
brakes Magazine.