Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-11-12

OD11R6u bO db oAsfDSAAOAN ls Know them.e
 No, Rob didn't know them.
 Well, they live oyer by Concordia. They arc the relatives of Linnct'sI mentioned. MoanP You may bank on that. They think more of . nickel than I do of a dollar; and they've more dol lars than have. They told Linnet she could do tho houseworll for her board. And the homework of their big barrack of place is no joke. She was plucky. She tried it. But you might as welkharness butterfly to blow as Linnet to drudgery."
 He paused to weigh load of corn for a man who had driven up on the scale outside. Then he scribbled line upon the battered book that lay upon the shelf-like ledge just below ths dingy window pane.
 'T used to go to Concordia pretty often. as you remember, and got into the habit of stopping in at Blatchford's. And we'll, the long and short of it is I made up my mind to get married. and to marry Linnet Joslyan at that"
 Bonnell nodded interestedly- Never before had Henry boon soconfidentially communicative.
 'She's awfully pretty" he averred, "and like her quite as we'll as any girl ever saw-indeed better. I've built fine house, you know She shall have every thing she wants. I'm sure we'll be very happy"
 Rob smiled grimly. How prosaic Dreier was! How .unemotional! Tho girl who would be content with the af- lection he offered would have all she de- served, Bonnell felt convinced.
 And now," said Henry, looking at his friend, 'here is the fix Pm in-I can't go over thero to be married next Thursday. The decision about that new elevator the railroad men talk of putting up may be mado any day. It would not do for me to risk being away"
 ''Mau alive!'' cried Bob. bringing down the forelegs of his chair with bang and springiug to his feet. E'Do you re- member you would go to be married?"
 "That is the identical reason I can't gol' answered Henry, with his usual air of serenity. "The very fact of my as- suming new obligations would make it culpable of me to jeopardize my busi- ness interests"
 There was little amusement and a good deal of contempt in the glance Rob gave him.
 And so," dcciIod Dreier, putting his short, thick hands in his pockets, II wrote to Linnet that you would go over for her Thursday and bring her to Bolleville. We can be married here" |"
 No longer could Bonnell conceal his exasperation.
 ''Good heavens! Dreier,' he ex- claimed. 'can't you sec that what you suggest is internally bad form?" Henry did not sec it. He turned de- iberately to weigh the empty wagon that had rumbled back on the scale. Then he calmly faced the indignation of his partner.
 "No girl" aYowed that wraGhful in- dividual fiercely, "at least no girl. in her senses, would tolerate such dicta- tion! You ought not to expect her to como and go as you decide, as if she were trained terrier"
 Henry smiled placidly.
 70, she won't mind! My absence from town might mean quite a loss to me in a money sense."
 ''Defer your marriage then"
 "Postponements are unbuSlness like. ["
 It was with something suspiciously like an oath that Mr. Bonnell pulled his hat down over his brows and swung out of the office.
 He vowed over and over to himself that he wouldn't go to C0ncordia. It was atrocious that he should be sent to bring and deliver bride as if she were so much merchandisel And yet, did not a poor poet bring Lalla Roohh to the arms of her royal lover2 Yes, but the poet was the lover. Well, after all, what business was it of his? He had given his word to Dreier to do him the favor requested. And the future wife of his partner must be but a narrow. minded and spiritless creature and un' worthy his savage chivalry in her de. fense.
 So he went; but against his will, as Beatrice said, when she invited Bene- dict in to dinner. It was still early, not ten o'clock, when he drew up 'his horses before the large, ugly, frame | farmhouse on the outskirts of Con. cordia.
 It was an April day, and delicious one. The skies were most softly, sun. nily, luminously blue; everywhere were blows throwing che dark sod; everywhere was budding green. cry; everywhere were budding boughs and from the prairie grass came the consistently cheerful chirp O. the meadow larks. Kansas wal that morning, as she not frequentl, is, moro prodigal of spring-time promis' than of midsummer fruition.
 "Miss Josylanr'
 The weather beaten woman who hat answered his brisk knuckle knock ol tho panels of tho seldom-used hall doc regarded him with stolid curiosity.
 "Linnet? She's out with the chil0rel somewheres-gaddin' as usual Won you como in?"
 "No, thank you," replied Bonnell taking his hat of in a fashion that tn poor rich woman for moment imagine implied supreme sarcasm, "I shall tr to find her.''
 Find her he did. She was in the mex
 field, with half g dozen roysterin l u0unn RIa+nhfordo about baw a