Mower County transcript., 1890-11-12

~ . SOuoaA u uGT #A0tAoE# WuV u0o y
ranch out here, asking himIif she could
secure employment teaching In this
part of the world. There was chance
Of her obtaining the district school, so
he sent her word to come. She did So
She was too late. The Board Of Direct
ors had given the place to an earlier ap-
plicant. Linnet had not enough money
to take her home again, so she was
obliged to remain ut Biatchford's.
Know them?" @ j
No, Rob didn't know them. #s 81. +
''Well, they live over by Concordia.
They are the relatives OF Linnet's I
mentioned. Mean? You may bank on
that. They think more OF a nickel than
| do OF dollar; and they've more dol
lars than have. They told Linnet
she could do the housework for her
board. And the housework Of their big
barrack of . place is no joke. She was
plucky. She tried it. But you might
as we'll harness butterfly to plow as
Linnet to drudgery.'
He paused to weigh load of corn for
man who had driven up on the scale
outside. Then he scribbled line upon
tho battered book that lay upon the
sholf-like ledge just below the dingy
window pane.
II used to go to Concordia pretty often,
as you 1ememb Der, and got in to the habit
ofstopping in at Blatohtord's. And
we'll. the long and short of it IL l made
up my mind to get married. and to
marry Linnet Joslyan at that"
Bonnell nodded interestedly. Never
before had Henry beon so oconfldentially
communicative.
''She's awfully pretty" he averred,
land I like her quite as we'll as any girl
ever saw-indeed better. I've built q
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 Unconditional! The
girl who would be content with the af-
fection he offered would have all she de.
served. Bonnen felt convinced.
"And now," said Henry. looking at
his friend, here is the fix I'm in-l
can't go over there to be married next
Thursday. The decision about that
new elevator the railroad men talk OF
putting up may be made any day. 1t
would not do for me to risk being
away"
"Man alive!'' cried Bob. bringing down
the forelegs of his chair with bang
and springiug to his feet do you re-
mem ber you would go to be married?"
THAT is the identical reason can't
gov' 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 a little amusement and a
good deal of contempt in the glance Rob
gave him.
''And so," decided Dreier, putting his
short, thick hands in his pockets, II
wrote to Linnet that you would 60 over
for her Thursday and bring her to
Belleville. We can be married here. ~
No longer could Bonnell conceal his
evaporation.
"Good heavens! Dreier," he ex-
claimed. ''can't you see that wnat you
suggest is Internally bad form?"
Henry did not see it. He turned de-
liberately to weigh the empty wagon
that had rumbled back on the scale.
Then he calmly faced the indignation Of
his partner.
mo GIRL" avowed that wrathful in
dividual fiercely. ''at least no girl in
her senses, would tolerate such dicta-
ton! You ought not to expect her to
come and 60 as you decide, as If she
were a trained terrier"
Henry smiled placidly.
20. she won't mind! My absence from
town might mean quite loss to me in
money sense."
"Defer your marriage then"
"Postponements are unbuslness like. {"
1t 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 20 to Concordia 1t
was atrocious that he should be sent to
bring and deliver bride as II she were
so much merchandise! And yet, did not
a poor poet bring Lalla Rookh to the
arms of her royal lover? 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 narrow
minded and spiritless creature and un'
worthy his savage chivalry in her de.
tense.
So he went; but against his will, as
Beatrice said, when she invited Bene-
dict in to dinner. 1t was still early,
not ten o'clock, when he drew up his
horses before the large, ugly, frame
farm house 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 plows furrowing the dark
sod; everywhere was budding green
cry; everywhere were budding boughs;
and from the prairie grass came
the persistently cheerful chirp of
the meadow larks. Kansas was
that morning, as she not frequently
is, more prodigal of spring time promise
than of midsummer fruition.
''Miss Josylanv'
,.,,o 1>oo <or r,ov,on - l. - 4