Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-07-15
CUPID AND THE CENSUS.

They were sitting on the stairs in the
half light, and as the stairway was mar.
row they e necessarily rather close
together.
They we're between the first landing
and the hallway, and the glimmering
light below left them so completely in
the shadow that even If any one
emerged from the parlor they were hid
den from observation. II was from the
upstairs region that they apprehended
danger, as the frequent fearful chances
Of the girl in that direction betrayed.
As there was no room for him to dis
pose of his left arm comfortably he had
put it around her waist. Lovers are
great economizers of space-and they
were lovers.
''Madge, darling" he said, II shall
have to leave this house. I cannot
bear the irony and contempt which
your mother heaps upon me every day
at table"
What If mother should descend and
catch US hereF" said the girl, irrele-
vanity, letting her head sink, with a
sigh, on his shoulder, an act which be-
spoke anything but a desire to escape
from her compromisi ng situation until
necessity compelled her to do SO. His
Lips met hers, but lis thoughts seemed
to be running in a sternly practical
rather than a sentimental channel, for
he continued, ''anl | have not paid my
board for six weeks. It's too bad"
Then you certainly can't leave,
George" she mur1nured. Ma would
never let your things 60 out of the
house until you had paid her, and how
are you going to pay her until you get
some workl Besides, what would be-
come of met should marry that ogre
on the second floor front; I know I
should, I couldn't resist mas importuni-
ties without your ever present love to
sustain me-"
A pause ensued which George de-
voted to sustaining her In the orthodox
lover Like way, a proceeding which she
submitted to with a demurrer which
was not altogether a demurrer.
II feel awfully blue, dearest" he
said. Il did not get a single reply to
all those answers I sent to the adver-
tisements in yesterdays papers. l don't
know what I'll do"
''Oh. don't get downhearted, George.
Something will surely turn up. Per-
haps Smalley & Smart will take you
back into their ONCE"
They will never do that. II is very
hard to be suspected of dishonesty when
one is really innocent. They let me re-
sign, you know; but they are convinced
that I have robbed them, and"-passion-
ately-''I sometimes think that even
you must distrust me-
~ shall never do that, George" she
replied, with a little squeeze of his hand,
land directly you get another situation
I will be yours, eve If Mr.. Philip Van
Schaick is a bank president and a mill
i~onaire, as ma says he is. 1t is lucky
ma does not suspect why you left Small,
ley & Smart's. She is 81 suspicious and
unbelieving."
81 believe that old villain is a fraud,
q delusion and snare. Why doesn't
he show himself in his true colors and
say what he Is, instead of insinuating
himself into your mothers affections
and letting us all surmise this, that and
the otherr
Perhaps he Is nearly as poor as you
are, dear"
Then he must be very poor indeed"
he said with a little laugh.
"Ah, yes, but I love YOU
"Then / am rich indeed. But. Madge,
have an idea-In explode the mys-
terry. Tn-what was thatr
There was a noise in the hall. The
front door closed with a bang and q
heavy step began ascending the stairs.
Il was Mr.. Philip Van Setback return.
ing from his Office down town. Madge
picked up her skirts and few, but no,
quick enough to prevent the old gentle
man from catching a glimpse Of heI
white founces as she turned the bend
in the stairway.
When Mr.. Van Setback reached the
landing he looked keenly into the
young mans face and said simply, 81
thought So" A moment later his door
was heard to close on the second fiooI
and Madge returned with q very white
face.
"'Sh," she said, 81 am going down
TO the kitchen. Ma will begin to won
der where I am. We are lost"
NO." he replied, drawing her t.
him, II believe | have an idea which
contains the possibilities of our re
demption. Ill join the census"
II would not hear of II. Fifty cent
day away out In Texas, and ther
vhsn you left the army you'd be unfi
fos anything. We couldn't posdbl,
i've on fifty cents q day, though
would endure anything for your sake
L. All right, ma, I'm coming. Their
- 10. How I wish l was an orphan
Coming"
"what dear girl ahe ID" said Georg'
Darrell TO himself a. he went slowly h