The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-08-07

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~ cannot accept such a responsibility
unless you gire it TO rae foreper."
Before had an opportunity TO breach
the question of investments TO Mr.. Dale,
Aunt Agnes added her quota 10 my sense
of wrong. One evening when she came
TO dinner | OWNED, from the intense
-gidity of her posture at table, that she
was offended with me. To tell the
truth, felt a triie guilty. Ny visits to
her during the winter had been spas
modic and hurried. What was worse,
so greatly was | carried away by my
social success that whenever we did
meet | prat1led on about fashionable
Eivolities regardless of her frowu. But
though | was conscious of not standing
IN her good graces, felt 5olerabay secure
from comments on the scoreof Mr.. Bale,
for the reason that as she never went
anywhere she would know nothing of
my intimacy with him unless Aunt
Helen or my father Were to make her a
confdant; and this did not think likely.
Therefore, when she introduced the sub
Ject while we were alone together in the
drawing room after dinner. | was a little
disconnected
Who is this Mr. Gale whose name I
see connected with yours she asked
severely
With nineg'
Yes. with yoRgs Don't beat about
the bush! You know perfectly well
whom | mean
Excuse me. Amt agnes there Is ns
Mr.. Gale among my acquaintance.
know Mr. Dale
She frOwned. and began 90 fQmbie f-4
her pocket. The principle Is the same
whether 1t is Gale or Dale or Tompkins
l never expected to learn of my nlece.
engagement from the pubic press
am confident the notice said Gale Aht
I thought SO. Plain as the nose on yoJ1r
face" she added, producing from aer
pOrJemonnaie a newspaper cutting and
reading aloud: 1T is rumored that the
engagement of the beautiful and accom-
plished daughter Of Augustus Harlan,
the railway magnate, TO Mr.. Roger Gale
Of this city, will soon be announced"
1t is not true. Aunt Agnes. | cried
Indignantly Needless TO say was
startled at this bit of information, COM
ing, too, as il did from such an unex-
pecred source Ny aunt's knowledge Of
IL seemed fully IS remarkable TO me as
the fact of the publication.
/ trust not. she replied with en-
phasis. i did not seriously suppose my
own niece so far lost TO all sense of pro-
priety as to take such step unbeknown
10 me-. Bat II seems TO me Virginia,
yOU must have been behaving In a, TO
say the least. very peculiar manner TO
get your name into the newspapers
Where there Is 50 mlch smoke there is
apt 70 De d i!tI.e fire Who Is this Mr.
Ga.le:'
His name Is Dale. Amt Agnes"
We'll, Dale then You won't put me
off by quibbling If you want your
father TO know Of II you are taking just
the course TO make me tell him"
My father knows all there is TO know
Mr.. Dale is friend of mine and CONES
10 the house by permission There Is no
possibility Of an engagement between
us"
An engagement! should hope not
Do you consider yourself qualified TO en-
ter upon the cares and responsibilities of
married lfe?'
u have already said that have no in
6ention Of getting married"
Getting married. Why, the child is
crazy You talk of matrimony as if If
were as simple a proceeding as changing
Jour dress or going TO party"
| Some people would appear to find it
so" answered, goaded to impertinence.
But Aunt Agnes apparently did not
perceive my innuendo. Il dare say"
said she with asperity That is be-
cause there are SO many fools IN the
world
We sat IN silence for some minutes
Ny aunt was so much excited that could
see her hands tremble as she put the OBJ
noxious cutting back into her portemon-
naie. Al Of d sudden she looked at me
over her glasses and said:
4 am willing to give you one more ]
chance, Virginia.
[ waited for her to continue
If You choose TO take advantage Of it,
well and good. If not. you must go
your own ways. | am not going TO
make my life a burden over you any
longer If you prefer TO be glddy and
foolish, let those take the responsibility
who have encouraged you to become so.
No one shall blame me.
You know Aunt Agnes. wish to be
nothing Of the SORT.
Very well. then L propose TO pass
the summer IN Europe. and it strikes me |
as an excellent opportunity for you to |
cut adrift from the Objectionable asso-
Citations you have formed during the |
past few months With fresh start,