Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-08-28
MOUNTAIN HOME, IDAHO. SUNDAY. AUGUST 2s, 1892

OF the tnatch unuer such circumstances.
Very good. sir. retorted Cooke. Far |
be II from me 10 say THAI disappointed I
pretensions OF your own prompt your
refusal. Twill admit tn at it is mere I
sense Of duty. IL that adm hission pleases
YOU but am authorize ed by Lefty To 1
say that when she arriveb at The age OF I
81, should your consent ID our marriage
be refused. we will marry without IL.
That will be the next move on the board. |
Mr.. Bitltes."
You are playing costly game, SIR"
mot at all, sir. At all events, shall
call on the bishop TO capture your queen
replied Cooke, good h,tmorediy, and
bowed himself out OF the office with
mock courtesy
When Lefty heard Of this positive re-
fusal, IN spite of her ave wed contempt
for money. she was dispoked To be down
cast But Carter whispered TO her se-
cret, n proverbialiy dangerous thing To
do To a woman, and Lefty, after look
of astonishment, burst Into a ripple OF
silvery laughter.
''Oh. you dear, delightful Carterr' she
exclaimed. "Who would have thought
| itr'
And Lefty renewed her laughter, for
the secret seemed to her the most comical
thing in the world.
Bittles did not desire at all TO exact
the penalty; but he did very much de-
sire to break the disagreel.b connection.
But howI Lefty went into society under
the chaperonage Of Mrs. Burroughs,
Bittle's own sister. we'll to do widow,
who was four years his senior, and liked
the mild kind of dissipation which she
enjoyed by virtue of her office. At all
routs, kettledrums, parties and the OPP
era, or wherever Lefty went, Carter
Cooke was sure 10 be; aild Lefty suffered
him TO assume the right of prospective
ownership in way that drove all other
suitors from the field. Lefty made no
secret Of her feelings. al ia wore her en-.
gagement ring openly. Mrs. Burroughs,
who liked Cooke, tacltly aided and
abetted. Ii soon becarhe known that
Bittles frowned on &c oke, and folks
were curious to learn how the affair
would end. as though, in such case,
with two willful young persons, 1t could
end in any way but one. Bittles was
duly informed of his open courtship. and
the lectures he bestowed on Lefty in con-
sequence only increased his wards dis
like to himself, until II dcepened 10 posi-
tive aversion.
Bittles trusted to time and the chances.
lie did not believe that Lefty. when the
pinch came, would sactiiice SO large q
portion OF her property for mere girlish
love. which might he destroyed at any
time by lovers quarrel. nor that Cooke,
whom he had brought himself To believe
had mercenary motives. would care 10
take her with SO much ltss money. Nine
thousand year to one df Letty's expen-
slSe habits meant almost exclusive rural
residence; and he knew that Lefty did
not like living in the country, except
during the time Of ilowe r. and sunshine,
and then varied by Newport and Sara
toga Bittles waited. not without hope.
He had calculated on an ally i'm his
sister, and, Ia insure er co operation.
told her of his hopes and fears. She
laughed at him.
James" she said. "this Ii the most
absurd thing possible. She Is about half
yonr age. You have stdid. old bachelor
habits. and Lefty. thou sh she's n good
girl. is fond of life. society and racket
She'd drive you NAL in six months, and
put you in the grave in less than year
II you must make an ex hibition Of your.
self matrimonially. chpose some rich
widow OF 80 to 30. who would suit you
better"
Hang rich widows."
"Quite polite and complimentary, con-
sidering that ! am VIE low with com
Portable income. You had better give ii
up. have sounded tty to the depths,
and know that she love young Cooke;
and he is--barring fortune-a capital
mate for her, | would have preferred
her to have made richer match, but
they will have enough between them"
No, they'll not; for will never give
my consent. I'll take he from you-lock
her up. il need be-
''You are a lawyer. and know better,
James. You may refuse your consent,
though every one viii penetrate your
motives and laugh at you: but as 10 the
locking up-they do sue III things In plays
and novels. not in real ife."
'She Is under my control until she Ia
81"
'Oh, yes-doubtless; that Is, nominal
ly-for three months more Then she'll
marry in spite Of you. II you strip her
OF all but i've thousand n year, you'll in-
cur general reproach nd gain no salts
faction in the long run. The best you
can do Is 10 keep OF the wedding for
short time. Give in. IL you were ten
years younger / might strain a point to
help you--not as it Is. ="
As the Irish peasant girls say, .she
was as stif as he was stout, and Bitlles
fell back ON his move of the forfeiture,
which he thought woul|l deter both par
ties for some time. and. in the mean.
while. no one could tell what a chance
quarrel. newer face Oh the whins of a
woman might do.
just then fate seemed to come to tile
assistance Of the guardian lover Ii as
sumed the shape OF d new suitor. OF
something like Ii. and, To the delight Of
bittles. u was also a Nirginian-Ma
Boiling.
Fire fight fire. thought BIttles.
Maj. Phil Boiling was considerably
older than Carter Codke. as he should
have been, since he had fought in the
sectional war. ridden with Jeb Stuart
and tasted the horrors OF prison life at
Elmira Originally in comfortable cir.
cumstaneee, the war ha "a stripped him of