The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-04-29
THAT LANTERN.

TELL ye what, Mclindy, I don't like
the looks O. that young chap who has
been gall1vantin' round here lately
specially the last few days. Who Is
lie? An what is he up to? That's
What I should like to know!'
Mr.. Ormsby laid down his paper and
took off his glasses as he spoke. 1t
was the signal for Il good square talk.
His name is Iustis %Iitzallen," re-
piled Melinda, with a very timil assur-
ance
"Fftz, flddlcstick! 1 don't believe
that's his real namo any more than it's
mine!!' he replied, contemptuously.
"Why, par exclaimed Mrs. Ormsby
in a tone Of repruval.
Cant help it! I have my feelln' on
the subject, an you know wife. I
amt apt to he mistakcn!"
Sure enough, you are not" admitted
Mrs. Ormsby. There was a little pause
and MI. Ormsby continued the subject.
what is no DOM in these parts,
anyhow"
HE says he is prospecting" replied
Melinda.
"P%rosrectin'? P~rospectin' for what?"
I'm sur I never thought to ask"
replied Melinda, feeling as If she had
been amiss in some duty.
HE seems a peacefully disposed
young man." said Mrs. Ormsby, evil
IDENTIFY wishing to e pour oil Oh the
troubled domestic waters.
'That may oil be, but I naturally
want to know sonetllin' of a Teller
who seems to be anglin' round after
my darter."
Melinda blushed. Then came from a
corner Of the room q voice which until
now had been silent.
II feel suspicious of him, just IS you
do, pal" said Clara, the elder daughter.
There, Clara! I wouldn't 60 t. be-
ing suspicious where my W sister
was concerned, If I was YOU" said Mrs.
Ormsby. 1T don't look well in you to
be jealous of Melindy's lovers"
Clara 'blushed deeply than
Melinda had done. Such a speech from
a mother was enough to make any girl
blush.
I'm not jealous, ma; I don't want
to interfere with anybody who is
counting Melinda. But IL I were to get
acquainted with q young man at q
picnic and allow him to come around
visiting without anybody knowing any
, thing about him, some folks would
think it wasn't very proper"
SAS,1Vo orp1,rI C1o, n on, - oSy,s& onS
: you are sensible to think So" said Mr..
Ormsby, commendingly. "But it does
beat all how tickled some mothers are
/ when their darters get a beau. They
: amt half careful enough. No wonder
there's go many unfort'nlt marriages!'
Mr.. Ormsby economically transferred
} O huge Quid of tobacco from his mouth
to his vest pocket until he should want
1t again and continued: s
"Next time he comes here l hope ]
shall be ter hum. Ill find out what he's
prospectin' fort"
"Now, pa! Don't 60 to notifying
me-" pleaded Melinda, just ready to
II amt calculatin' on that, but I
may save you some nlortifyin' in the
end"
Mr.. Ormsby did not have the oppor-
tunity to interview Mr.. Fitzallen, ow-
ing to the management Of the foolish
" indulgent aud credulous mother, and
the young man avoided meeting MI.
Ormsby off his premises.
The Ormsbys were farmers and the
girls social privileges were confined to
the few parties Of tho surrounding
n~eighborhood and the dances at the
village. Here Mr.. Ntzallen managed
to secure attendance upon Melinda.
There was q great deal Of rivalry for
his attentions among the country
bellies, but he seemed tho most de-
voted to Melinda.
>, Clara watched them, usually afar of,
with eyes still distrlstfur Of Mr.. Fitz-
alien, and finally confided to o friend
her anxiety.
II don't feel he Is after any good.
And Melinda talks freely with him
and tells him I'LL pas affairs. / can't
help feeling there Is trouble ahead"
That night after the dance was over,
Mr.. Fitzallen drove Melinda home in
a store team" while Clara trudged
patiently behind with a less preten-
tious escort. 1t was a very dark night
and the country roads were bad, and
Mi. Titzallen had taken q %precaution
to provide himself with O lantern. 1t
was q iaunty little affair, and some
thing new In the village. '
1t swung its light mockingly In the
faces Of Clara and her escort as Mr..
| F1tzallen stopped his horse for a mo-
ment to speak condescendingly to them.
How well they remembered that Ian
tern afterward! -
Although the distance from the
house where the dance was held to
the Ormsbys was short, vet 1t seemed
long by allowing the horse to walk all
the way, while foolish Melinda oc-
cupied the time telling the gently in.
i Quisitive young man about pas at
fairs as Clara had said she was n
the habit Of doing.
"a legacy OF S1,1OO had unexpected
" fallen to Mr.. OrmSby. Mr.. Fitz.
allen was interested las q friend OF
course) to know just when the money
would come into his possession.
And it came yesterday" prattled
Melinda, 'and tomorrow pa will pay
or that $7OO mortgage which has
bothered him so long and put the
balance in tho bank. Oh! we IRE oil
90 glad! IT ID 90 hard to be in debt and
poor!!'
Mi. Fizallen gracefully expressed bis
pleasure.
"Rut Isn't It rather, risky having all
that money lying around? Isn't ur
father AfruII OF burglnls e
Eyes. indeed. but guess they
couldn't lind it where pm put it."
Melinda leaned ~colil1lngIy townrd her
companion and whispered the secret
In his ear.
He gave his horse 4 quick cut with