The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-09-15
JASPER'S WOOING.

Jasper Greene dismissed the driver
when he reached the wharf after cross
ing the Ottawa at the Four Corners and
looked round for Daoust to carry his
baggage up to Labelle's as in days of
yore. But old Daoust was dead and
therefore ces.ld not come.
Millette put the heavy trunk on a
truck sleigh and began to trot along the
wooden wharf. Then, when Millette
paused for breath, Greene pushed the
old man aside and took hold of the truck.
"Say, Millette, I'll wheel this up for so
cents for you," he said.
Millette ran painting alongside. "Ah-h,
re droll monsieur. 1t will provide for re
christening"
Greene stopped short. What, an
other!' he said in pretended amazement.
"How many?' he asked briefly.
"Twenty-seven," rejoined Millette,
with i'll dissembled pride.
Greene stopped again and carefully
counted out 81 cents. Here's a cent each
for your children, Millette. Don't stand
still any longer or you'll get frost bitten.
l dare not run the risk of having to pro-
vide for 81 orphans"
Millette took the money with profuse
thanks and hurried off, leaving Greene
to go on to Labelle's hotel with the huge
truck sleigh. By the time Jasper reached
the postoffice a procession gradually
formed on the sidewalk to welcome him
back from Montreal. When Lily Labelle
saw him, she came out and promptly
gave the children a holiday for the rest
of the day. Then she joined him at the
head of the procession. When they
reached the %yeranda, the children gave
three cheers for Jasper and called for a
speech.
He waited for the crowd to disperse
before he approached Lily, who stood
leaning against the veranda, an amused
look in her dark eyes.
care you glad to see me-" he asked.
"Come in to dinner" she said. "Tll
answer your questions-some of them
afterward."
Mrs. Labelle greeted him with a kiss
on both cheeks, while her husband bow
So W1oii SIofO pOl1CCIlCSSs
Lily seated herself at the upper table.
Jasper at once took possession of Lily
and held his prize against all corners,
especially the cashier of the Four Corners
bank. The latter was not easily discon-
certed, but prepared to demolish Jasper.
Miller, the cashier, asked her to go for
a sleigh ride that afternoon.
$50 sorry" drawIed Jasper. "Miss
Labelle has been engaged to me for a
sleigh ride for a year."
The cashier, without waiting for a re-
ply, went angrily out.
Lily raised her eyes from her plate.
"Why are you a week before your time,
JasperF' she asked.
"That's the reason" said Jasper, indi-
eating with a fragment of mince pie on
his fork the retreating form of the cash
Ter. eff Pm only allowed one sleigh
ride a year, I don't see why that fellow
should get ahead of me and have three
a week."
"But your work, Jasper?"
"Oh, McQuire's looking after that for
me. I explained to him that it was rath-
er important to clear up matters here,
and so I came"
Lily had not expected her coquetry to
become known. sit is so dull" she said
in extenuation.
Jasper commenced another mince pie.
"Don't be afraid of it's being dull
while I'm here" he said, with sublime
self confidence. "You promised me one
sleigh ride a year for seven years if I
wanted it, and I guess I'll take this
years today"
Lily pouted. Jasper smiled and rum
pied his yellow hair.
"You'd better own up" he said, with
undated cheerfulness. GLOW soon can
you be readyT
Lily was cowed. "Oh, in half an hour
and ran away to get her things on.
When Lily came down arrayed in her
most becoming furs, Jasper smiled ap-
provingly. You only want some flow
ers to be perfect" he said.
Lily gave a little cry. "Ah, flowers!
But they are impossible"
''Not at all" said Jasper, taking a box
from his pocket. Nothing impossible
II you WdHI IL Dduly eHOuSH.
Lily opened the box and gave another
cry. "Orange blossoms!" she said.
YES" answered Jasper. "From Flor
ida. People there stick the ends in apo
tato to keep them fresh. Capital dodge,
isn't it,"
He took out the orange blossoms, threw
away the potato and pinned them to her
jacket.
"Now we're ready to start. Stop a
moment" and he drew her back behind
the curtain as the cashier drove past on
his way to the schoolhouse.
Lily began to laugh. ''It's very wicked
of you, Jasper"
"That will teach him to go sleighing
with my sweetheart" said Jasper calm
ly.
Lily protested: you've no right to
say that, Jasper. 1 only promised you a
sleighride once a year for seven years,
and then if I liked you well enough
then perhaps I might marry you"
Jasper was drawing on his sealskin
gloves. THAT'S all very WELL" he said,
''but we haven't the time to waste which
those old Biblical neonle had Tn savan