The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1893-04-08

Bruce H~ardenbrook glanced sleepily
up from his armchair in the bay win
dow and took his cigar out of his mouth.
Bruce belongs to our club-more's the
pity-a supercilious puppy that looks
down on a fellow from the height Of his
six feet two, as if nobody under that size
had any business to exist.
whats that you're going to do,
Thistledown?" asked Bruce.
ITO be married." / added slowly and
distinctly, "to Miss Fanny Gordon"
Bruce started. l had known very well
that that would disturb his serene self
possession. All the world was quite
aware that lie was dangling after pretty
Fanny Gordon-as if a clientless young
lawyer had any right to aspire to the
hand of the loveliest girl in New York!
"Are you engaged to her. Mr.. Thistle
down." he asked.
"No-not exactly engaged-that is, not
as yet, but I mean to be. l shall consult
Mr.. Gordon this very a~fternoon-an old
friend of mine, Job Gordon. He'll refuse
me nothing"
Bruce Hardenbrook made no reply.
He resumed his newspaper and tried to
look Indifferent. with remarkably bad
| success.
So | put on my hat and strolled down
| to honest Job Gordon's counting room.
s'Thistledown, how dye doy" he cor
daily said. What a ! do for you to.
day%
"a great deal, Mr.. Gordon" respond
ed. II am contemplating matrimony. ]
am thinking of the hymeneal bonds, sir
and--and-I would like the weight of
your influence with your daughter
Fanny. I adore Fanny, sir worship
her-and l don't mind telling you that it
is within her option at this moment to
become Mrs. Torquatus Thistledown!"
Mr.. Gordon wrung my hand heartily.
"Torquatus," he calculated breath
lessly, you're a trump. My daughter,
Mrs. Petroleum Company-no, l don't
mean that exactly-but-but | only hope
you aren't too late!"
"Too late" l gasped, making a clutch
at my yellow silk pocket handkerchief
and wiping the drops away from the
bald spot on the crown Of my head.
"There was a young fellow here this
very morning." went on Mr.. Gordon,
rumpling his hair with n hand in
distracted manner. upon the self same
business, and"-
"Not Bruce HardenbrookY
eyes, Bruce Hardenbrook-the very
person-and l told him toll gave hin
my sanction-and I've just sent up {
note to Fanny desiring her to have NJ
hesitation in promptly accepting the gen
tleman who would propose to her this
afternoon"
Igave a feeble gasp and rubbed my
nose.
But" added the old gentleman. will
a sudden inspiration, II didn't mention
any names thank goodness. and ! dom
see, upon my word. why the not
shouldn't answer for you just MS well a
for Bruce Hardenbrook. if you only &c
there a little ahead of him."
?, jumped up and made a grasp at III.
hat.
"Couldn't--couldn't you go with me?
"Impossible-l have two most i'm
portant appointments, but you won
need me-the note paves the way. Goo
evening, Torquatus, | wish you all pos
sible SUGGEST"
AS l hailed the nearest omnibus ant
leaped in, the iron tongue of old Trinit.
tolled 8 in deep bass monosyllables
, Perhaps-perhaps | might yet be in tim
perhaps Bruce Hardenbrook might b
| Just such q fool as to be idling away tn
q precious moments in that big easy chat
a at the clubrooms. It was barely posi-
bic, and my heart gave ii bound at tn
idea.
D Fanny was at home, for as l rang tn
Y bell l saw the futter of her blue musli
! dress from the French windows tina
: opened upon the ba%lcony-and the mex
e. moment she admitted me herself-a tai
Q beautiful girl, with bright brown hal
brushed away from "a low white fore
head, and eyes like shady wells of light
"Dear me, Mr.. Thistledown. is
really your she exclaimed coquettishl
3 adjusting a rose in her hair. ''Excus
my opening the door, the servants al
y gone to Michael Somebody's wake an
I'm all alone"
Not entirely alone, for a monitor
I hat hung on the hall stand darl
cpccCLlcSS WItIlcSS! MY u>dIt Stoou oti1
At the same moment l caught II glimps
r of my face in the oval mirror above.
y couldn't have been redder or more shin
ing if it had been oiled mahogany. How
ever, ! gave it a nervous dab or tw
n with my pocket handkerchief and bold
@ entered the parlor.
Just as I expected. Bruce Harder
4 brook was there, but then, Judging b
;. his appearance. he had only Just arrived
Now was my time. But how was a fe
low to make love with Bruce Harder
a brooks cold, critical eyes full or hin
and the amused curve of his lip varyil
at every word ! spoke?
y Ill was thinking Of asking yo'
J. Fanny
"Yes, Mr.. Thistledown."
But my courage failed me at this even
\. full instant.
% 1T you're much troubled with me
quitoes in this neighborhOod"-
!. mot at all"
Bruce was laughing knew he We
. but l scorned to look to him. felt as
I.had been taking a bath in liquid fl