The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1894-01-27

"Scme Day" with one finger
i Trafton paced the floor.
Ten minutes passed. Suddenly Bar.
clay turned.
my dear fellow" he said, II am
going to ask you a great favor: Won't
you go away? The fact is I don't
think Miss Rashliegh will come down
until you do CO."
"Eh!' cried Tfafton; then he laughed.
YOU'D better go, old fellow" he cried;
1T is you who are de trop. She ex-
pected me-
Il doubt that" said Barclay; II am
mere Toto say something very particu-
lar to her. L must have my opportll-
nifty"
1T would be no use," replied Trafton:
she has promised to listen to me to-
night
Il do not believe you," said Barclay.
."Ihat is another form Of you lie,
cried Trafton.
The men faced each other, speaking
in whispers.
''Consider it So" said Barclay
consider yourself knocked down.
SAID Trafton, tapping him on the breast.
I'D 90 it in reality if we were not
where we are''
Very good" said Barclay.
Il snail send gentleman to you
! tomorrow to arrange for our meeting. -
said Trafton Meanwhile, are you
going?''
No" said Barclay; "are you?"
Not I" said Trafton.
Ihey seated themselves and glared
at each other furiously. Again the bell
rang. Once more some one asked for
MISS Rashiegh. This time it was Col.
Buck. He nodded to the young men
ana TOOK large armchair. Soon he
looked at his watch, rose, walked to the
door, and spoke to the servant, who
hurried through the hall.
You told Miss Rashliegh?"
Yes, Sit. She said in q minute.
sir"
Very WELL" said the colonel, and ap-
preached Trafton and Barclay.
Il beg a thousand pardons, young
gentlemen" he said. but T am here
on special and private business. and
should esteem it a favor never to be
forgotten if you would kindly leave the
mouse. In fact, I am here tonight to
pc accepted. I have made an offer to
Miss Rose, and-well, my hopes run
high. There's candid confession from
a man who might be your father, and
you'l oblige me by saying goodnight -
Trafton shook his head.
Il couldn't possibly do it, colonel"
ne said. Il intend to have my oppor-
tunlty first; and, candidly, I am very
sure you have no chance"
AS to me, I sit here until I have
spoken to Miss Rose alone" said Bar
clay.
''She will not come down until YOU
both co. said the colonel. Come.
come, l would not say what have un-
less were sure Of her favor"
That's false!' said Traitor.
las well as absurd said Barclay.
After that, you must both fight me-
said the colonel
Il will be very glad to do so after I
nave had the pleasure Of meeting an
other gentleman who has CHALLENGED
me-" said Barclay.
Il am i'll the same position" said
Irafton; but our seconds can settle
that"
Again the door-bell rung. This time
a procession of young men entered-ten
OF the single gentlemen Of Clermont.
TWO young widowers and an ancient
person known as Grandpa Maclane,
who had lost four wives already.
They dispersed themselves about the
parlor, and each evidently felt all the
others superduous Grandpa Maclane
was the only one to speak, and he said:
Kind o. Gurus, us all meetin, here -
| No one answered him.
However Rose was coming at last.
The rustic Of her robes was heard on
the stairs. In Il moment she glided in.
and following her was gentleman.
Rose wore a gray travelling costume.
and her hat. The gentleman was also
attired as for the road, and carried two
bags and strap containing two para
soils: He paused on the threshold and
blushed. She did not.
Advancing to the middle of the par
lor, she made courtsey, quite Of the
old-fashioned sort, and said:
Good evening, gentlemen. I believe
l received a letter from each of you,
and that promised each an answer to-
| night. This is my answer: Permit me
| to present my husband, MI. Larkins
We We're married at Z o'clock; we've
| Deen engaged three years, and as we
| must catch the $3.50 train, and the car
| rage IS at the door, have to- say good
| Dye In haste. You've made it very
Jolly FOR me this summer. leave my
F, regards for the ladies OF Clermont."
She was gone. The regiment Of ad-
mirers stood staring at each other
Grandpa Maclane said:
oval, want to know-did anybody
ever see the Ike?"
. The colonel laughed dolefully; a still
more doleful chorus of ''ha-ha-ha'sv'
followed, and the servant girl Uttered
as she opened the door for their de-
parture. So did the landlady and the
other boarders, who were peeping
through the window-shutters and over
the stairs; so, as the news spread, did
all the ladies Of Clermont
The duels were not fought. On the
contrary, the several enemies became
allied forces, and their only hope was
to be forgiven by those they had Of
tended. AS yet, however, that has not
happened.
This winter the ladies of Clermont
continued to exclude ''the gentlemen
from their social gatherings, but the
affairs have not been gay. The grand
fathers went to sleep in corners, the
little brothers found escort duty a bore,
and there was a great deal of gaping
behind fans. In fact, the doctors wife
| al hot fI,o =