Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-04-26
HE DID HIS BEST.
"Halloo, Charley, wake uprr'

'' oa
with a succession Of convulsive sneezes
and groans.
|. Geld in the head, eh? Never mind
it-up with you"
up, indeed, with knifelike pains
shooting up and down every joint in a
fellows body, and his head feeling as If
"A hundred-weight of lead Were tied to
every individual hair"
Remember your engagements, Char
ley. Remember that the girls expect
every young man TO do his duty this
splendid day"
Mr.. Evans groaned.
Ralph, your list of visits is COMPARE
lively small; you must go and make my
apologies"
well, agreed. But first let me give
you a cup of coffee"
Never mind" groaned Charley.
What was / going to say? On, you
must go and see Flora Howard for ne.
l told her last night that should have
something very particular to say TO her
to-day, and she'll think 1t 4 purposed
affront if she hears nothing from me"
What shall tell her-that you have
a woeful cold in the headT'
Nonsense. Just explain matters TO
her and say that-that--in short, con-
vey to her the idea that l love her n
ask her If she will have me-"
Rather an awkward message for a
third person to carry. Hadn't you bet
ter wait until you can plead your own
cause in propria personal"
mo, no-its a question that admits
of TO delay. There are a dozen beauX
flirting around her the whole time, and
it won't do to lose my prize for lack or
decision. Just act as my proxy, kaiph'
l know she will say yes"
ION my soul, Charley, I wish you
wouldn't send me on this particular
errand. Can't you find some other mes
senger?'
"Oh. / understand what you mean,'
said Evans, tossing reStlesSly on MS
pillow. II know you were rather an
admirer of Flora's at n time, but you
must be aware that you never had any
chance in that quarter. Don't be sell
ashland, besides / would rather send
an honest, stupid sort Of a fellow IKE
you than any n else. No oftense,
Ralph, / hope?' ,,
"Oh, no.; Of course not" said Ralph
Brewster, demurely Struggling his
shoulders. well, I'll do my best"
As Ralph Brewster walked rapidly
along the ce-glazed pavement he could
not help mentally reverting to the gen
tleman he had left behind him.
Pretty cool, / must say!' he re-
marked to himself. I've seen a good
many evidences Of Charley Evans sell
fshness, but this Is the most convincing
of all. Does he suppose that l have no
feelings? And then his calm way OF
taking il for granted that Flora How
ard is diving for him. I'd rather I'M
dergo the rack than to do Charleys
counting for him; but l mustn't indulge
these lachrymose sensations"
The slanting afternoon beams peep
ing into Charley Evans invalid cham
her plaved all sorts Of merry FRANKS
around his disheveled hair and restless
head, and finally creeping up the wall
vanished away into the purple myster-
les of twilight-and Ralph Brewster did
not appear to report progress.
Charley grew impatient 1t isn't par
~ticularly favorable to an angelic dispo-
sition to have a cold in your head, with
aching bones and quivering nerves and
a Uranium throbbing as IL somebody
was trying to split it apart with a dull
hatchet.
Nine, 10, II o'clock sounded on his
strained ear, and still Ralph's familiar
footsteps had not fallen On the stairs.
What could have delayed him?
And while he was revolving probabili-
ties and possibilities in his weary brain
Morpheus considerably came to the
rescue. and he fell asleep to dream of
standing before the altar with Flora
Howard.
It was on the evening Of the third
! say from this eventful first that Charles
Evans sat before his fire, very cross
because the doctor had prohibited his
going out for q day or two.
Suddenly the door was flung open and
RaIph Brewster burst in.
Halo, old fellow. How are you!
SURPRISED at my non-appearance, Ell
Well here | am to make all the nee
essary apologies and explanations"
Charley held out his hand with q lazy
|, acuuiescence in whatever might be1all
that was worthy of a nobler cause.
Well, Charley, / went to see Flora,
as you wished me to-"
Did your said Charley, rather
Frightening up. what did she sayT'
why, ! commenced by making AL
apologies for your absence-which, by
the way, didn't seem to affect her very
powerfully-and then / plunged off
hand into the love subject"
srWell?" demanded Charley, eagerly.
sThe strangest part Of the matter was
that. she didn't understand me, but
seemed to imagine that l was making
love for myself-and before / could ex
nlain she had hidden her pretty face or
nv shoulder and confessed in the sweet
est words woman ever faltered fortf
that my sentiment was not altogether
unreturned.' J,
Charles Evans turned very red
sprang up and then changed his MIND
and sat down again.
Well, what nextr'
WHY, you can imagine the delightful
nerplexity Of nay position. OF course, ]
rrnuldn't bawl out, You're mistaken IL
the individual, Miss Floral am only
conrting in behalf Of Charley Evans
now, could II a.