Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-06-07

accepted each one and made a place
Tor 1t in this holiday number. Then he
called his assistant in and gave instruc-
uons for making up the copy-and l
LOOK him away with me and gave him a
royal good time for a week. When he
got back to the Office ii was too late to
make any changes, and so you see the
number has come out with nothing but
my work. And a very good number it
is, too" he concluded, conplacently.
Is IL what do you expect to gain by
IT." l asked; 1.-The story will surely
come out, and ii will 10 you no good,
but quite the reverse"
You are wrong" replied Lightly.
quietly; the story will not come out.
You can see that AldeSOn must be the
last man 10 tell it. And he could have
no object in doing so, especially as the
number has already made such a good
impression
With that he took from his pocket
copies of n half-d0Zen leading papers
and reviews and showed me comments
that were not only favorable but fiat
tering in the extreme.
Paid forT' said /. not a little dis
gustcd with the whole business. and
particularly at being made a confidant
of.
Yes" he laughed; but it goes Just
the same. And now" he added. with
Il slight show of hesitancy, for the
other natter
go ahead" / answered. not very
graciously, considering that l was
dining with him; Il might as we'll hear
it all now"
You asked me what / expected to
gain by il. You know Lettie Under
wood" l started at the name. but
nodded with what cOmpoSure / could
command. That dear girl" said
Lightly, has promised to marry me
as soon as l have won a place in lit
erature-in fact, as Oon rs | have
an established standing with any of
the leading magazines. This settles
that point" To emphasize his mean
ing he tapped All the World trium-
phantly.
But surely" 7 said. you would not
consider this fair? You would not be
willing that she should know
"Alrs fair in love, my boy. And /
want you to be my best man"
/ managed to get off with some half
promise, and then. pleading an en-
gagement, l got out OF the club as
quickly as possible and into a cab, and
gave the driver the number Of Lettie
UnderwoOd's house.
The dear girl could have choked
Lightly for using the words: they were
in my heart whenever l thought OF
her, which was all the time-was at
home and received me with her usual
sweet welcome. But 1 held her at
arms length, and, with all the stern
ness that l could command. exclaimed:
"Lettie, you are a wretched trifler.
Give me back my heart"
What is the mater with the poor
boy now?" she cooed softly.
Matter enough. You have promised
to marry Lightly"
Yes" she laughed. II remember.
He proposed to me six months ago. ]
told him 1 would when he had made
Il success"
Your exact words" I said, severely.
"were-'when you have a standing
with any of the leading magazines"
Same thing" she answered, airily;
he will never achieve either. 1t was
my way of letting him down easy"
"Letitia, listen to me-" / said;
Lightly has written the entire Christ
mas number of All the World"
At this Lefty looked at me reproach-
fully.
Dick" she said, where have you
been dining?"
mo, it is not that" I protested: 81
dined at the club. and Lightly told me
himself, and he showed me the maya
zine, and asked me to be his best
man, and we only had n bottle be-
tween us"
Well, this is a scrape!' she ex
claimed ruefully; " suppose / will have
to keep my promise and marry him."
And what about your promise to
meT' l asked sarcastically.
That was indefinite" she answered
thOughtfully; there was never any
time set for that. So / shall have 10
marry him now, and if he should die.
or anything happen, l could marry
you afterward."
Thanks" / replied dryly: but that
programme does not suit me. Now let
me plan a little. You have been q
willful creature, never ready to name
the day, and see the trouble you have
got into. l suppose Lightly will be
here bright and early tomorrow to
marry you. Now, | propose to marry
you myself tomorrow ut noon"
At this her eyes opened in wide pro
test.
Yes" I continued, Il shall send n
note to Lightly, telling him Of your
change of plans and asking him TO be
my best man"
But, Dick, this is so sudden. What
shall l live OH =
Love, you practical girl" l cried,
catching her in my arms; besides, the
publishers of All the World to-day
offered me the editorship OF the maya
zine, vice ADDISON, resigned. / sup
pose his going out has some connec-
ton with this business of Lightly's. /
am sorry for him, but l might as well
have the place as another"
And then you can print anything
Of your own that you want to, can't
you. dear? I am glad that You won't
have to be rejected any more"
Not even by you, sweetheartT
Not even by me-any more"
Do you want the fms?
We were married Oh he morrow.
and Lettie was as pretty a bride as
ever was seen-as pretty as though
Sba had haen given months. instead of