The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1895-07-20
A WESTERN woOING.
pY Kate n. cLEARr.

People had become rather tired OF
the romance. Perhaps in part because
IL had ceased to be romantic. When
first Andulasia Stcbbins had como out
from Illinois to live with her mother
and stcpfathcr on the Nebraska prairie
IL was considered by the ncighboring
farmer folk quito proper, probable and
desirable that Ira Harris, whose half
section joincd that OF her relatives,
should fail in love with her-which he
promptly did.
Ira was thirty, stout, stolid, loutish,
mcthodical. lie was successful man.
This is hardly to be explained OF per
son with the characteristics mentioned
unless one includes sclfishness. To be
supremacy selfish Is SO frequently be
successful At the time of their meet
ing Andulasia was trcnty-scven. There
are women of twenty-sevcn and women
of twcnty-Seren. She was one Of the
latter. With her square figure, her
unequivocal complexion, her dull
brown hair. and her calculating eyes
she looked her years One would never
excuse her mistakes on the ground of
immaturity. One could never condonc
them on that Of impulse. Indeed, to
attribute to her certain errors would
be subtle flattcry. She was not the
kind of q woman who Is ordinarily sub
jected to temptation.
Harris, however, accepted her pro
pinquity and her affection much as he
accepted the drought or the price OF
hogs. lie was willing she should de-
cline the company of other men on his
account. He reasoned that if her step
father, old man Solveriny, were to
clear off the mortgage on his place and
die, and If the two sickly young Sol
verinys died also, she would be wealthy
in her own right, as wealth is estimated
in the Philistine west Consequently
it might prove a prudent proceeding to
wait for Andulasia.
So he waited.
A wear after their acquaintance be-
gan he gave her an inkling of his senti-
mcnts Her concurrence with his
views was almost pathetic. IL was
alert reciprocal, conclusive. Matri-
mony at some indefinite date they
might look forward to. Such an in
discretion at the present time would
DC tremendous MISTAKE.
..Ot course, Ira" she said, lands
land. And if my stepfathcr and your
mother-whoism mighty feeble, notice
and the twins don't die there won't be
any land for us worth mentioning,
much less a-marryin' on"
Nevertheless she felt as the years,
two three, four passed, that her ac-
ceptance OF his suggestion had been a
trifle ovcrcmphatic and unconsidercd
Fate, she could not in justice rail
against. One of the twins succumbcd
to ivy poisoning. The other, q few
months later, was run down by the
train. Andulasia's stcpfather went
the way of the apoplectic, and Ira's
mother, with utter disregard for the
sensation she might have caused.
slipped from life in the most meek,
genteel and unimpressivc manner
imaginable. Then there was only Ira
On one farm, and Andulasia and her
mother on the other. No apparent OBJ
staclc interviewed. Still Ira did not |
speak, and it was seven years since |
Andulasia had come from Illinois. lie |
frequently visited her, helped her, and |
deferred to her. He carried her but |
ter and eggs into town and traded"
them; when the circus was in the coun-
ty seat, he drove her there; he took |
her into the side show where tho fat |
woman was on exhibition: he bought |
her pink lemonade, and peanuts, and |
hot candy made on the grounds. lie |
escorted her to the merry-go-round at |
Mnh nj Ell ht,S 10
her on the spotted ponies. lie drove
her into town twice a week. They ut
tended prayer meeting together They |
both protested religion at the revival.
lie bought eleven tickets for her crazy |
quilt rattle. He was in all things her
constant and dependable cavalier, but
he never once mentioned marriage
never once.
In this manner eight more years
passed. She was forty-two. lie was
forty-hvc. lie was stoutcr, more stolid.
She had some wrinkles, gold filings
in her teeth, n reputation for irascibil-
ity-also comfortable bank account.
Ono day Ira brought Andulasia n let
ter 1t was from her mothers brother
who lived in Iowa. He was dying. He
wished 10 see her. She handed Ira the
letter.
''Shall goo" she asked.
Harris deliberated Has he money!
he questioned.
yes
"Then 60"
He saw her off the next day. She |
wore new dress that didn't fit in the |
back The skirt was too short at tho |
sides. Her shoes were dusty. The |
heat had taken the curl out of her
bangs. She had forgotten to bring the
piece of chamois skin with the powder |
on 1t, which she was in the habit of
'nsing surrcptitiously. Her nose shone
rs If polished. She wore kid gloves
which were too large.
The train was late. AS they walked
up and down the platform she talked
To Ira steadily and monotonously. She
warned him about the brindle cow,
and advised him concerning piece of
his fence which needed repairing.
He heard her, but all the time he
was watching girl who played with
A. - N a.. u