The Monticellonian., 1895-07-26

Omaha to visit the agents wife
 "0f course, he said.
 And you won't forget about the chopped feed?"
 He gave her an intense glance. How could I?'
 You'll see that Star gets well watered?'
 "I'll attend to it"
 You'll have Alvy Markham pull parsley for the young pigs?"
 II will"
 ''And-O, yes! If mother seems to feel another fit coming on you'll get her bottle of Indian relief cure at the drug store"
 The train steamed in. Andulasia went away. Ira did not kiss her. She was relieved-and disappointed. The conductor and the train boy might have laughed. But then he should have cared enough to risk that
 When the train had pulled out and was well around the bend, Harris, who had fingered on the platform, asked the agent to introduce him to his visitor. The agent did so.
 Harris joined in the games of the children He made himself clumsily delightful. Soda water was unknown in that particular small town, but Ira did the next best thing. He bought bananas and chocolate drops with a reckless Hberality which would have made the absent Andalusia doubt his sanity could she but have been aware of his behavior.
 He came to the depot the next day, the next and the next. The little visitor with the fax-hower eyes and yellow hair smiled divinely.
 ''The children" she eonfided to the agents wife, ''are having such a good time. It is all great fun.
 She even thought it was great fun when she went buggy riding with Mir. Harris.
 Take me past your farm" she com handed
 He grew red with ecstasy at the re- quest He explained apologetically many conditions of his property as they drove by.
 Three weeks passed-four Harris had several letters from Iowa. The contents of the letters were chiefly relative to hogs and pasturage, and Daled hay, and discounts. Ira did not actually dread Andulasia's $ return, but he would have preferred to postpone it indefinitely. To be sure, they had con sidered the possibility of an engage ment once, but he had never been really engaged to her.s
 As for Alys, was there ever such an eye, such d hand, such a voice, such foot, such a smile. To be sure he had once met Alys walking home from church with the lumberman But then the fumberman was only young and good looking. It was well known he was conducting the yard for an English firm on a salary. To compare Vail to him-Harris was so well tiXed!' There could be no comparison.
 One evening in late summer, when Ira was jogging into town, he settled mentally all minor matters to his sat isfaetion. He decided to whom he would rent his farm. the kind of house he would build in town, the direction his wedding journey would take, the brotherly letter he would leave for
 
 send the umberman to be present at his wedding.
 He dismounted at the post office, which was also the general store and tin shop. There was letter for him "a letter from Andulasia.
 DEAR IRA: Things k all upset Uncle John died week ago They cant llnd no will, and I'm tired waiting for dead mems stockings. Meet me night after to-morrow Your
 "ANDULAstA STEBBINs 9
 Harris smiled curiously as he stuffed the letter in his pocket. He was think ing of the Omaha girl. The next night Andulasia arrived. She was fatter than ever Her Eton suit was crum- pied. She wore a shirt waist 1t was voluminous and not immaculate
 Well, it's you, Ira. I'm clean beat. Put them things in the buggy while get some sody and yeast uptown"
 Uptown Miss Stebbins learned several things, chief of which was that Ira Harris had transferred his affec- tions to Miss Alys Lane.
 Half way home Andulasia said quiet ly:
 II hear you reckon to marry Miss Lane. a
 Her composure, the loss of her ex- pected fortune, the witchery of Alys, all gave Harris courage.
 Fl was fggerin' some on it." he avowed.
 He drove Andulasia to her home, but she did not again broach the subject.
 He went back to town that evening. He met Alys at an ice-cream soeiable. He gained grace of heart and pro- posed.
 She laughed gently.
 "I am honored, Mr. Harris, of she said. But always sup posed you were engaged to Miss Steb- bins. l am to marry Mr. Vail at Christi mas"
 The following evening, Ira, feeling exceedingly depressed, went to call on He found her talking with I brother farmer, a widower with three children. He asked to speak to her moment alone.
 Fact is, Andulasia," he said, its 1 you want. l fancied for awhile I'd | ike that silly little thing. I must have been kind of hypternised I'm sure now it's you l want"
 Andulasia smiied-a peculiar smile. I've just promised to marry Mr. Muggs. He asked me last night be- fore he found out what you know" What 1 know? Andulasia!"
 "Yes, The news that come in on the | loon train, about the will being found, | md me getting seven thousand dollars, md"