The Meeker herald., 1896-06-06
GEORGE ASs-.IS n,.aSEIf.
but Laura was Right VITA uin Z the
FinlSh.

I
but L.ur. w.s Kislt vita uin /. tn.
| Finlsh.
! "All these years, LEura,~ cxcia med
young ferguson, paus.ng in I..s iGpa-
ticnt walk to and fro long onou,n t )
turn the gas triiie lower and re t.i.:-
| ingwit!i br;sl. siaceato n.c,eE Elert las
r,arch UP ard down the lt.ie IT lor,
.'aIl these years I have daEccd ntt-ul-
| ance at your eltow, and the cEd gems
as far of us evcr!"
1.-The end of my elbow, George in
quircd the young woman, with grieyed
surprise.
NO! The end of my dance! You
know what 1 mean. How long do you
think I'm going to stand it to-"
Doesn't it make you uwfully tired,
Georye?" she asked, with tender, year,
ing sympathy in her voice.
Tired? It's driving me mad. l
didn't come here to be made fun OF
this time. Look here, Laura Knicnes,
do you know how long we've been en-
gagged to be married?"
Years, l should say. Let me see
was it not"
Years? It's centuries! It's an cter-
nifty and u half! When think of ii
and wonder how much longer"
Wasn't it some time during that ho;
summer Of"
"Yes!" he broke in. "You remember
it on account OF the hot weather, do
you? 1 was clerk on SIS VI ek. |
thought it was big salary until the
ice cream season hit me. II was good
enough then"
II was SO young. you know!"
$50 was 1, but I'm overcoming that
infirmity mighty fast, let me tell you!
And you yourself"
"Sir!"
"Well, of course, you're as young ss
ever. Bnt that isn't the point. You've
put me off year after year because we
couldn't afford it. I'm getting $1,000 a
year now, with a prospect OF partner.
ship after awhile, and it does seem to
me"
But think OF what it costs for gas
and hired girls. George" she inurmured.
Listen to me. I'm doing the preach
ing now. I've been thinking the mat.
ter over and n going to soy my say
You've had youI' freedom long enough.
The party Of the second part hns some
rights. He's going to assert them.
You needn't try to scare me of with
that yawn, either. 1t isn't genuine. !
know n spontaneous yawn when see
it, and that's a threc.ply, cut and dried,
machine-made fraud. You ought to
be ashamed 20 try to introduce yawn
like that into good society. 1t gives
itself away every time. Don't do it
it. This is business. There's nice
little house down here on Michigan
uvenue-it isn't i'm Michigan avenue
because it's not out in the road, it's
above the ground, and it's 20 feet back
from the sidewalk-and it can be had
for $40 month. IEyes, I've been max.
ing inquiries about it. i acknowledge
it l have also been posting myself as
to the price of furniture, the probable
quantity of milk and eggs family Of
two parsons will bs likely to co0k~ane.
in a week, and the desirnbility OF the
neighborhood from n social point OF
view. There's no telling when may
take notion to speak to the minister.
proud girl. l don't want TO have to
hire couple Of ruffians and cab and
abduct you. It would get into the pu.
pers and I'd have to dodge reporters for
the next six weeks. Moreover"
George Ferguson, If you ore going
to talk to me like that I'll simply"
NO, you won't. Sit still. If you
make any fuss I'll call your father.
I've got the floor. When have finished
my talk you can agitate the atmosphere
and I'll listen. Don't you see this sor;
of thing can't go on forever? TIN have
to stop some day. If should die OF old
age while I'm waiting for you to marry
me you would never forgive yourself.
The engagement ring on that finger is
worn almost through. I'll have to buy
you another one II you don't look out.
Who ever heard of such a thing as that +!
In all the history OF long engagements
don't believe there's u case in which
man has had to get n second engage
ment ring on account of the first one
wearing out. Arc you trying to break
the idea occurs to me that you are only
trifling with me-that you don't mean
to be my wife, and never did. Some
times. when I am alone in my own room,
and I think of the possibility of such n
thing. and the shadow OF the wasted
years rises before me and turn to the
future and see nothing ahead of me but
the gloom and desolation of hopes un-
fulfilled, is it any wonder that l walk
the floor in misery"
George. dear" said Laura. tearfully,
and in trembling voice. her hands
clasped together and her whole being
radiant with tenderness and compass
sion. sis it possible you, too, suffer from
corns ?"-Chicago Tribune.
Density of Population In Two Citiea.
The density of population in this