The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-06-20

ana desiring nothing in the world nm,
70 ny at her beck and call. After lii
Tie ! put he question TO him:
what reason did she give? he an
sWered' looking up with wild. blood
shot eyes. None. She merely desires
10 break the engagement" And vet 7
hhow she has no other lover. Who 10
there upon that desolate island who
couid De attractive to her? And have
ietter from her mother, dear. kind
soul, In which she tells NE that Irene's
conduct Is a mystery to her. But :. is
OF no use to discuss II. I shall On mad
soon enough without that
Nor could ! rouse him from this state
Oh uespalring sorrow. He went from
pad TO worse until was forced 10 at
TEND him in my professional CAPACITY.
ana al last yielded to his solicitations.
ana consented to accompany him upon
a trip to the island.
1T was bitter winter weather and 7
shali never forget how we suffered with
cold during that awful trip. Even after
we reached the island we had that hor-
rioie six-mile walk to manage. and we
were spent with cold and fatigue when
we arrived al the farm. John was too
weak and exhausted 10 do more than
yleid passively to the ministrations OF
myself and lrene's mother. But the
next day he commenced to seek for an
opportunity to talk with the obstinate
girl.
But 1t was useless: she evaded us
ooth' Tor | would have spoken in behalf
OF my friend. She kept out of our way
with persistence and success which
was marvellous, considering how closely
we were all kept together by the cold.
which made outdoor life an impossible
ity, and we were compelled TO return
home at the end OF week without hav-
ing wrung so much as a word from the
girl herself. Her father. mother and
sisters were upon Johns side and it was
evident that the girl herself was suffer-
ing deeply. But she babe her lover
good-by with an icy handshake and re-
turned to her work in the kitchen be-
fore We were out of the barnyard.
John was in despair, but he is per-
sistent by nature, and as | said at the
beginning of my story he wrote and
proposed regularly every three months.
And so several years went by.
AT last. one day about a month ago,
he called me up by telephone and began
TO talk wildly and little incoherently
about how happy he was and nonsense
of that kind.
What is the matter with you?" |
asked at last, fearing that he was i'll
and delirious. | shall never forget his
answer.
Can't you tell what is the matter
with me?' he called back. Irene has
written that we may be as we once were
and am too happy to be lucid
Yes, that was what she had done.
with woman-like uneXpectedness. And
John was almost too happy to live. He
made flying trip to the island-that is
the going there was hurried. He was
slow enough coming back. When he re-
turned the day was set for the wedding.
So two days ago he started back. the
happiest man in the world, and last
night got telegram saying that Irene
was his wife, and, although she still
refused to say why she had acted so
strangely, he was quite satisfied to have
got her at all and was supremacy
| thankful.
In that week he spent here in the
| city he furnished a beautiful fat. de-
voted himself to so doing, taking notes
| of things he saw in other houses TO
which he had the entree. Everything
| is ready for the coming of the bride
tonight, even to the stationery. tinted
her favorite color and marked with her
monogram-her new initials, of course.
Framed photographs Of her island home
hang upon the walls, he has prepared a
| room for her sisters TO occupy when
| they visit her and even the fires are laid.
| | must go now or | shall be too late TO
welcome them TO their new home,
which have promised 10 do, as well,
with a whimsical smile, las apply a
| match to the fire in the parlor, so that
| a cheerful blaze shall greet her when
| she steps inside the door. and | would
not omit this ceremony for anything.
No, Charlie. you can't go with me; am
| invited. and alone. so | must bid you
all goodnight. You can all send John
a wedding present, of course, and nc
doubt he will invite you TO visit him,
and make the acquaintance OF the girl
who has acted so strangely And per-
hans you may some of you be able to
do what passes my ability-discover
why she refused him so many times. to
marry him at last The way Of maid,
saws the old proverb. is hard TO under
stand and | should alter the ancient
maxim to agree with that OF a we'll
known political orator.
"Some discourses. he said upon one
occasion, are like the peace OF GOD
which passeth understanding. and not
few are like His mercy also; they are
from everlasting and without end.
THE first part of the sentence
would apply to Irenes conduct ana the
last to Johns patience. Goodnight
And with that half-cynical. half len
der smile upon his face, the doctor went
away. and the rest of us fell to discuss
ing John Hinkleman with freedom
which is only possible to mems CLUB
Girl student EIopes with "a BARBER