Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-12-31

i -. d q y i.
sorry about It; but It can't be helne,
It's the old mans doing. hope hc's
satisfied now. He's the most unreo.
sonable and disagreeable old fellow
ever had the misfortune to meet"
but what did he do?"
well, we fell out about the SETTLE.
ments; there was where the hitch
arose. I'm sure did all could ="
please him. told him to settle WIN,
money he proposed to settle upon his
daughter-it wasn't SO yery mn"h
after ADJUST as he pleased, Or ~"
might settle nothing at all upon hnr
just us he pleased. 1t was his dan~h'
ter wanted, not his money. thouyht
of assigning to my wife my policy NJ
ins'lrance-it Is fer larger amount
than most men carly-and as to fin
real estate. 1 put that along with i,
the whole thing being assigned to trust,
ees for my wife's sole benefit in case q,
my death. But 1t did not content him
He had no confidence in me, and gayp
me no credit for any affection. He in.
sisted that any money l might in fui.
urc become possessed of should br;ny
into the settlement. fatty refused
this. 1t was most absurd. as had nv
lusincss to consider. 1t might be very
desirable l'y and by to irvest more
money In 1t. Why should l he hind.
cred from investing my own money in
any way deemed best? He wouldn't
give in, and wouldn't l begged her
to marry me without the old mans
e nscnt. Poor girl! She was in
dreadful way. She didn't dare do 1hot
so it's all up
''rlliS packet" he said, cDeninn !,
contains all the letters [ ever wrote
to Edna. And here is little present
gave her, sent back to me-" 1t wasa
Ing. large. purple white diamond,
heavily set III plain gold J,lst the val.
liable. simple. substantial present
could have f::ncied Ben Whitley select.
ing for his betrothcd.
II suppose they will expect me 70
send back all Edna's letters to me-" he
said. rubbing his chin thoughtfully, as
he HANDED me a cigar and took one
himself. We smoked md talked of
other matters. Just cs was leaving,
he held my hand for an Instant, and
said. quietly: Il tht,:k I sLall try tn
see Edna once more, for particular
reason
A few nights afterward 1 saw him
again, and noticed slight change in
his manner. He did not speak and
look so gravely; in fact. he was in
rather Letter spirits than usual.
II hope you did not mention what
told YOU the other night-that my en-
gagement was broken-as it happens
it isn't broken; it's on again. j told
you should see Edna again. Well, |
l:ncw that she often went with her
father and other relations to Lincoln
Park Sundays, for walk after church
L could not call at the old mans house.
You know, becaus, I felt that l had
been kicked out Of that, or Just as
good. So l went to the park. soon
saw Edna with her father aud lot of
other people. She saw me, and under
stood my sigLs that wanted to speak
I" her OH the quiet. Watching her
chance, she Slipped with 1ae into the
greenhouse. She looked scared. and
tears were in her eyes, so l put my
arm around her waist. / didn't care a
bit who saw me. asked her to fo].
give me for not sending back her let
tiers. but that the fact was, ! could not
90 it. You love me still, then. Ben?
She said. OF course, [ kissed her for
answer. Then she began to cry.
Come. Edna said let's get mar.
RED right away. whether papa likes it
OF not Poor child, she could not
speak for crying, and she looked at
me, and then she gave me such fun
ny little nod and began laughing ,
through her tears. 1t was the prettiest
thing you ever saw. We kissed each
other few times, and then turned
and saw old Latrobe. bowed polite.
ly and said:
mir Latrobe, Edna and are going
to be married; that's quite settled.
Suppose you give us your consent.
Wed much rather have it than not
We'll. would YOU believe it, lie held
out his hand and said. in IL queer voice;
Como home to dinner l ought. per
haps to have told Edna that the reason
l. could not send back her letters was
because had used them to light pipes
with: but it doesn't matter ROW. Come
and see us married Thursday"