Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-03-31

whole matter seemed infinitely anus
ing to me-
NO." said, that you should be the
lady whose charms he has been describ-
ing to me-"
She blushed, gazed at her critically.
Pom my word" l exclaimed, at
length, "it is positively marvellous. to
think that it is close upon"
That is just what 1 don't want you
to think, DOCTOR" she interrupted.
But, my dear Mrs. Fordyce, you &C
tually look younger and more beauti-
full than you did when we were togeth-
er at Simla!'
She laughed.
I'VE have always been in the habit
OF speaking plainly to one another"
YES, agreed; ''it saves time"
Co." 1 said, reassuringly, 81 am
your friend
She was playing with the edge Of
her. fan
"A woman is only as old as she
looks" she observed, "and I was mar
ried at an extremely early age"
"St. Croix was perfectly justified in
his estimate-twenty-five he told me-"
l said, with laugh. But that is
detail; the thing that will surprise
him most will be the fact that Clare
exists!"
She looked at me with smile.
An. you have met her at the Ros-
coeso"
Yes; 1 found my little 10-year-old
sweetheart of Simla had grown into a
dainty young lady of IS! How is it,
l continued, that ST. Croix is ignorant
of her existence?"
We'll, he assumed 1 had no children,
and II could not summon up enough
courage to tell him afterwards. You
see what difficult position I am in"
she added, plaintively.
"Yes, it is difficult" 1 agreed. "The
unexpected appearance of full-grown
daughter upon the scene might prove
too heavy strain at this critical stage
OF his love. A girl of Is is a response
bility." 1 added.
All this time I had been hugging to
myself some special intelligence.
thought it was about time to bring
matters to head.
Mrs. Fordyce," said, "do you real
ly care for st. Croix?" She did not re-
ply for moment.
Yes she said simply; 81 really
love him. o, can't you suggest some
thing?" and she looked at me plead
ingly.
Eyes," I said, quietly, I'VE will help
one another. Have you heard from
Glare today?" continued
Her hand went to her pocket.
why, yes" she said; "a letter came
as / was going out. 1 have not read
it yet
Would you oblige me by doing SO,
as you have it with your"
She drew an envelope from her pock-
et opened it, and smoothed the letter
out. AS she read it, a smile came over
her face.
MY dear DOCTOR" she exclaimed, edo
you think one SO young as Glare will
make you happy?"
Did she not settle it in Simla. wears
ago, that she would marry nobody but
the 'doc'?" 1 replied. Have 1 NAM
mas consent?
She laughed happily.
Really" 1 said, glancing at her. 81
hardly know whether I'm talking to
Glare or her mother"
ST. Croix rejoined us.
est. Croix," 1 said to him, quietly.
after a minute or so, 81 have been med
ding in your affairs-with a good re-
suit" l added.
He turned with glad look of SUR
prise to Mrs. Fordyce.
cit is 'Yes'?" he murmured,
Its for you to say, after hearing the
doctor" she replied softly.
"The one condition isl I said. alb
ruptly, that you agree to become NV
father-in- law!'
He seemed to be quite surprised: I
rendered few simple words of expla-
nation.
st. Croix glanced at Mrs Fordyce
she was looking r dainty beautiful
and then did the most intelligent
thing he ever did in his life-accepted
mt