Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-10-07

town to visit. and then he packed up
| his devotion and neceSSarieS of love
making and returned like prodigai
son, to Miss Grant.
He had been so busy, Work had been
unusually driving for the last month |
He couldn't get away from the Office
Oscar invented a score of excuses 20
account for his absence, and Miss
Grant graciously accepted them all, !
ana renstated Oscar in her good
graces, and Richard was himself
again"
In August Miss Grant went out of
town and Oscar had sorry time of 1t
for want Of some one to pay attention
to. While she was gone he thought
over the matter seriously.
Here hewas, young, good-lookng, and
making nice sum of money, but in
need of a home. The first step toward
securing home was to secure wife.
Why didn't he get married? Sure
enough, why didn't he?
The more he thought of it the more
flrmly he made up his mind to take the
decisive step, and, accordingly he cast
about in his mind as to whom he should
honor by giving the privilege of becom-
ing Mrs. Oscar Edison.
oscar knew of three who would he
glad to have him-Miss Grant Miss
Graham. and Lucy Brown. All he had
to do to get one of them to be his "for
better for worse was to give her half
a chance to say yes.
Il like Lucy" he sOlilouuized: "but
she's plain little country girl, and her
father isn't worth much, and | don't
tlihK III throw myself away on her
There's Miss Graham; she's smart and
handsome, and her fathers worth
great deal; but she's got too much tenn.
per for me- I'm afraid | don't want
any of these hlgh-fyers. Miss Grants
the most desirable person after all. Old
Grants bank account is one very salts
factory feature about the transaction
when she gets back I'll speak to her
about 1t and have the thing off nv
mind"
! Miss Grant came back the next week
and Oscar wended his way to her HON,
shortly after her return to inform her
of the decision he had arrived at dur-
ing her absence.
MISS Grant was rather cool,
shes mitfed to think haven't
spoken on the important subject be.
FORE thought Oscar.
n good chance presenting itself, Os-
ear proceeded to offer his heart an,
hand to Miss Grant after the most
genteel manner possible.
He expected her to burst into n flood
of thankful tears or perform some other
equally original feat 10 demonstrate
the gladness of her emotions. but she
did not do anything of the kind.
| You do me Il great deal of honor. I
suppose said she, in tone which
seemed to imply that she hardly con-
sidered that she was speaking truth
fully, but don't feel like accepting it.
| would refer you to Miss Graham"
Oscar was thunderstruck.
lie had never dreamed of anything
like this. 1t tlustered his wits UP ter
ribly for minute or two. Then he
rallied them and tried to explain mat
tors, but Miss Grant was obstinate as
woman ever was, and would not
listen to word from him.
Go to Miss Graham" was all she
said, and Oscar at last withdrew from
the field, discounted.
IT'S plain as the nose on my face that
she's heard something about my fiirt-
Ing with Miss Graham, and she's mad
about 1t. Confound Miss Grahamv'
But after sober second thought on the
matter he concluded to accept Miss
Grants advice and go to Miss Graham.
Accordingly he set of to inform Miss
Graham that he had concluded to
marry her.
Miss Graham was all smiles and pret.
ty words, and Oscar felt that he had
but to say the word and the thing was
settled.
And by and by he proceeded 70 in
form her of the honor he had decld. d
to confer upon her.
Marry you!" exclaimed Miss Gra-
ham, why. l couldn't think of such a
thing!' and she laughed as II 1t was the
best joke of the season.
Oscar began to feel scared.
why notT he demanded.
Because I'm engaged to one man Al.