Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-12-09

| am not in the humor to meet Town
shend."
but you like him. DEAR
YES: liked him better as your pros.
pective lover than as Elsie's fiance,
though don't want him 10 have you,
After luncheon you shaal come up and
sit with me ii you will. while the par
cnts prose and the overs spoon"
When Judith had gone, he took up
his c%rutches. and, crossing the room 10
n desk, put away his sketches. with
many others that bore evidences of his
freaks of fancy and skill.
AS he had declared. Claude Town
shend had no intention of waiting long
for his bride. lie proposed TO her on
the Sd of April. and the wedding was
fixed for the Both; so there was n great
deal of hustle to get her trosseau ready
in time. and, as the chief preparations
fell TO Judy's slAre, she had o much
leisure to brood over her disappoint-
ment.
Elsie was quite willing to assist her
in her desultory fashion, but she would
dream away two minutes for every
thirty seconds spent with her needle,
and was always ready To comply with
80 btlutDuS lDuue upon EtT tlllt ny
her ardent lover. Judy had TO stitch
away the harder 10 make up for thar.
They had neither mercy nor thought
for her. She had zone for herself. and
was o proud to let any one guess her
feelings. SO, with smiling lips, she cut,
shaped. stitched and embroidered. to-
tally ignoring the dull pain ut her
heart.
She was so busy that she had no OPP
portunity of discussing Elsie's future
with the latter until n day or two be-
fore the wedding, when her intention
was recalled by something HAT hap
pencd. Elsie had gone out. in good spir-
ifs, IN tile morning, 10 buy some few
odds and ends of finery, but on her re-
turn she flung her little parcels down
before Judy, telling her. so pettishly,
to look at the contents, that judy re-
garded her in surprise.
What is the matter, Elsie. dear.''
she asked, gently.
Nothing, Look ut that rubbish,
Judy" was the reply. But before Jul
dith had examined the contents of the
parcels, Elsie, who had been staring
out of the window, suddenly said,
with a short laugh: after all, | must
tell you. Judy-it's very absurd, but
Claude is jealous of Fred owen, Isn't
it amusing? Why. I don't believe l
ever fiirted with him i'm my life."
How do you know Claude is jeal-
ousy' inquired Judith. graveIy. not
liking the half pleased. h~alf-scornful
smile on her sisters face.
"Oh. because / have had a lecture,
When 1 came out of the Diapers l met
Fred, and while we were talking
Claude drove up. He just nodded TO
Mr.. Owen, and then asked II he might
drive me home. But all the way back
he was preaching at me about the ne
cessity of snubbing presumptous pup
pies like Owen, now that | am so near
~ Il married roman Just rs if Fred
was doing any harm. 1t is so ridicu-
lous Of Claude.
Not ridiculous, Elsie. for two rea-
sons. Men look ut you with rather too
much meaning when they talk TO you,
and il Claude is inclined to be jealous,
he would naturally object
Inclined to be jealous. He is jeal-
nus. Mrs. Gardiner told me. long ago.
that he is as jealous as a Turk, and
warned me that l was taking a great
responsibility upon myself by marry
ing him."
1T is n responsibility"
Elsie's sweet laugh ran out merri.
ly.
"And n you would not have cared
to undertake-eh, Judy?" she demand
ed. rather maliciously. Il am made of
bolder stuff, you see"
1T Is a responsibility" repeated Jul
dith. unliincbingly. And if you I'M
dertake il with the determination to
insure your own happiness as well as
your husbands. by never giving him
cause for jealousy, everything will go
well with you"
what do you mean?" Elsie asked,
CURLY.
II mean that there was no harm i'm
Claude's telling you in what fashion
he wishes you to regard other men.
and. knowing his disposition. you
ought to make a little sacrifice TO pre-
vent his suspicious from being excit-
ed. Remember what he is doing for
YOU. who have not a penny nor any
grand connections"
POOH have youth and health. and
and many men may envy him. ex-
claimed Elsie. tossing her fair head
consciously. Indeed. / dare say if I
were to wait / could do better. AS it
is, il Captain Herbert only had a larg-
err income, | would sooner have him
than
She stopped abruptly, and Judy had
no need to ask the reason, for she,
too, had been conscious Of the opening
of the door. Claude stood there, and
must have heard Elsie's last words.
Judith looked at him apprehensively.
but her fear vanished as she studied
his smiling face, never noticing, in her
perturbation. that the smile had not
reached his handsome. somber eyes.
You left this in the dog-cart. Elsie:
I did not see it when you got down.
he said, lightly, as he threw a small
| parcel upon the table.
You need not have troubled to
bring IT," returned Elsie, CURLY.
Papa Is in the garden: you could
have given X to him."
"You n%ugrateful little creature he
retorted. "Is that how she repays
people for their services, Judyg'
"Oh, no; IL is always a pleasure to
do anything for Elsiev'
His smile deepened as he turned his
gaze from the dark face Of the elder
girl to the fasrer face of his fianree.