The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-01-01

ness. don't think need trouble my
self about the old mans views on the
subject. You see, it's our affair, Ed
mas md mine, and not his, though it's
hard to make him see it in that light.
Edna has very good sense, and think
she looks at the matter very much Us
do-only, of course, she can't help
feeling that he is her father; whereas,
thaIk goodness, he's not mine I'm
very much obliged to you for your good
wishes. say over again."
1t will be seen that Ben Whitley was
not q lover to 'sigh like furnace"
l.As for writing woefll ballad to bis
misresa' eyebrow" l don't fancy he
could have accomplished such a feat ii
his life had depefdet. upon his doing
so. HIS pulse boat ever steadily and
tunctually. The thermometer of his
love stood at temperate" with no
tendency toward a rise. Let Cupid do
alShe could, it did not seem that he
changes in these respects. Whitley, it
was evident, persisted in contemplat-
ing love and marriage from the prosaic
and practical point Of View. Notions
OF poetry and sentiment on tlesc, or,
indeed, any cther subjects, were not
possible to him. His constitutional Sc
renity refused to be disturbed ut all.
There was nothing about him denotiry
"A careless desolation." The marks
OF love-" as they are commonly under
stood. were not d;scernible upon him.
Many, perhaps, would have regarded
MIN simply as a man going to lie mar
ried, and be inclined to think that he
was not to be regarded as lover at
all. He affected no particular raptures
as to the proposed change in his life.
70 his friends on the board Of trade he
said nothing as to the agitated state of
his breast OF the excitement OF his
feelings. He did not regard Miss La
trobe as an angel or a goddess. Pas
sion did not pcrplex nor discompose his
vision. Miss LatrObe seemed simply
to him what she seemed to every one
clse--a nice looking, sensible American
girl. 1t he We're to be considered as
lover at all. it was as q lover with q
large infusion of man Of business
At the same time it should be noted
that as man of business. Ben White
~ was a strictly honorable and thor.
oughgoirg gentleman.
l often asked myself if marriage
would change him? Would his practi.
cality ultimately succumb? Would be
not, rather, like most other men, find
at last IN unexpected fire kindling and
cracking in his breast?
called upon him one evening, and
IN the course Of our conversation
asked him about Miss LatrObe.
The affair is off," he said, gravely,
holding up small sealed packet.
You don't mean to say so?"
''Yes; it's bad job, and I am very
sorry about IT.; but it can't. be helped.
It's the old mans doing. hope he's
satisfied now. He's the most unrea-
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 I did all could to
please him. told him to settle what |
money he proposed to settle upon his
daughter-it wasn't so very much,
after adjust as he pleased. Or he
might settle nothing at all upon her,
Just as he pleased. It was his daugh-
ter wanted, not his money. thought
OF assigning to my wife my policy of
insurance-it - fer a larger amount
u1au most men cafry-and as to tile
real estate, put that along with It,
the whole thing being assigned to trust.
ees for my wife's sole benefit In case Of |
my death. But 1t did not content him.
He had no confidence In me. and gave
me no credit for any affection. He In
sisted that my money I might in fut- |
ure become possessed Of should bring
Into the settlement. fatty refused ]
this. 1t was most absurd, as I had my
business to consider. 1t might be very
desirable ~ and by to invest more
money in 1t. Why. should be hind
cred from Investing my own money In
any way deemed best? He wouldn't !
give In. and wouldn't. I begged her
IN ms t.rN ma Ss,lfh0nk thu ol.l ma ma