Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1897-10-20


his devotion and necessaries Of love-
making and returned, like Il prodigal
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 n score of excuses 20
account for his absence, and Miss
Grant graciously accepted them all,
and reinstated Oscar in her good
graces, and Richard was himself
again."
In August Miss Grant went out of
town and Oscar had n sorry time of it
for want of some one to pay attention
to. While she was gone he thought
over the matter seriously.
Here he was, young, good-looking, and
making nice sum of money, but in
need of home. The first step toward
securing a home was to secure a wife.
Why didn't he get married? Sure
enough, why didn't he?
The more he thought of it the more
firmly 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-Mlss 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
chance to say yes.
Il like Lucy" he soliloquized; "but
she's plain little country girl, and her
father isn't worth much, and I don't
think I'll 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 high-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 it and have the thing off my
mind"
Miss Grant came back the next week
and Oscar wended his way to her home
shortly after her return to Nform her
of the decision he had arrived at dur
ing her absence
Miss Grant was rather cool.
She's miffed to think haven't
spoken on the important subject be-
fore" thought Oscar.
good chance presenting Itself, Os-
car proceeded to offer his heart an.
hand to Miss Grant after the most
genteel manner possible.
He expected her to burst into a flood
of thankful tears or perform some other
equally original feat TO demonstrat
the gladness OF her emotions, but she
did not do anything Of the kind.
You do me a great deal of honor, l
suppose" said she, in tone which
seemed to imply that she hardly con-
sidered that she was speaking truth
fully, "but l don't feel like accepting it.
| would refer you to Miss Graham"
Oscar was thunderstruck.
He had never dreamed of anything
like this. 1t fustered his wits up ter
rlbly for n minute or two. Then he
rallied them and tried to explain mat
ters, 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 it. Confound Miss Graham!
But after sober second thought on the
matter he concluded to accept Miss
Grants advice and go to Miss Graham.
Accordingly he set or 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 decide d
to confer upon her
Marry your exclaimed Miss Ora
ham, ''why, | couldn't think of such a
thing!' and she laughed as if it was the
best joke of the season.
Oscar began to feel scared.
"Why not?" he demanded.
Because I'm engaged to one man al