Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-02-03

~
candid, / do not trust you.'
Every we'll" She sat down to her es-
critoire. what shall writer
81 consent to the marriage of my
daughter to Mr.. Frank Austen" die
tated. She wrote it accordingly and
| signed it with flourish.
| MY name is the same as my nephew's.
I'll have him up to town, and if he
doesn't fall in love with Amanda he's
fool. That was my idea.
"Well, now I'll talk to Amanda" I
said, feeling rather uncomfortable.
And did.
| Amanda is 10, and stands five feet
two. Amanda has golden brown hair
that will get loose and tumble about her
cheeks and forehead. Amanda has big
dark eyes, and long eyelashes, and
cherry-ripe lips, and the dearest little
| dimples in the world. Amanda has soft
white hands-she generally gives me
both-and tiny feet whose rush / could
recognize blindfold. She came in quiet
| Nv to-day, and there were dark marks
under her eyes.
"Oh. Cousin Frank" she cried
cousin is my brevet rank-'you won't
| let her make me-marry-that horrible
MANI
NO. said I, MANDY, my dear.
WON'T Then I kissed her. If only I
were sure that she wouldn't disarrange
my study!
'You kind old Frank!" She took hold
of my arm and squeezed it.
''But your mother insists upon your
getting engaged to some one, my DEAR"
1 said, ruefully; somebody who is fair
" we'll off. Are you in love with any
body, Mandy? Tell me, there's good
little girl
She opened her eyes wide, and looked
at me honestly. "Oh, no, Cousin Frank!
Only-only-I think perhaps 7 should
like to be-some day"
But there isn't anyone yet? Truly ?"
''Truly. No one at ALL
''Not that you care for ittle?"
"Not ever such little-in that way"
She gave my arm a squeeze to indicate
that there were other ways-ways
cousinly.
"Well, look here, Mandy" I said,
sheepishly; ''your mother insists that
you shall be engaged to some one; and
I can only find one person"
''Not Mr.. Plutus? Iwon't!" she cried,
vehemently.
mo, no! Not anyone who will annoy
you, dear, or whom you dislike
"Whoever-" She looked up at me
quickly, and half let go my arm.
''Just till you find some one you like, :"
I apologized, turning as red as poppy.
She held on to my arm again, and
looked down on the ground. Then she
laughed. "How very funny!"
Would you mind, Mandy?"
MO-" She laughed again. ST
think it would be rather-fun. You
would have to take me out a lot, wouldn't
you? To pretend properly"
''Ye-es. Oh, yes, of counsel" What
ever would become of the Cerebral
Convolutions?
But wouldn't it be rather bother
to you?"
mot more than to you"
"Oh, it wouldn't be any bother to
mel" she cried, excitedly. "We'd go to
the Tower, and the stores, and the Crys-
tai palace, and the Zoo, and the exhibit
tion-and have tea in the gardens-and
the opera, and Good heavens!
She saw my face fall. 81 only meant
; to some of them," she explained. You
always do take me to the Academy and
one or two places. don't you?"
: |
DEAR assured her. 81 always enjoy
myself when do. But you know 1 am
finishing my book just now"
"Oh, yes! won't worry you, Cousin
Frank And-and-I could help you
with it, couldn't II" I almost groaned
aloud. Amanda on Cerebral Convolu-
tionsi
'Pm afraid it's rather too dry for
that
81 mean learn the typewriter, and
copy it," she pleaded anXiously. A man
, is only fool, after all, however much
he studies and learns. Do you know
suddenly bent down and kissed her, and
, she blushed like a carnation.
81 won't let you blunt your finger tips
with a typewriter" 1 said, CALAMITY
But you shall copy some pieces for me
! till you find some nice young man; and
our engagement ends" 1t was best to
, have a clear understanding, thought
''Ye-es," said she, thoughtfully, but
oh, Cousin Frank!-suppose 1 didn't
find anyone else?'
. ''Then, shall have to marry you my
self. 1t would be better than old Plu.
tus, wouldn't it?"
"Oh, yesi But I shouldn't like
: couldn't bear to think that you had sac
rificed yourself to me. should be such
, a bother. shouldn't To-"
/ looked down affectionately on the
r rumpled hair and inquiring eyes. Il
think-I think, Mandy" I said. gently
l 81 could put up with you very well. But
we have been so used to look upon one
another in different light, that it's
: rather late to change. You see, dear,
have grown into a f1dgetY old bachelor