Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-02-03
he better for you to find sqr Or

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tapped the ground rapidly with one lit
tie foot. meanwhile we're engaged,
you know; and we must live UP to it.
Where shall take you Tomorrow
"Oh. no! You must do lot of your
book tomorrow. and give me some
copying to do-about brains, and spines,
and things"
Nonsense, child, Don't 1 always
take YOU out when 1 come to town.
Shall we go to the Academy? She
laughed her old childish laugh.
land lunch at restaurant" she in
quired, delightedly. And go down to
the Crystal palace afterwards. and have
tea in the gardens, and see the variety
show, and dine on the terrace like we
did last year? She squeezed my arm
in her old way won't it be jol1y?"
1t was jolly. The next day I took her
TO the Zoo, and smiled to see her laugh
at the monkeys. The day after took
her to the exhibition and up the big
wheel, and put my arm round her be-
cause she was frightened pretended
to be. I squeezed her arm in the pas
sage, and kissed her twice for good
night Then I began to see that it
would be bad for the Cerebral Convolu-
lions" if this sort of thing wen: on. So
7 sent for Nephew Frank to come up to
town at once.
That Iight-hearted young gentleman
held his sides with laughter when 1 ex-
planned the situation.
$50 I'm to court your fiancee|she
used to be pretty little girl-and take
her off your hands for an allowance of
500 a year?" he said, wiping his eyes
Five hundred pounds and 300 make
6 500 400 apiece"
Exactly" 1 said, approvingly. "4ou
always were smart at figures. Frank"
but, my dear uncle. suppose she
won't have me? Besides, I'm not sure,
| but 1 think I'm just little gone on
Nellie Marchant. Suppose L don't care
| for your Amanda"
''She's awfully nice, Frank; you
couldn't help it." / was surprised at
my doleful tone.
| ."Then." said he, ''whyever don't you
marry her YOURSELF"
| / lit a cigar and drummed on the
fender with my slipper. I'm too old
too settled in my bachelor ways, Frank"
1 said. regretfully. 81 don't know-Im
not sure-if it would do
| 81 believe it would be the best thing
| in the world for you, old man." Frank
leaned over the table earnestly. He's
an honest, unselfish lad, that's why I'm
| so fond of him. And I know he'd be
good to her.
| 'Well,'' / said, slowly, ''I'll be honest
with you, Frank. I'm fond of the child,
very fond indeed. If I thought that she
could like me-in that way-I'm hanged
| if / wouldn't chance it. But she only
| looks upon me as an elder brother.
Some day, she-I paused to blow my
| handkerchief-she would find out. 1t
| wouldn't do; I'm sure it wouldn't do"
| So it was arranged that 1 should be
| busy finishing my book, and see less of
Amanda And Frank was to see her
every day, to find out if she would like
him better than me. or if he could like
her better than Nellie Marchant.
| This arrangement lasted for fort
| night; but none of US seemed quite our
selves. Mandy grew staid and silent.
I couldn't do anything right with the
| book, and something seemed wrong
| with my liver. Even cheerful Frank
grew a bit bad-tempered. At the end
of the fortnight he burst in upon me in
the evening, when I was busy with the
Cerebral Convolutions."
Look here, uncle" said he, coolly,
f1inging himself into an armchair. and
taking one of my cigars, you're an
asst"
| I wiped my pen on coattail-One of
nv bachelor habits-laid it down, and
shut the inkpot. That" 1 observed,
mildly, sis very strong language,
| Frank
We'll" said he, 81 like my Nellie ever
so much better than YOUR Amanda
that's flat
Then" said I. bringing my hand
down on the table with thump, your
fooli''
Amanda" said he, firmly, sis as dull
as ditchwater."
/ took off my reading glasses and
glared at him. '.She.s the brightest lit
tie creature in the world 1 asserted,
resolutely.
He took a long draw at the cigar and
blew smoke rings-a thing L never
could manage. Amanda he contin-
ued, in a matter-of-fact tone, sis dull
because she's in love-
let my pipe drop on the floor with
n crash. with whom?' My voice
sounded strange to me.
"Why, with you, of course. Man
alive! you must be blind! You're pre-
tending that you don't care for her,
and breaking her poor little heart.
1 looked at him in silence for few
seconds; then l got up and fetched my
hat. '.I'm going out" L told him; and
I went.
i When arrived at their drawing-room
Amanda was sitting on the rug. with
her back against the sofa. She had
dropped her book on the floor. and was