Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-08-12
!, E IS BOB,


! stepped out upon the veranda and drank
In the fresh, invigorating sea breeze he
felt that the whole panorama in front of
his eyes had been made. for men like him
self-that is, for perfect man, well to do,
we'll reared, on the sunny side of 40, with
a pleasant past behind him and pleasant
er future before him. :.
"Can it be that old. Nick is expecting
somebody's" thought the hotel clerk, and
. few moments. later discreet smile
played over his features, for to Nicholas
had entered R. U. E., as they do not say
on the stage, to my certain knowledge,
anyhow, young woman.
The clerk looked over. the large leather
bound book IN front of him and saw that
on the page upon which were recorded the
tore was written:
Mrs. Middiebrook, Miss Flora Middle
brook, New York.
| Nicholas saw Miss Flora the moment
that she appeared, and a fit sight for such
i a morning she made.
Nicholas smiled when he saw her and
fastened to meet her. She smiled, too,
when she saw him and held out her hand
to him.
! And at this very moment it should be
/ said that Nicholas Van Ralston had made
a solemn VOW the night before, and that
in that vow the name of this young lady
had figured conspicuously. Nicholas, it
seems, had tired of single blessedness, and
in looking over the list of the young wom-
t en- Of his acquaintance he had decided that
Of them all not one offered SO many at
fractions and so few detractions as this
same Flora Middlebrook Whereupon
Nicholas had made up his mind to make
her his bride
| OF course he admitted she had her
! faults, but he alleged that all women had
! such things, and that it would be the east
est thing in the world for her to cure her.
self Of them.
! Unlike most men, Nicholas decided to
see that the cure was effected before he
proposed marriage, and so he now proceed
ed to grid up his loins and give her her
first lesson.
Nicholas started off on an entirely new
tack and managed his first lesson SO care
fully and nicely, he argued, that while, if
she should for unknown reasons be offend
ed, the blame might fall upon somebody
else's shoulders.
'That brother Of mine,'' he said, THAT
Bob, he is fine fellow; rather outspoke
though"
Flora stopped looking at the sea, and
her eyes grew brighter than ever.
! Indeed" she cried, land what has he
been doing now?"
| ''Why, he has been SO outrageous as to
criticise you."
"That's nice," said the girl. "And
what has he been saying?"
Nicholas saw that she was in good
humor, that she was interested, that she
! had decided to take her lesson like good
| little child, and so he rejoiced exceedingly.
YES" he continued, The has been say
ing some things about you. Bob says in
his own inimitable way that Miss Middle
| brook is one of the most charming young
women he has ever met, indeed the most
! charming girl he has ever seen in this
| country or any other country, but that
| she''-
And he gave her list of shortcomings,
which out of fairness to the young woman
are to be omitted here, however.
Flora listened attentively, with rather
| wistful air, but still as if she were really
| interested and not at all as if she objected
| to such criticism.
Nicholas was radiant with success when
he saw how we'll she took her lesson.
"Does he really say all this?" she asked
! when he had finished the list.
Nicholas nodded his head.
you think2"
"Well, Miss Middlebrook, now, come.
You would hardly expect me to be SO bold
as to criticise your"
But he nodded his head sagely and with
k10A In e1>o
that it was he who was preaching and not
| that young brother Of his.
! Nicholas paid most devoted attention to
Miss Middlebrook the rest of the day, and
| he was very sorry indeed when a telegram
In the city he found important business
| enough to last him month. He fretted
and fumed, but he had to stand it, and
his only consolation was that his brother
Bob wrote from the seat Of war that he
had never seen young woman so much
changed for the better as Miss Flora Mid
dlebrook.
| At the end of fortnight Nicholas found
time to return to the siege, and SO much
was he impressed by the young woman
behavior that he decided that the reforma-
ton in her character had been effected
and that the time had come for his pro-
! posal::
This he proceeded to make the evening
after his arrival at the hotel.
| Flora heard him through, and then
Nicholas received the first shock to his
| nervous system and his self esteem that
he had known in many year.
IT am very sorry, " said the young WON
an, "but you have made great mistake.
| I can meyer be your wife.
''What!" cried Nicholas. And why
not?"
because, though like and esteem
you, do not care for you in that way"
"Then why did you encourage me 80
! muchP" i t.s ~. Fl.
Encourage you'll How did encourage
you, prays" cried Flora !: ~'~-.
Il "Your behavior!'' mumbled Nicholas.
ibid you not after I told you what ]
| thought you should do ~l
"But you said your brother Bob
ooh, confonnd my brother Bobl'' cried
Nicholas. .>-s-...-, 7. ! n J
"Please don't confound your brother
Bob Mr.. Nicholas, for, you seq
"WellP'' IL ~ - &
/ 'sYou sec, you told me what your broth.
/ or Bob thought should do, and 4 have
tried to do it, and The truth Of the matter
. ~.