The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-28
INA MORMON GIRLS TRAP.
From the Denver Post. ]

sheep are all right. plenty of 'em
i to be shipped and our yards will get
their share" said J. z. Kerr, the ST.
; Joseph stock yards man, but say he
added, leading the way to a couple of
adjoining chairs in the Albany Hotel
lobby, what have to tell you does not
refer to sheep It's a little story. some
thing that happened to me at a ranch
in the southern part of Idaho last week,
and it's too good to keep. This is just
between US, you know"
''Oh, of course" said his old college
chum; what do you take me for?''
We'll, fellow can't be too careful;
! but as I was saying, it happened over
in Idaho. You know, in my business I
have to travel pretty much all over
the country, up hill and down dale, visit
all the farms and lonely ranches and
most of the time it's anything but
pleasant. But I struck luck the other
day. At least, that the way it looked
to me then. You remember how sus-
ceptible to feminine attractions al
ways was %
Don't I though said his friend.
well, I've never thoroughly got
over it, and old Ben Hance's daughter
say, she's a beaut, and I was mashed
the minute she came to the door to let
me in.
I had gone to old Ben's ranch to
solicit his patronage. He raises more
sheep than ybOdy in that part of the
country, and had special instructions
to see him and try corral his trade.
We'll, this girl, Miss Indy, was one
VI A4lOSO great DlSs IetA anu white COIIl-
pleXioned country girls, with blue eyes,
dark hair and lips just as ripe as July
cherries tell you, she was too sweet
for anything.
I've been making my headquarters
at Salt Lake and travel all over Utah
and at dinner that day I got to talking
about the MormOns. Old Ben didn't
say much and neither did Mrs. Hance,
but I caught Miss Indy laughing kind
of sideways and looking up at me as
though something tickled her a. whole
lot.
I didn't catch on at all. I didn't say
anything mean about the MormOns, but
did poke a good deal of fun at them,
too. The three boys of the family had
all gone to town and so there was only
the old man and the old woman and
Miss Indy and myself at the table. In
among my other funny remarks said,
Now, if Miss Indy was a Mormon 1
wouldn't hesitate to marry her if had
to become a Mormon to do it
odd Hance grinned and the old lady
and Miss Indy looked at each other
and the girl got red and bluShed and
laughed and looked so burned pretty I
could hardly tend to my eating.
After the dinner was over I talked
to the old man about his sheep, and
after had given him my figures
landed him all right, but you bet 1 kept
one eye on that girl. Why2 Oh what's
the use to ask me that? Just because 1
couldn't help it; you know me.
"Well, after a while the old man said.
Say, I've got a bunch of SOuthdowns
I want you to see. Just got EN- the
other day and I want your opinion on
'em. Don't try to go any further to-
day, but stay over night with US. It's
about time for my afternoon nap. and
I'm going to lay down awhile. Lindy'H
show you where the SOuthdOWnS are
Indy, you show him. and the old man
was off to his slumbers.
I didn't made any kick about the
arrangement, for, though knew was
out of the race, L could not help feel
ing good to think of the joys of a ram
BILE across the meadows and along the
fence rows with Indy.
I found the girl delightfully."- compan-
with her beauty and natural graces- We
.'On our way back we stopped and lean
the ,sun-bathed landscape.
DO you remember what you said
about the MOrmons? said Indy, drawing
why. yes said 7. in some surprise.
" And how We all Laughter
:. Y es,, and | wondered greatly at it.
wen said she, we were amused be-
cause We ourselves are Mormons, and
g oh, don't worry about it, she added,
as 1 began to apologize, you only said
g You said the young girl went on,
come a Mormon yourself for my sake
She hesitated a moment and the next
neck her warm breath on my cheek, and
she murmured, oh, tell me, tell me, did
And what did you do?" asked his
friend pantingly.
What could I do? said of course
meant it, but-and she shut me off with a
kiss. 1 struggled gently, and after a bit
released myself and tried to explain. I
told her 1 was married and hence be-
longed to another, and that I must not
listen to such advantages, but what ar
gument can a man make to a Mormon
girl who actually delights in competition?
'' 1 don't care how many wives you We
got, now that know you love mel ex-
claimed this affectiOnate young lady. You
are mine, now, forever
1T was love at first sight all right
enough and suppose I ought to have felt
hattered. but pledge you my word the
cold chillS ran up and down me as she
said those words. Was 1 in for it?
Would never see my wife and little
ones again? The thought was madness. !
I told her that L delighted and the
that I must tear myself away for a time
She said she could spare me for a
month but that she must write every day
81 Every hour said l, in my eagerness |
to prOpitate her, and | gave her my stock
yards address. Then I said I must be off
couldn't stay over night. I told her to
tell her father that l couldn't bear to
wake him, but that his Southdowns were
all right didn't know but what Indy
would tell all and old Hance would make /
me marry her then and there.
''Lindy helped me saddle up my horse. (
in the stirrup- Under some circumstances
jim" concluded Mr.. Kerr, that farewell (
would have been sweet, but 1 wanted to !
leave Indy worse than she wanted to !
keep me"