Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-08-10

cakes. Sold everywhere E
I'LL never in bulk.
$SZE ~
summer. Goodby. Knight as well go
He began to look for his hat in pre-
occupied way. got it from under the
sofa for him, and he left.
Two days later I received this tele-
gram
The country saved. 3. BENTLEY.
This was followed by note asking
me to let him bring his ''gi1l" up to
see me. l doubted whether Linnie Mar
in cared as much to come as he cared
- have her, but her father and had
1 always been good friends-that is, we
had always taken particular pains to be
civil to each other and to exchange con-
fidences about the weather when, as
might happen twice month, our paths
crossed-so l hoped this would in some
measure neutralize the dislike of me
that the recital of my amiable influence
upon her destiny would naturally in
spire.
Bentley brought her to the fat very
soon, staying only few minutes him
self, but taking pains to assure me that
the Office was perfectly in the dark as
to the outcome of his courtship and
that all the affectation of Indifference
could do was being done to soothe Mr.
Higgens s'That is" said Bentley.
pointing with his thumb, "she's doing
just like she always did, and I'm doing
just like her Next week. he said. she
would leave the Office
Bentley wore a new aspect There
were, though my report Of the inter-
view so far may not show it, touches of
dignity and difference and reticence in
his manner and expression that, though
they did not change his familiar guise
or tone to casual glance or half
listening ear. were novel and pleasing
to an acuter observation.
He soon declared that he must go out
to ''see man and said he would
come back for Linnie in half an hour
He came to me, and, with speaking
gaze charged with confidential commu-
nications, wrung my hand till he brought
tears to my eyes and to his own. He
made it clear that he was giving me
the glory of his success, an honor to
which had not the least claim, but l
understood the state of mind in which
it pleased him to lavish his yelling
gratitude to things in general upon
some definite and tangible object.
I, Let ~
woman who had been causing all this
pother.
You could see in every line of her at
titude and in every detail of her neat,
appropriate gown and jacket and hat
what an example of the discreet virtues
and the pleasing properties she was
born to be-.
gazed upon her with appreciative
admiration mingled with fear, for
was not inspired with the greatest con-
ddencs in her powers of conversation,
though she had got through her greet
ings nicely enough. l did her injustice.
She was entertaining. Despite all her
innate sense Of propriety and reserve.
she was sufficiently moved by her en-
gagement to want to talk about it and
''him. And this state of mind always
may be confidently counted upon to
furnish entertainment of one kind or
another
She first said prettily that Mr.. Bent
ley had told her how kind had been
in thinking a about her father "It would
be awful bad for pa to lose his place, "
she said and must explain that the
written words do much injustice to thu
effect of her soft speech. 81 think il
will be better for me to stop going there
as soon as l can, and then Mr. Higgens
if he doesn't see me to remind him
he'll forget all about-about what h,
didn't like. and she looked down ant
carefully measured off small sections O
her pocket handkerchief and flushed
little.
| was struck with her comprehension
: of Higgins childishness, typical har,
hearted business potentate that he was
and said so.
Her color rose and faded a time 0
two before she said, as she measures
her handkerchief yet more scrupulous
ly:
| "Mr. Bentley says you were yer
| kind to him. that you helped him sc
that-that desk, I" and she looked u
with a slight, shy smile.
Yes, said; thought I knew MI
Bentley's designs some time before sh
did. began to see that it would be lik
stopping process of nature to tax
her away from this subject
81 didn't know them till two day
ago, (" she said. looking attentively 8
the toes OF the boots crossed in front {
her and as if she had more in her min
than she was saying. l waited 81 fe
= II don't know how +"