Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-07-14
FOR THE BEST OF REASONS

Young Ordway was in love. The
girl he really loved. Nan Herbert was
the very opposite in every particular
Of the girls he had loved previously.
He had opinions. He called them con-
victions. Nan Herbert had convictions
and stood by them, and Ordway called
them quite another name-Obstinacy.
One evening, after an especially pro-
voking afternoon, Nan had gone home
from tennis with another man. Ord
way called at the Herberts, determin-
ed to settle the question; ask her to
marry him. He found her at small
table when he entered the drawing
room. There were playing cards spread
out on the table, and she was studying
them intently. She looked charming.
Ordway's wrath vanished. He brought
a chair to the opposite side of the
table
playing solitaire?' he asked.
mo; telling my fortune" She laid
man is coming to the house"-she dealt
another cardS"he loves a fair lady In
the house; that must be me. I am
the only lady in the house"
mo, it Is not; it Is the cook; depend
upon it, it is the cook" said Ordway,
reaching, and taking the cards from
her. 81 will tell your fortune" He
dealt several cards. "This jack of
clubs Is a most deserving young man;
he loves a dark young lady in this
house"
at is Annie the chambermaid. Her
young man is coming to see her to-
night" laughed Nan, brushing the
cards into a heap, There, you have
spoiled my fortune! shall never
know whether I love the dark, rather
elderly man or not" she pouted.
"You never will; for you are going
to love very deserving and handsome
young man, who"
"Who is whom, for instance7"
"Myselfy
Never! You are too young" she
laughed.
Nan, l am in earnest"
$50 am I" said Nan, with a nod
sit is possible that you think I am
Joking? I am not. I love you. VIII
you marry me?" he asked, earnestly.
"No; you silly, nonsensical boy"
"Boy!" Indignantly. 81 am man,
and in earnest. Why won't you have
me, Nan? 1 know that you don't love
any one else"
"You don't know anything Of the
Sort" retorted Nan, hotly. II have
three very good reasons for not marry
ing you"
Young Ordway looked hurt to the
hearts core. MAY ask you to ex-
plain your three good reasonsT"
"First. I am older than you"
"Only a year" broke in Ordway. "A
year is nothing in these times"
"Next, we neither Of US have visible
means Of support"
"I would work my fingers to the
bone for your cried Ordway.
"And last, aud by no means least,
know, positively, that you have already
within the last year proposed to two
other girls"
Nan looked up into his face laugh
Ing, saw that the boy was looking
white, panied, miserable. was really
very unhappy, and melted immediate
~.
arthur she said, with sudden
am going to tell you something.
am sure that my confidence will not be
misplaced"
10 Ordway's establishment, self-con
tanned, light-hearted little Nan wat
trembling with agitation, her beautiful
eyes brimming with tears.
Arthur, you say that do not low
any one else. do. And have thrown
away that flower" she said, casting {
flower to the floor. II am that I'm
happy I could die. I know that de
serve my punishment have misleat
you and half dozen others to crafty
my pitiful vanity, to torture the mai
love-the man that honored me Will
his love. Now he despises me-has lef
me foreverp' she moaned, with diff
: Guilty suppressing her sobs.
Where has he gomez" asked Ord
way, sympathetically, forgetting hi
own sorrow in his concern for hers.
HE leaves tonight" she said tear
fully.
II hope you are not fretting like tha'
for that little cad, Foster, who Is leay
ing tonight" he exclaimed.
mo; oh, nop'
mot that vulgar chump Prescott
surelyY'
'No, no. no."
Suddenly Nan stood up, looking witt
radiant joy at the door behind him
and then gave him beseeching lool
that he did not understand.
, Colonel Rogers" announced the ser
want. Ordway whistled very audibly
'That old duffer!" he cried, under
stood Mans look, took the hint ant
left Observation-Disclosures Post.