Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-12-29
CHAPTER TX.

One OF the most charming writer's Of
our day and generation has declared
that 1.-The truest blessing a girl can
have" is "the ingenious devotion of a
young boys heart" Nine mothers in
ten will probably take issue with the
gifted author on that point, and though
no longer q young girl in years, what
ever she might be in looks, Margaret
harrison would gladly have sent the
waiting gentlemen to the right about,
for, though he was only 20, "Gov"
Prime, as a junior at Columbia, had
been ingenuously devoted to the lit
tie lady from the very first evening
be saw her. A boy of frank, impulsive
nature, was "Gov''-a boy still In spite
of the budding mustache, the 20 sum-
ners and the barely passed exam
that wound up the junior year and
entitled him to sit with the seniors
when the great university opened It's
doors in October. Studies he hated, but
tennis, polo, cricket, riding and dane
ing were things he loved and excelled
in. Much Of his boyhood had been
spent at one of those healthy, hearty
English schools where all that would
cultivate physical and mental manhood
was assiduously practiced, and all that
would initiate against them was as
vigorously "tabooed."
AT the coming of his twentieth birth
day that summer his father had hand
ed him his check of $5,OO0-the paternal
expression Of satisfaction that his boy
had never smoked pipe, cigar or cigar
ette-and the same week Gov" had
carried off the blue ribbon with the
racquet, and the second prize with the
single SOULS. 1t was during the Tex
ANS" the first week in June, when
dropping in for five o'clock ten of some
girls whom he had known for years,
he was presented to this witching lit
tie creature whose name he didn't even
catch. 1--WE met her way out at an
army post in Wyoming when papa took
us to California last year." was whis-
pered to him, land they entertained us
SO cordially, and of course we said If
ever you come to New York you must
be sure to let us know-and she did
but" and there his informant paused,
dubious. Other callers came in and it
began to rama sudden, drenching
shower, and the little stranger from the
far west saw plainly enough that her
hostesses, though presenting their
friends after our CHEEKY American fash
ion, were unable to show her further
attention, and the newly presented
almost all women, said $50 very
pleased" but failed to look it, or other
wise to manifest their pleasure. She
couldn't gp in the rain. The butler had
'phoned for q cab. She wouldn't sit
there alone and neglected. She DELHI
erately signaled Mr.. Prime. 1.-The la
dies are all busy" she said, with a
charmingly appealing smile, "but 1
know you can tell me. have to dress
for dinner after get home, and must
be at One Hundred and Tenth street
at 1880. How long will it take car
riage to drive me there? Oh, is that
your society pin? Why, are you still
in college? Why, thought"
That cab was rs minutes coming,
and when 1t came Mr.. Prime went with
it and her, whom he had not left an
instant from the moment of her ques-
ton. Moreover, he discovered she was
nervous about taking that carriage
drive all alone away up to One Hundred
and Tenth street, yet what other way
could girl go in evening dress? He
left her at her door with reluctantly
given permission to return in an hour
and escort her to the distant home of
her friends and entertainers. He drove
to the Waldorf and had light dinner
with a half pint of Hook, devoured her
with his eyes as they drove rapidly
northward, went to Harlem theater
while she dined and forgot him, and
was at the carriage door when she
came forth to be driven home. Seven
hours or less "had done the business"
SO far as Gouyerneur Prime was con-
cerned.
1t was the boys first wild infatuation
las mad, unreasoning, absurd, yet in
tense as was ever that Of Arthur PEN
asnais for the loYsir Tothsran9ax May.