Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-01-24
HIS BUSY DAY.
TT WAS my busy day.

UT WAS my busy day.
pile OF correspondence as daunt.
ing to a mans ambition as Pixies
Peak or the Eiffel Tower burdened INV
desk and there was kink In nv tenn
per which l had calculated would re-
quire dinner at Martins, tete-a-tete
with Marguerite. to effectually straight
en- out. Martins chef makes certain
pate that puts man ut peace with all
the world, while Marguerite is at once
soothing and stimulating, like cham
payne.
At this point my reflections were In
terrupted by Forsythe, the best fellow
IN the world. but with an unlucky habit
OF turning up at the wrong moment,
didn't give him the glad hand exact
y, Tor which was sorry enough after
ward, but he was too preoccupied to
notice.
"Oh, I've something to say to you,
Austin" he said after few prelimi-
naries, with the effect of having lust
remembered something.
"Ah right" replied, taking my feet
on chair to shove 1t toward him. .'but
make 1t twenty words IL you can. Pm
IN rush today"
can do 1t quick enough" he went
on with an uneasy laugh. ~ Just want
70 ask you II you've any Intentions Of
a matrimonial sort. you know. toward
Marguerite"
The devil you dow exclaimed, at
strikes me that's my business"
Perhaps 1t is," he said, with an air
OF wishing to do me every justice, 'per-
haps 1t is, but it's mine, too.''
.nueea' ! remarked feeling that l
was az, unahs"eraDie.
LOU see Austin, cried Forsythe,
"nen you introduced Diilard and me
Alafsaerite we poth thought you
were 'rine gone IN that direction, and
wnen 1 found thought such lot of
ner couldn't live without her l felt
.na. ! nad no fight to ask for her until
FOUND out whether you wanted her
yourself.
Deuced good OF you," commented.
sunny seeing ne mad paused for re-
: ply.
1T only seemed fair to give you the
nrst chance" he finished, looking at
me IN a hurt sort OF way that made
me ashamed OF myself.
You're all right, old boy" i FASTENED
10 say Forgive me; you took me by
surprise. But since you ask me don't
mlnd saying never had thought of
marrying Marguerite" (Which was true
enough, and I'd never thought Of any
one else marrying her ether
I'm mighty glad of that" cried For
sythe, Joyfully.
mo doubt" l said, a tribe 1rylv. Inf
he FASTENED on: .I,m going to take
her to picture exhibit this morning
and thought I'd like to ask her then
II you assured me the field was cleor
l hope have your good wishes. Ans.
dn."
Certainly" said. go ahead and
try for her, and good luck 70 with Won
old man."
The painful memory of the grin he
gave my hand on leaving still fingered
with me when billiard dropped in an
hour later. gave billiard the other
hand.
s'Hullo," he cried. BUSY. Anstin2,
Rather" l returned. shortly. Dill
g lard's only occupation in life is spend
Ing an income of forty thousand a year,
ana ats hard to be glad to see a man
axe tnat when you've got your own
nose down on the grindstone.
Just a word In your ear and Pm
through. he announced. ''It's about
Marguerite, you know"
marguerite" exclaimed. "then
you've heard
Heard what" he cried. Are you
engaged 70 her!
Certainiy not" l answered. with en-
pnasis; what made you think thatT"
On ! tnought you rather fancied
her ana I'm tremendously glad to hear
you don't care about her" u wasn't
aware that ia said that. but let 1t
pass.l she ana ner aunt are going to
.ake iuncn win forsythe and me to-
Jay anu ! !nought might get chance
20 ny my iuck win her then. But as
long us you Introduced US ! thought l
ought 10 give you the hrst chance"
LUIS sounded tamiiiar-too familiar.