The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-09-27
THE ELEVENTH HOUR

SCu
singer L.. glass eyel"
onno n loss with which to observe short !
innings, my dear!' -,
'Od O%And has false teeth ,,
nea have I. Now, Barbara, be sensible. |
,rd think it over"
p,,bara thought it over, and decided That
"a, sonsible meant marrying GILES Fer
~ .he must persist IN being loollsh.
s reyt time her father returned to the
.hsrg, he put his plea on personal grounds. /
, lIs' natbetc representation OF his position
m rotber effective. The Improvements
N' lie office building had cost much more
u m.n bc had fancied they would. An east.
Tue Com on whose leniency he had relied,
gu. GU pressing him for immediate payment
heavy account. Ferguson had practl-
ur,. refused him further advances because
n"1i.ra Ta' had declined to marry him, lie
iI 6rd better use for his money than
tOua ,O'nro if TO the man whom he was anxious
10 accept as father-in-law.
81 wouldn't urge YOU" concluded Bes-
anger. "if thought you cared for anyone
J.s There isn't anyone else-eh, Bar
baa?' eel, -.
,.nne form. q brunette face full of lie and
.narkle, arch hazel eyes, and a lovely scar
lei mouth
.No one else, papa!" There was no
aoubtinQ the frank sincerity Of the reply.
eGive me two weeks more to consider.
Tben-Tll say yes, if cantor your sake
Won poor, dear old worried thng!"
Resinger made the most of Barbara's
concession. Ferguson was profoundly graf
III. o,n ,rnyah ahla aya aNprpsspl lla
happy anticipation.
"Tell her." said he, that have never
married because my ideal was 30 lofty.
Never until | met Miss Barbara did meet
any woman possessing every PERFECTION
"Tell her yourself" advised Quintus.
Girls don't like to be courted through
their parents
So Ferguson called every evening. His
deliberate compliments and languishing
glance set her wild with resentment. Two
weeks! Why hadn't she said two months?
Surely the hours were racing by. 1t seemed
TO her the days fairly galloped out of sight.
Her father grew more haggard-more de-
messed. She used to catch him watching
her furtively. Ferguson would stave off
failure, would build up his business, would
nut his credit on firm basis, If only lie
had been a good father to her. She would
probably never fall in love anyway. Per
laps she ought to do as he wished-there
she shuddered.
The fateful day of her decision arrived.
A glorious day it was, crisp and golden,
with a rol.icking wind scurryng along State
street and playing pranks at the corner
where towers the Masonic temple. just
there it swirled girls skirts around her
slender ankles, and-not content with this
audacty-snatched off her veil and hirted
it out of reach But tall young man in
a gray suit gave prompt pursuit. 20, thank
youl" cried Barbara Bessnger, blushing,
when he stood before her, hat in hand, re-
turning the truant trihe. you are very
hndl'
A murmured depreciation, a lingering, elo-
quent look OF admiration, deep bow, and
he was lost in the crowd. Barbara went
home in a strange state of exhilaration.
Some little ones at the gate offered her
roses. She took the roses and kissed the
children. She had never thought flowers
and child faces so beautiful before. She
found herself singing as she ran upstairs.
She was startled by the loveiness OF her
own reflection in the glass. Why did she
ieel SO happy, why Suddenly she seemed
to see again the homage OF those flashing
blue eyes. No! She surely was not SO
silly as that! In delicious, girlish shame
she pressed her slim fingers over her eyes
to shut out those others. But they would
not be barred They gazed inso hers still!
All at once dreadful thought thrilled
her
Tonight Giles Ferguson would come for
his answer
sharp sense OF repulsion overwhelmed
her. She could not marry him! She would
not She bathed, coied her dark hair
airesh, went down to dinner in a gown OF
rosy lawn. At eight o'clock the hopeful
sutor made his appearance. He wore
brand new suit, and was apparently pre-
pared for conquest. He and Bessnger
talked. At ten Barbara was to give her
hnal decision. She watched the clock in
an agony of nervousness. Half past eight!
Ihe hands were moving around the dial
with appalling speed. Nine! She did not
Know the bell had rung-that visitor was
swn Mown IN. He was young, tall, good looking.
WIN start she recognized the agile cap
tor Of her veil.
The small gentleman is Mr.. Ferguson
she heard the servant say.
The stranger walked straight up to Bar
bara's suitor
How do you do, father?" he said.
What's that" screamed the old man.
ne had turned ghastly pale.
My name is Robin Ferguson. ! only
arrived yesterday from California. Your
man told me l would find you here. My
mother died three months ago, Dying, she
'Oid me the story OF your desertion OF her
Shen was little lad. She made me prom
@ TO look you up. For her sake I've done
!" can prove all | say"
I'LL can't discuss the matter with
you here-now!" His teeth chartered SO
,is ae feared they would drop out Even if
II We're sod not give you cent?
ihe newcomer burst out laughing. I'll
never ask you for one. my mother's
brother left all her property to me, and
"efes rafting lot of it, too"
w gasped Ferguson senior. This gave
matters new aspect. But-there was Bar
'ars, a The cloct struck ten.
barbara said Bessinger, rising, you
rseed to tell Giles Ferguson at this hour
"3ether or not you would marry him."
White aa k1,, I'd