Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-05-11
Aunt Phebe's Story.



have married Gus Waters at a
word. He was the sort of young
man a girl instinctively likes and
trusts. Perhaps this is not the kind Of
feeling the story books call love, but l
fancy it is just as good.
Gus was good-looking. with strongly
marked features, rather tall, and well
built, and when he chose to be well
dressed made a good appearance. and
never looked ill, however old his
clothes might be, when about his or
dinary work. He did not depend upon
his clothes to command respect.
He had a calm, confident air, and
could express himself concisely when
he needed to assert authority. That
is what a woman likes-to have man
able to deal with men and not be
turned aside from his purpose or make
mistake. He was good talker, with
a fine, coy humor, not putting himself
forward to be amusing, but easily hold
Ing his own. Like most strong men,
Gus was hard to provoke to a quarrel,
though in his school days he had his
allowance of tisticuff encounters.
Yes, l will admit would have mar
ried Gus had he asked me, though did
not think he was in love with me nor
l with him. / did not believe he would
fall deeply in love with anyone.
Perhaps was too reserved, or feared
to show decided preference unless it
oh ,;,Ic "a
l threw myself at his head, and was
greatly chagrined when he devoted
himself to Hattie Trude. | had other
admirers, and if was not as handsome
as Hattie, mere beauty is not every
thing. There is no denying that Hattie
was the prettiest girl of our set, and
she was pretty without having to care
for her complexion or wear becoming
clothes We girls all knew she was in
tolerably selfish, and wondered that
the young men did not find her out
But beauty hides a great many defects
of character, and if a girl only pretends
to be kind and sympathetic she is sup
posed to possess all the angelic quail
tiles.
One day Robert Carpenter asked me
to marry him. He proposed in a blum
dering, roundabout way, so clumsily
that l did not know at first what he
meant. He made me almost as confused
as himself, and whether | said yes or
no ! do not now recollect, but he went
away smiling, so conclude he thought
him a n nd I hnl
ring which l put away in box, unde-
cided whether to wear it or give it
back.
l don't think l expected that Gus
rs Roberts rival. He did not, at any
rate. When l met him he simply said:
We'll, little girl, so you are engaged
to Carpenter. He is good fellow, but
you are young. You should have wait
ed little longer"
"An engagement does not mean mar
riage," replied, somewhat sharply.
mo, but l think it ought. 1t keeps
many young men straight to be en-
gagged, but they ought to feel confident
that the girls heart is fixed upon
them"
Perhaps the girls heart has little to
do with the matter nowadays. She has
to consider other things"
Yes. l suppose so. But the heart is
not to be ignored"
This was about all that was said
nothing to suggest that Gus was jeal-
GUS or likely to enter the list for my
hand. Nor did expect it, though gos-
sips reported the contrary.
Robert was impatient to be married,
but l was not He accused me of being
cold. and of not reciprocating his pas
sion. Possibly all men in love are apt
to act childishly. | found Roberts at
tentions wearisome. 1t might be said
that he would be cured of them by
marriage, but this is n painful expert
euce to look forward to.
One evening we had n quarrel. He
accused me of secret admiration for
Mr.. Hayes-that l held him off hoping
Gus would come forward as n suitor,
and added, as a final rebuke. that he
and Hattie Trude had been married
the day before. He showed me a paper
with the marriage notice printed in it.
was so angry at the accusation that
at first | told him the engagement be-
tween us was broken. Then he began
to plead for himself, expressing such
sorrow at his hasty words that gradu-
ally l relented. After all, had treated