Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-04-04
Aunt Phebe's Story.

man girl lnStlnctlvcly likes ana
trusts. Perhaps this Is not the Kind Of
feeling the story books call love. but
fancy 1t is just as good.
Gus was good Hooking, With strongly
marked features, rather tall, and well
built, and when he chose 10 be well
dressed made good appearance, and
never looked i'll, however old his
clothes might be. when about his or
binary work. He did not depend upon
Ills clothes to command respect.
He had a calm, confident air, and
could express himself concisely when
he needed to assert authority. That
Us what n woman likes-to have a man
able to deal with men and not be
burned aside from his purpose or make
2 mistake. He was good talker, with
q 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 quarrel,
though in his school days he had his
allowance Of fisticuff encounters.
Yes, will admit would have mar
ried Gus had he asked me, though did
not think he was In love with me nor
with him. did not believe he would
fall deeply in love with anyone.
Perhaps was too reserved, or feared
to show decided preference unless 1t
was shown first, though other girls said
threw myself Mt his head, and was
greatly chagrincd when he devoted
himself to Hattie Trude. had other
admirers, and IL was not as handsome
as Hattie. mere beauty Is not every
thing. There is no denying that Hattie
was the prettlest 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 great many defects
Of character, and II girl only pretends
to be kind and sympathetic she is sup
posed to possess oil the angelic quail
tiles.
One day Robert Carpenter asked me
to marry him. He proposed in a blum
dering, roundabout way, so clumsily
that I did not know at first what he
meant. He made me almost as confused
as himself, and whether said yes or
no l do not now recollect, but he went
away smiling, SO 1 conclude he thought
himself an accepted lover, and had a
ring which put away in a box, unde-
clded whether to wear 1t or give It
back.
don't think l expected that Gus
would hear of this and come forward
Us Roberts rival. He did not, at any
rate. When met him he simply said:
Well, 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
rlage." replied, somewhat sharply.
No. but think 1t 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, suppose so. But the heart Is
not to be ignored"
This was about all that was said
nothing to suggest that Gus was zeal
GUS or likely to enter the list for my
hand. Nor did expect it, though COS
sips reported the contrary.
Robert was impatient to be married,
but I was not. He accused me of being
cold, and Of not reciprocating Ills pas.
sion. Possibly NIL 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 painful expert
s ence to look forward to.
One evening we had quarrel. He
accused me Of secret admiration for
Mr.. Hayes-that l held him off hoping
Gus would come forward MS sutton
and added, as final rebuke, that he
and Hattie Trude had been married
the day before. He showed me q paper
with the marriage notice printed in 1t.
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 relented. After all, had treated
him rightly? At last agreed to mar
~ him at once. 1t was becoming the
fashion to plan half elopement and
save the expenses and publicity of
regular wedding at home. consented
Z to marry him the next day.
After Robert departed looked for
the newspaper containing the notice,
but could not find 1t. He had had sew
eral In his hand, but the special copy
he had taken with him. do not know
what prompted me to write a note of
congratulation to Gus and dispatch 4
by my brother Ned, a lad OF IL.
mentioned having seen the notice In
the paper, and said was sorry he had
not confided in me.
1t was after 10 o'clock, and retired
to my room. Half an hour later heard
Ned coming upstairs. He stopped at
my door.
ibid you see Gus7" I asked from
within.
"Yes. He's downstairs. He came
back with me-"
"What does he want?"
HE wants to see you, guess"
what fort"
HE didn't say. Probably wants to
borrow your overshoes. Better go
down and ask him."
went down. He didn't want to bor-
row anything. On the contrary, he
wanted mo to give him something to
keep-my hand. my heart He said the
notice Of his being married was a con-
founded fraud-that Robert must have
had It inserted in few copies Of the
paper by special agreement-it could be
done IL one was willing to pay for 1t.
He was in quite an excited frame OF
mind, and hardly knew my usual
placid Gus.
.Of course, when you were engaged
to Robert, 1t was not for me to make
any attempt to win you. thought you
knew your own mind. and had decided
that I was not the sort Of fellow you