The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1900-04-20
Aunt Phebe's Story.

nave married Gus waters at word.
He was the sort of young man girl
instinctively likes and trusts. Per-
haps this is not the kind of feeling the
story books call love, but 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 good appearance, and
never looked ill, however old his
clothes might be, when about his or
binary 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 woman likes-to have a man
able to deal with men and not be
turned aside from his purpose or make
mistake He was good talker, with
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 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 a decided preference unless it
was shown first, though other girls
said l threw myself at his head, and
was greatly chagrined when he de-
voted himself to Hattie Trude. | had
other admirers, and if | was not as
handsome as Hattie, mere beauty is not
everything. 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 be-
coming clothes. We girls all knew
she was intolerably selfish, and Won
dered that the young men did not find
her out But beauty hides great
many defects of character, and if girl
only pretends to be kind and SYM
pathetic she is supposed to possess all
the angelic qualities.
One day Robert Carpenter asked me
to marry him. He proposed in blum
dering, roundabout way, so clumsily
that I did not know at first what he
/ a1tfan ac
fused as himself, and whether said
yes or no do not now recollect, but
he went away smiling, so | conclude
he thought himself an accepted lover,
and | had ring which put away in a
box, undecided whether to wear it or
give it back.
l don't think | expected that Gus
would hear of this and come forward
as 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
MARRIAGE replied, somewhat sharp
ly.
mo, but 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
'iPerhaps 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 ieal-
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 was not. He accused me of being
cold, and of not reciproeating 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 a painful expert
ence to look forward to.
One evening we had a quarrel. He
accused me of secret admiration for
Mr. Hayes--that | held him off hoping
Gus would come forward as a suitor,
and added, as a final rebuke, that he
and Hattie Trude had been married
the day before. He showed me 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 | relented. After all, had treated
him rightly? At last agreed TO marry
him at once. 1t was becoming the
fashion TO plan half elopement and
save the expenses and publicity of a