Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1900-01-05

that the gay bachelor bad hand In
and soon be went away. with many
kind wishes following him.
A. he passed out Of sight. turning a!
the last instant to throw kisses to the
children. Mabel Ray, one Of the girls
who had been talking OK him. said, dis
contentedly, 10 his sister:
Il don't see what he wants to 50
away for; ! should think he might stay
here all the time-i don't think be
minds the cold
NO." said his sister; "he doesn't
mind the cold, Il In true. because he has
been accustomed to II since childhood.
Then what does he 30 fcry' pleaded
the girl. And the lady. drawing her
work baxke, nearer her. said;
Il wonder II you two girls would IKE
me 10 tell you = story. ! Will send the
children out 10 play and We VIII have
a quiet time by ourselves
The girls s!gnify!ng their delighted
assent. nestled down In the sunshine to
listen 10 the story.
III II all about brother Ben" the
lady said. half apoIogetIcaliy. Aud the
girls. like two children. answered.:
"Oh. goedy' we want TO know 90
much about him"
Fanny says he has no heart" said
Mabel. but ! tell her he has q merry
soul and lots Of courage. and that ID
nearly as good, isn't iti'
mo heart" The lady repeated the
words In a curious. dreamy voice.
We'll. let me tell you my story. and
then you shall Judge for yourselves
whether he has any heart.
Twenty years ago Ben was q boy.
counting his first score VI years gu
lifc's grea. dial. aud no happier. more
light hearted. thoughticss fellow never
lived. He was kind to everybody and
made friends every where. You remem-
her the old house down In the hollow.
surrounded with great elm trees and
wide. green fields. 1t was squire Mars.
den's old place then. and there was
not Landowner residence In town lie
had but one daughter, you knOw-Min-
ME Marsden. a pretty girl. sweet TEN.
pered. chiidllke aud afrectiOnate. She
and Hen had been school children to-
gether. and perfectly devoted to each
other ever since they could 20 alone.
They grew up and entered society
here. sud their love for each other was
m much a recognized fact a. that OF
any married couple In the place. 1
think Hen would have died for her any
fAs..t nat
his devotion. Hut when he was 90 and
she ~. and they the prettiest couple
you ever saw together. there came q
stranger TO this piace-a handsome
stylish man. with plenty Of airs aud
graces that he had brought from far
y way New York. and seemed delighted
10 make an exhibition OF In our little
seaport town. lie came upon oftic!al
usiness-something connected with
the custom house--and did not hesitate
10 announce ns frequently ns possible
that he was American consul some
where. had been appointed and approx.
I'd by high Official authority and was to
leave soon on brilliant. tour that was
TO bring him much fame and honor not
to speak OF wealth. which was a sec
ondary consideration to him.
esquire Marst,en was Immensely nat.
tered by tho attentions this magnln-
cent minister plenipotentiary paid to
his pretty daughter. and when the
man. perfectly infatuated. asked for
her hand In marriage. that she Nigh,
accompany Hun on his wonderful tour,
The old man gave him his blessing and
at once.
lie declared Hen had never said
anything TO him about marrying his
daughter. and I think II quite possible
that he never had. for they had taken
everything 80 much ms n matter OF
curse that they probably had not
paused to put |, Ia formal words, think.
nx that II was sufficiently well under.
stood without such Formally.
80 when the old man told Minnie
what he expected Of her she looked at
llm In amaxement. think the girl
MAS battered By the strangers attcn. |
i"ns. but she had not thought that
anything could possibly interfere with
,er love for Hen. and she had no
housht Of giving him ny.
hut Hen WAS proud aud sensitive. |
lie knew that squire Marsden was
wealthy and Was inclined to look down
'ion his poorer nrl.ht,ors: stili hs had |
'ut up With this. AS he could. for Min. |
,ic's sake. but now. when the old man |
'ams and told him that but for him
Minnie could make . brilliant match
'ad b. received In foreign courts as
he nst American lady Of the land.
Sen made up HE mind In an instant
md expressed II accordingly.
Minnie sis the dearest thing on
'arth to me- he said. but heaven
'nows will never stand In the way
4 her happiness Aud %. with one
'fief farewell. he left her.
Il saw them together that night. 1
'eard him talking with her In tones
hat be tried vainly to make calm aud
lrm. ! knew that with Minnie Mars.
len he gave up all hope for tho future.
saw him hold her In his artns fnr s~.. |