The age-herald., 1900-06-17
Michael Burnett
BY PETRA OLSEN.
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ing, her high step. her bright eyes and
 rounded cheeks that was like a bugle call
 to the eligible men of the town, and they
 all came into line as her admirers. The fact that she was quite susceptible to the admiration she excited acted as fuel to the
 fire and kept the glow of halo around
 her pretty head. Evelyn had the art of
 keeping friendly with every one, and she
 never lost chance for attention through
 any indifference of her own. The eligible
 men of Seacastle, leaving out the young
 lawyer and the schoolmaster, were not &C., complished or brilliant men. The best of
 them in fortune and standing was per
 haps, young Captain Henshaw, who owned
 his own trading sloop, as moral and brave
 a young man as need be, but outside of his
 knowledge of sailor craft he was not cul
 tivated, and he rolled in his gait that
 he was no match for Evelyn Marston in
 the dances Then there was Ralph Jack
 son, who was junior partner and cierk-at-
 large and man-of-all-work in his fathers
 store. Ralph was fine, light-footed
 dancer; he could try on gloves for the ladies
 and he could jump over the counter with
 putting one hand in the middle of it. Nobody could be more agreeable or turn a compliment more neatly than Ralph, and certainly Miss Marston found that she had great many errands at Jackson's dry goods store and that Ralph was the best one to look over the stock and find the exact things she wanted. Besides Ralph
 and the captain there was another young
 man, Michael Burnett, who had not made
 his mark in any business or land.
 He was the son of a farmer whose parents
 were very substantial people with wor-
 thy ambition that their son should be among the best, and Michael certainly held , his head up among the best in spite of
 his VapnripS and q restless mind. which kept him from settling to any steady work. He would not be so safe man to
 marry as some others, but there was kind of dash and liveliness about him that made him a great favorite, and although he had never done any great thing every body felt that he was keen and daring and capable-and what might he not do in the future?
 These three young men were the foremost suitors for Evelyn's favor. There was tacit agreement among the three by which each one went to see her one night in the week, and no one trespassed upon the oth- CT ones evening. She made it pleasant for all, but she looked to it that no one got very far ahead of the others in his wooing. Captain Henshaw was too uncouth. Ralph too mincing and commonplace and Mich ael who was as lordy a king and as free and gay as if all the world belonged to him, had really not an independent dol lar to his name, and what girl with board ing-school ideas fresh in her mind would go and live on a farm and do the work of a dairy-maid for the sake of being Mrs. Michael Burnett? After while Captain Crenshaw dropped
 out; being often away on long voyages. he
 fell behind and contented himself with
 marrying a nice girl and llvng a very
 happy life with her. though she was no
 beauty with Evelyn who now queened it
 over two friendly rivals.
 Come back after the others are gone
 Michael" said Ralph one night as he rose
 to put up the shutters of his fathers store
 You might go out when the others do. just to get them started" he added, in con- fdential whisper, but come back after wards and we will have some fun" The group who had gathered as usual
 about the evening stove of the village store
 were reluctant to break up and start out
 into the black night and the muddy streets
 but finally the last man had gone the lights
 were eXtinguished, the door locked and the
 curtains drawn
 Then Michael Burnett tapped softly at the door and was admitted, glad of any thing that savored of an escapade, or that would break the monotony of their quiet life. Michael was glad to see that he was not the only guest whom Ralph had invited to remain. There was also present drummer who had come 10 represent large ready-made clothing store in great city.
 iHe uIuiHlIoF Had been very amusing during the evening in the store. He was man full of talk. When the three young men were by themselves he produced pack of cards and proceeded to show some ! tricks with them Ralph also produced 1 some apply-jack, which flew to their heads l on short notice Ralph and Michael were 1 not much accustomed to drinking or card playing, but not wishing the stranger to know this they put on bold front, and when he said, What shall we make the ante?' Ralph said, "Oh, any thing. The fun is all I after''
 "No fun unless we have something up," said Michael, in a free open mannes. Sc the money was put up and the nlay began. It went on hard and fast the liquor flowed freely, the money changed hands, the drummer growing lou5 and in solent under his success.
 ''Ha, ha. Sorry to return your hospitali- ty by raking in your money" he said. as l he drew in the coins that had been laid upon the table. But that is tEe E. me- | my hearties!"
 That's all right" said Ralph. But it l is getting time to shut up," he added, anX- l ious to get rid of the drummer yAo l threatened to become very disagreeable. That is so,' said Michael, measuring the proportions of the stranger and wondering what kind of a customer he would be in a hand-to-hand encounter.
 The drummer rose and lit cigar. | l that is your style of inviting me out of | your shebang of a store-all right. I am 1 just as much obliged to you if you had 1 treated me white. But time is one thing 1 let me tell you, though you can turn me l out of your store, you cannot turn me out l of your old town. 1 have seen a pretty girl l here who takes my eye, and hanged if don't stop over here and court her" Here he began to sing:
 ] Evelyn, oh, Evelyn,
 You are the girl for me, I saw it in her eye
 | As she went passing by, i l And I knew it by the twinkle, 1 And I knew 1t by the twinkle l Of her eye! af
 "What will you bet now she will marry me for the asking?"
 l 'I don't bet" said Ralph, while he and 1 Michael exchanged looks.
 "You had better stop talking that stuff ! or I'll settle you so that you can't talk : at all for awhile" said Michael. "Oh, by love. how high and mighty you 1 are! I guess she has twinkled her eyes at
 you, but she will kiss me for the asking, 1 you bet!'