The suburban citizen., 1900-11-24
9TH were silent for a few mo-

Bessie, you seem TO thlnk that
continue to ask you to marry me for
the sole purpose Of annoying you, but
It is simply impossible for us to be as
you suggest. love you too deeply to
live near you always and be merely
your friend. 1 want you for my wife,
and viii try very hard to make you
happy. Bessie, dear, won't you put
aside all that foolish nonsense and
say you will marry meT
mo, no, HarryY' the girl said petu-
lantly. 81 have told you over and
over that am not ready to marry any
one, that want to see a little more of
life before 1 settle down. l like you,
Of course, more than anybody else, but
don't think love you"
"Bessie do you love any one else?"
"Now, that is absurd! You know l
don'tl How could 1? l have never
seen a dozen young men outside of the
town boys. Then, besides, haven't
! gone everywhere with you ever since
we were childrenp
YES" responded Harry, "and 1 al.
ways thought you would marry me
when we grew up, and now you have
a silly idea about romance or some
other tomfoolery. What do you want
a fellow to do, Bess? We can run
away and get married if you say So"
Nonsense replied the girl What
would be the use Of that, when your
parents and mine are only waiting for
us to come to an understanding, as
they express it, before buying a farm
for us? Oh it Is just too humdrum
for any use-always living in the same
town, always going together, never
quarreling, with absolutely nothing to
make life worth living"
well, Bess, might make love to
Clara Martin or Minnie Butler, and
give Hal Burns or some Of the rest Of
the boys a chance"
Don't trouble yourself to make love
to any other girl, just to give Hal
Burns a chance with me-" Bessie said
somewhat stiffiy, for l have fully de-
! cided not to marry any one in Potosi,
unless he can do something out of the
ordinary, something heroic, to show
his love"
"Oh," interrupted Harry, II might
set fire to your fathers house, so that
/ could rush headlong into the flames
and save you, or l might bribe old
Bob to tip the boat over the next time
you go fishing, so 1 could jump into
the water, catch you by the hair and
drag you to the bank But suppose
my plans should miscarry, and the
hired man should precede me into the
burning building and rescue you, or,
worse still, that baldheaded old Jeed
Blunt should prove the best swimmer,
and should arrive just in time to see
you, all dripping and fainting, in his
! arms, while it became my duty to
save black Bob By Jove, Bess, be-
heve you'd marry that old skinhint,
Just because he had proved himself a
hero and saved your life"
Don't be silly, Harry" laughed
Bessie. "Do be serious"
Serious! l never was more so in
my life. Come, Bess, promise me be-
fore you go away, won't you"
"No, Harry, l will not be engaged
to any one before l visit Aunt Sue.
But as soon as l return will give you
my final answer"
"Well," sighed the young man, 81
shall have to be content with that, but
/ do hope you will have done with all
this romantic nonsense when you come
back"
A few days later, when the young
| girl left her home for visit of several
weeks in the Far West, sad hearted
/ young man fingered a few moments
on the station platform, gazing wist
fully at black speck fast disappear
ing down the valley.
This was their first separation, and
Harry strOlled back toward the bust
ness section of the little town, feeling
strangely depressed.
AS Bessie waved her hand in final
adieu to her father and Harry she
experienced a sudden feeling Of loneli-
ness and regret at leaving her play
mate and lover. But her attention
soon became diverted to the other pas
sengers in the car, and she began to
speculate upon their possible destina-
tiOn.
She noticed a valise and umbrella
on the opposite seat of her berth, and
as no one had yet appeared to claim
them, she grew curious as to the
owner.
After the conductor had examined
her ticket and berth check, and there
seemed nothing more to do, Bessie
took off her hat, and, making herself
as comfortable as possible, became in
terested in the passing scenery. A
couple OF hours had elapsed when a
young man, whom she had not before
seen, came out Of the smoking com
partment and sauntered slowly down
the aisle. He was a handsome fellow,
his travelling cap, pushed jauntily
back, and one hand In his pocket, CIV
Ing him the appearance Of a college