Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1901-11-02
SIT WISH, Mary, that you would

tell young lnSalls TO make MS
visits less frequent" said Mrs.
Carlen to her daughter as they sat
in the parlor of their Washington
residence one afternoon.
"Why, mother, what is the matter
with Charlie? You surely can find no
fault with the visits of an old friend OF
ours like he is"
"As long as they are only friendly
visits it does not matter, but last night
he stayed till everyone else was gone.
Count Villeroy even spoke of it to me
and asked if he were q relative"
Count Villeroy, indeed! What is it
his business?"
"The count is sutton for your hand,
Mary, and he is likely to be offended
by the lover-like attentions paid you
by Mr.. Ingalls,"
1.-THE count may be sutton, as you
say, but he is wasting his time. l
shall tell him so the first opportunity"
"Mary!"
Eyes, ] am old enough to know my
own mind, and i declare that l will
never marry that little French ape"
81 am ashamed of you, daughter; he
is q French nobleman, and if you refuse
him You will offend your father"
II do that in some way every hour"
said Mary, $50 it doesn't matter"
There is Charlie now," said Mary,
as the bell rang, and she ran into the
hall to meet him.
Mrs. Carlen was the wife of west
ern congressman serving his first
term. He was rich and was what is
known as an accidental statesman.
That is, his election was the result of
an accident, and both he and his wife
determined to improve the opportunity
by negotiating a brilliant marriage
for their daughter. They had selected
a visiting French count for son-in-
law, and the affair had proceeded so
far that even the amount of the brides
dover was agreed upon.
Mary was not q party to the plan,
for she was in love with Charlie In
gals, who lived in their home town,
and who would graduate the next year
from the Columbian Law school in
Washington. His studies were at this
time somewhat neglected on account
of the presence of Mary in the CAPT.
tai.
Mrs. Carlen was provoked over her
daughters obstinacy, and determined
. to give Ingalls, to understand that he
was no longer welcome at the Carlen
home.
She opened the subject at once when
he entered the parlor, piloted by Mary.
"Mr. Ingalls," said she, after the
usual greetings, "as an old friend of
the family, want to tell you of Mary's
engagement to Count Villeroy."
Ingalls, looked at Mary. She pursed
up her lips and shook her head.
.'What barber shop is the count
working in 2" he asked, seriously.
what do you meanT" asked Mrs.
Carlen. frowning.
Nothing" replied ingalls,, "only.
have noticed that all the French counts
are BARRIERS and walters, or the like"
Absurd"
"Oh, if Mary loves him it is all right,
for a barber may make a good hus-
band. you know"
"If your remarks were made in his
presence he would punish you Sc
verely."
81 don't get shaved in his shop, SO he
viii have no chance at me-" said In
gals, laughingly. 'But what do you
say to walk. Mary?"
+. an be ready in five minutes" and
she darted upstairs.
Now, Mr.. ingalls," said Mrs. Carlen,
after Mary had gone, II do not desire
TO play the cruel parent, but must in
sist that your visits to Mary cease. She
shall marry the count, and you must