Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1901-12-06
The Blind Bride.
Ely Amy Randolph.

all times Of the year. bat loveliest OF
all when the relp5rs were at work in
the harvest fields and the yellow light
Of the October sun turned the wood
land paths 10 enchanted aisles. \
long. low structure OF warmly tinted
red brick. with mullioned windows
velvet-smoOth sweeps OF lawn and box
borders, which stood up like walls o.
solid emerald on each side OF the path,
it had SAVIOR of the antique about it
which one seldom sees in an American
house
And old Branie Bentley. walking up
and down in the mellow sunshine. be-
tween ;he walls Of black-green box
with his eyes bent CT the ground and
his hands Clasped behind his back
corresponded well with the Grange.
Suddenly a cheerful footsjep rang on
the stone terrace stcps-thc sound of a
clear. ilute-likc whistle rose above the
click OF the distant moving machine.
and Harry Wade, the oil mans neph-
ew. stood like an Incarnation of youth
and sunshine before MIN.
Uncle he cried morriy. you've
got the prettiest place in the world
here
Mr.. Bentley look ont his big, old
fashioned silver watch
Two o'clock" said he. and the
bank don't close until four. Humph!
! 1t appears to me. young man. that you
don't stick very close to business
hours"
Like a limpet. uncle" said Harry.
and just for today. Will Caryl has
! come to act as a substitute. for real
| ~ wanted to see you. uncle"
"Humph,' again commented Mr..
Bentley You're very fond of me
just of late,''
+ I'm always fond of YOU Uncle
Brandc." said Harry. gravely. but I've
something TO tell YOU
Some scrape you've got into" said
I Mr. Bentley
Nothing of the sort. sirn'
Want to borrow money. perhaps"
Upon my word. no.
You've fallen in love with some
/ girl. them
You are right this time uncle.
said Harry. laughing and coloring;
land. OF course. | have come directly
to you 20 tell you of my good fortune.
1t is little Bessie Bird"
a nilliner's apprenticc.' snarled
the old bachelor.
IF she chooses to help her mother
along by trimming hats in her aunts
millinery rooms, | see nothing derOg-
atory in that" said Harry. valiantly.
a mere child Of seventeen,"
But l don't want an old lady OF
forty-seven,"
"Humph," growled Mr. Bentley
What do either of you know of life?"
Not much. to be sure. uncle. az yet
admitted the young lover. but We
think we can easily learn-tCgcther"
And where do you think the nap
kins and tdbleclOths and bread and
butter and rent and water taxes are
to come FROM" sardonically inquired
BraIde Bentley.
Il have my salary. Uncle Brande. >
said Harry, land Bessie has been edu-
Gated to be very economical"
I'll have nothing to say to such
nonsense said Mr. Bentley.
But, Uncle Brande, all We want
| is"
Nothing, / Say-abSOlutely moth
! ing" thundered the cid man. Its
ly-trash-sentimenta tomfoolery.
! If you want my opinion, there it is,
Time enough for you to think of mat
rimony when you are thirty. There
ought to be law to prevent young
people making fools of themselves
And Brande Bentley turned on his
heel and strobe back into the house.
SO that Harry had no very inspir-
iting news for Bessie Bird when he met
her, as usual. on the corner of Broad
way, to walk home with her through
the pleasant autumn twilight
WAS he very crosse" said Bessie,
who was whitc-kitteny sort OF girl,
with fluffy yellow hair. dimples in her
checks. and eyes the exact color of the
"howing-blue' china on our grand
mothers shelves
"As savage as Bluebeard,"
Did he scold dreadfully?" asked
Bessie
Told me ! was FOOL
But if he won't consent"
Then we must manage TO get along
without his consent" said Harry. Be
cause, yOu know. Bessie, do love you
so very dearly. and you like me a IL,
tie. don't you?'
But your mother has always count
ed upon your being his heir said Bes-
sic. "And to lose all that money,
just
Just for love and YOU" archly in
terrupted Harry Darling. there is
nothing in all the world half so sweet
to me. or that | court half so ardently
as my little Bessie-so let there be no
further argument about it. These Jolly
old coves down at the bank are going
10 raise my salary fifty dollars at
Christmas. and so if you can get your
frock made we'll be married then And
set Uncle Brande and the world at de-
fiance, eh?"
The first November snOwstorm was
drifting its white flashes through the
air when a visitor was shown into
Brande Bentley's snug parlOr.
En- said he. "a stranger, Jones?
never see strangers"
But you will see met" said a soft
volce-and a slender, golden-haired
girl stood before him, neatly yet plain
ly dressed, her black cloak powdered
over with snow, and a specialized old
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