The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1901-06-06
Aunt Phebe's Story.


n AM WlulHS u cOuIcSs tIiiit WOuiO
have married Gus Waters at
word. He was the sort of young
man girl instinctively likes and
trusts. Perhaps this Is not the kind Of
feeling the story books call love, but /
fancy 1t is just as good.
Gus was good-looking. with strongly
marked features, rather tall, and well
built, and when he chose to be well
dressed made a good appearance. and
never looked Ill, however old his
clothes might be, when about his or
binary work. He did not depend upon
his clothes to command respect.
He had q calm. confident air, and
could express himself concisely when
he needed to assert authority. That
Is what woman likes-to have a man
able to deal with men and not be
turned aside from his purpose or make
. mistake. He was good talker. with
dne, coy Aumor. not putting himself
forward to be amusing, but easily hold
ing his own. Like most strong men.
Gus was hard to provoke to a quarrel.
though In his school days he had his
allowance Of fsticuff encounters.
Yes, l will admit I would have mar.
ried Gus had he asked me. though did
not think he was in love with me nor
with him. did not believe he would
fall deeply In love with anyone.
Perhaps was too reserved, or feared
to show a decided preference unless 1t
was shown first, though other girls said
threw myself at his head. and was
greatly chagrined when he devoted
himself to Hattie Trude. l had other
admirers. and II l was not as handsome
as Hattie, mere beauty is not every
thing. There 10 no denying that Hattie
was the prettiest girl Of our set, and
she was pretty without having to care
for her complexion or wear becoming
clothes. We girls all knew she was in
! tolerably selfish, and wondered that
the young men did not find her out.
But beauty hides great many defects
Of character, and II girl only pretends
to he kind and sympathetic she Is sup
posed to possess all the angelic quail
tiles.
One day Robert Carpenter asked me
to marry him. He proposed in blum
dering, roundabout way, SO clumsily
that ! did not know at first what he
meapt. He made me almost as confused
as himself, and whether l said yes or
40 do not now recollect, but he went
away smiling, SO conclude he thought
himself an accepted lover. and l had a
ring which put away in box. unde-
cided whether to wear It or give 1t
back.
: don't think expected that Gus
would hear Of this and come forward
- Roberts rival. He did not, at any
rate. When I met him he simply said:
"Well, little girl. 80 you are engaged
to Carpenter. He ia good fellow. but
you are young. You should have wait
ed little longer"
IAN engagement does not mean mar
riage." replied, somewhat sharply.
mo, but think 1t ought. It keeps
many young men straight to be en-.
gagged, but they ought 70 feel confident
that the girls heart is fixed upon
them"
Perhaps the girls heart has little to
do with the matter nowadays. She has
70 consider other things"
Eyes, suppose 90. But the heart ID
not to be ignored"
This was about all that was said
nothing to suggest that Gus was jeal
GUS or likely to enter the list for my
hand. Nor did expect 1t, though Cos
sips reported the contrary.
], Robert was impatient to be married
but was not. He accused me Of being
cold. and Of not reciprocating his pas
sion. Possibly all men in love are APP
to act childishly. l found Roberts at
1ntions wearisome. 1t might be SAID
Kat he would be cured Of them By
marriage, but this 10 painful expert
snce to look forward to.
I One evening we had q quarrel. n,
accused me Of . secret admiration fol
! Mr.. Hayes-that held him Oh hoping
!: Gus would come forward ~ Q sutton
and added. - . nnal rebuke, that b,
: and Hattie Trude had been marriet
; the day before. He showed mo Q pape
e with the marriage notice printed In n
Il I was % angry at the accusation tia
. at ArUt told him the engagement b
( ltween - was beoasn. Ihen ~ beea,
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