The Lamar register., 1901-12-18
The Blind Bride.
BY Amy Randolph.

e>c.sc.r.1.t.r:.:Y.r. .r.r.I:r.Isro:roocI:cSJ
Bentley Grange was pretty place at
all times of the year, but loveliest OF
all when the reapers were at work in
the harvest fields and the yellow light
of the October sun turned the wood
land paths to 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 of
solid emerald on each side of the path.
1t had a SAVIOR of the antique about 1t,
which one seldom sees in an American
house.
And old Brande Bentley, walking up
and down in the mellow sunshine, be-
tween the walls of black-green box,
with his eyes bent on the ground, and
his hands clasped behind his back.
corresponded well with the Grange.
Suddenly cheerful footstep rang on
the stone terrace steps-thc sound of
clear, nute-like whistle rose above the
click of the distant moving machine,
and Harry Wade, the old mans neph-
ew, stood like an incarnation OF youth
and sunshine before him.
Uncle" he cried merrily, you've
got the prettiest place in the world
here"
Mr.. Bentley took out his big, old
fashioned silver watch.
1.-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 limpet. uncle" said Harry,
| land just for today. Will Caryl has
come to act as a substitute, for ] real
| ly 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
Brande." said Harry, gravely, but I've
something to tell you"
Some scrape you've got into" said
Mr.. Bentley.
| Nothing of the sort, sir!'
Want to borrow money. perhaps!"
| Upon my word, MOI"
You've fallen in love with some
girl, then!''
You are right this time. uncle"
said Harry. laughing and coloring;
"and. OF course, 1 have come directly
to you to tell you of my good fortune.
1t is little Bessie Bird!"
"a milliner's apprentice!" sparled
the old bachelor.
"If she chooses to help her mother
along by trimming hats in her aunts
millinery rooms, l see nothing derog-
atory in that" said Harry. valiantly.
| "a mere child of seventeen"
But 1 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, as yet"
admitted the young lover, but we
think we can easily learn-together.
"And where do you think the nap
kins and tablecloths and bread and
butter and rent and water taxes are
to come from?" sardonically inquired
Brande Bentley.
81 have my salary. Uncle Brande."
said Harry, land Bessie has been edu-
Gated to be very economical"
"I'n have nothing to say to such
nonsense" said Mr.. Bentley.
But, Uncle Brande. all we want
is"
! Nothing, I say-absolutely moth
ing,' thundered the old man. ITS
observation-disclosures tomfoolery!
If you want my opinion, there 1t Is!
Time enough for you to think of mat
rimony when you are thirty. There
| ought to be a 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 cross?' said Bessie.
who was whitc-kitteny sort OF girl,
with fluffy yellow hair, dimples In her
J cheeks. and eyes the exact color of the
flowing blue" china on our grand
mothers shelves.
LAS savage as Bluebeard!"
did he scold dreadfully?' asked
Bessie.
Told me 1 was fool"
But IL 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 IT.
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