The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-01-02
A GERMANIC EPISODE

NOeaCAN
sitting room.
Howl she queried, in a matter Of
fact tone that the disconsolate young
man resented.
You needn't speak of it as if it is al
everyday occurrence" he grOwled.
Don't get mad, dear" his sister said,
patronizingly. Zone is never surprised
when a young fellow does foolish things.
1t is only what we expect of youth
YOUTH calculated Ned. Hear the
girl talk, and she my twin sister, too.
When did you become old and wise, pray
tell?''
''Oh, dear, don't be sarcastic, Neddy
boy: you are too young for that. OF
course l am not any older than you. but
then I'm married. and that makes such
difference" and Mrs. Stewart assumed
matronly air that added to her beauty:
But come, dear, tell me the trouble. L
hope it isn't money. You are not in
debt?'
mo, hang it. 7 wish it was only
money, butt Ned added. sitting up, Its
a woman, Man.
BLESS the child" exclaimed his sister.
really frightened, as visions of elderly adj
her mind. ''What woman"
WELL [ mean girl"
ooh" came from Mrs. Stewart, with
sigh of relief, land who may it be this
time?" with a provoking accent on the
word ''this.''
"As if | ever cared for any girl except
Nora Welden," cried Ned, indignant at
the implied doubt as to his fidelity.
Zone doesn't necessarily have to be an
imbecile to be in love with Nora Wei
den," replied Nan. ''She's the dearest
girl 1 know, and I'd love to have her for
u sister,"
WELL you'll never have her. Ned
q ,<,Y,ar
his sisters death warrant.
HAS she refused you, dear?" she
asked kindly. Maybe she doesn't mean
it. I'm not sure that 1 said yes to
Phil at first. I'm sure she likes you.
Ned. Perhaps you were too abrupt and
she said mo- before she really thought
That's the worst of it, Nan. / didn't
exactly propose; and now I've hxed IL, 1t
so | never can,' and something very like
a groan came from the depths OF the
pillows.
eff you didn't propose, how do you
know she won't have you?
well, found out beforehand that she
did not care enough for me- just yet.
But that's the worst Of it. She might
have learned to if | hadn't spoiled all
the chance
Ned" said his sister solemnly, you've
done something you're ashamed Of. Tell
me this minute what it is"
Il suppose | might as we'll TESS up,
Nan, and tell you all about it, for Nora
is sure to, anyhow. You know I've been
awfully gone on Nora for months, but |
never was quite sure that she cared for
me. OF course she's always glad to have
me over there and to 60 out with me,
and all that, but never could tell wheth-
er she would be willing to let matters
go any further or nOt-and-and -"
"You expected her to come and tell
you without being asked put in his sis
ter, sarcastically. go on"
q story the other day that put an idea
into my head. 1t seemed such a fine
scheme that l made up my mind to try
Did you find it in The Complete
Guide to Lovemaking? Nan inquired,
escape the scornful look in her eyes.
You see there was fellow in the
same boat with me. He was awfully
gone on girl, but didn't know whether
she was-er-gone ON him, you know.
And SO to find out if she was, he up and
told her all of a sudden that he was GO
ing to be married, and it turned out that
all the time she was gone on him, and
when he sprung the news ON her with
out any warning she just up and tainted.
OF course he caught her in his arms.
When she came to he told her he was
and it all ended beautifully" Ned con-
Guided, with a CHASTITY grin.
Edward Stiles Briscoe," his sister ex-
claimed, do you mean to tell me that
you tried that with an intelligent girl
with brains? But go on, let me hear to
the bitter end"
when we got back from the golf links
this afternoon Nora asked me to come
in and have a cup OF tea. I'd rather
take medicine, but she looks so deucedly
pretty when she's concocting the stuff
that I've drank gallons of it just for the
sake of looking at her,
Mrs. Stewart smiled approyingly at
this little burst of sentiment. and thus
encouraged, Ned proceeded with his sor
rowful tale
1--WE went in the house and she started
the little teakettle to going and while
she was waiting for the water to boil she
commenced talking about Minnie TRAY
er's elopement, and then 1 saw my
chance and said, I'm going to be mar
ried in the spring."
A groan from his sister was her only
comment did she faint?' she asked
scornfully.
Faint! I should say not. 1t didn't
go a bit as it did in the story. Just as |
finished, before [ ever had a chance to
look at her, she dropped teacup smash
on the hearth, and such a fuss over a
bit OF china you never saw. She got
down on her knees and picked up every
tiny speck. She wouldn't let me help
her. Kept saying, Don't come near,
you might step on piece l thought
she'd never get the pieces collected, but
she finally did and brushed the hearth,
and when she stood up I'll be hanged if
her eyes weren't full of tears. and all
over a silly little cup. 1t looked like an
ordinary little affair to me, but Nora
said it was keepsake-some fellow gave
it to her, | suppose. After she tried
several times to fit the pieces together
she seemed to remember that [ was
there, and said. as cool and unconcerned |
as you please, ooh, weren't you saying
something about getting married?' 1 i
said Yes rather weakly, and then she
put me on the rack by calmly congratu-
lating me. And Lord, the questions she