The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-01-30

When the Ilarkins family moved to
New York TO spend the fortune they
had come into as a result oil the dis
covery Of oil on the old farm. Miss
Mabei Harkins left her heart behind in
the keeping OF TON" Bellows. Bel
lows hated 80 see them so. but he was
well established in the practice OF law
at Tutronyille, and 1t would have been
folly Tor him to give up his business
merely that he might be nearer the
girl
Mabel wrote to him every other day
and the letters never showed that the
glAre and glamor of the city had made
any change in her feelings.
ED Armitage, proprietor Of Tutron-
vl-.e's leading dry goods emporium,
went down to the metropolis three
months after the Harkinses had left.
to buy his fall stock Of goods, and had
brought back disqueting news with
him.
There's a fellow named Van Tassel
fooling around Mabel all the time he
said to Tom" "and think you had
better go down as soon as you can and
give him a run for BIS money. He's
big, tall, handsome guy with a red
mustache, and he seems to be badly
stuck on his shape. They say he
comes from one of the old Dutch fam
lilies and his pedigree may make a hi.
with Mabel Anyway, you mad better
go down and look after your fences"
But Bellows couldn't get away from
his work until July Meanwhile the
letters from the girl continued with no
diminution of warmth Of feeling, and
bellows was wise enough not to say a
word to her about what he had heard.
At the same time the story made MIN
uneasy, ana he was happy one evening
carly in July he wired Mabel that he
was on his way to New York.
Mabel was at the station to meet
him, and he made up his mind at once
that Van Tassel was a myth invented
to bother him. He found a hotel close
TO the Harkins mansion, and after
leaving his things went over to the
house to take dinner with the family
So far as he could see he was on the
same old footing and he was even more
reassured.
But at $50 o'clock came a ring
at the bell and the lnnounced Mr.
Van Tassel When anne into the
room tom" saw at once he had a
dangerous rival.
Van Tassel was a tall, athletic look
ing fellow, handsomely dressed, and
bearing himself with that all-conquei
ing air which ceems to impress most
women. Bellows was forced to admit
that Van Tassel was handsome man
aher his style, and when he heard him
talk ne realized that he was ny
against hard game
Apparently Van Tassel was well ac-
Quainted with all the fashionable peo-
pie in New York. He spoke OF them
Familiarity, and before he left that
evening he had invited the whole Har-
hns family to take a run up to New
port with him on the Fall River boai
the next day.
Mabel explained that Mr. Bellows
was her guest and couldn't accept al
invitation to Newport while ne was II
the city. Bellows. Of course, urged he
not to think of him He would b'
there for ten days and she must no
deny herself the days pleasure on hii
account. But Van Tassel was not tC
be outdone in generosity. He insisted
that Mr. Bellows must go with them
and It was finally arranged that th
whole party including the elder mem
bers Of the Harkins family, shoul'
leave the next morning on the Puritan
Van Tassel met them at the pier an
Immediately took entire charge of tn
party. He had engaged srateroom
ana dinner and showed himself to b
cn..rely capable, if somewhat onicious
In the morning he escorted them to
hotel on the seashore, whGse ne ha
engaged rooms, and after breakfas
piloted them in two carriages Groun
the ocean drive, while they admire
the marble palaces and wondered a
the ruins Of the old mill.
Van Tassel had so arranged it tina
Bellows found himself in the rear car
rage with Mr. and Mrs Hawkins
while he sat in the front carriage be
side the beautiful and impresse
Mabel Bellows began to feel that h
had a poor show against Van Tasse
The class was too fast for him.
At II o'clock. after they had g
back to the hotel. Van Tassel propose
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