The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-02-19
MAKING A BRIDE.


She was modest and unassuming wo-
man.
During these busy years have paid
every dollar Of the 5000 1 agreed TO, and
the farm is now mine.
She smiled demurely upon me, but
made no comment. so I continued.
You have been a participant in all the
! details of my domestic life
Certainly, Mr.. Bolingbroke." And she
! turned a curious gaze on me Tor the
| first time.
I may as well be plain and say at
once that. in the vernacuiar Of the shire
| where 1 lived, was an odd stick. How
| friends sufficient.
I would like TO take walk over the
farm, and be accompanied by you. other
matters not interfering / said
Other matters will not interfere. she
responded in her unobtrusive manner.
We were soon on the way, and ! COM
mented on all we saw.
Five hundred acres: $4,000 a thOus-
! and dollars for every 10 acres; and, Hell
enette. the place is mine.
You have done remarkably well in 50
short season You deserve much
praise"
But money is not everything. There
is one lack. The earthly picture cannot
be complete TO me without it. Can you
)
I No
| Il want a wife,
We both paused then, but her counte-
nance did not change.
"A wife?' she asked, in a matter-of-
! fact manner. You seem TO be very
happily situated now; yet the right kind
/ of a wife would be useful addition 10
the farm. Yes, YOU should marry"
Il thank you, Helenette. Your advice
| has always been good. I shall consider =.
| carefully"
| BY this time we had returned to the
| house. and as she walked in. leaving me
outside. I thought, When I take my new
wife, Helenette will be the best help in
| doors that 1 can secure"
| From that moment I began paying more
attention to dress than I had done, and
with such success that l congratulated
| myself on my general improvement.
never was rated a modest man.
one day I dressed myself carefully.
I harnessed up my finest team and prepared
for journey. Helenette stood at the
door to see me off.
'Helenette," I said, I'm going to town
/ may be gone a week; / may be gone a
John will keep the farm in running or
der, and on my return hope TO introduce
you TO your future mistress"
/ cluclzed TO the horse, without waiting
for any reply from Helenette. To my
dying day l shall never forget the
strange look that came into her face. 1
gave il scarcely a seconds notice, how
ever. but dashed down the two-mile road
leading to the village.
Going TO town. Neighbor Boiingbroke?''
Looking over my shoulder 1 beheld Mr..
Dayson, a well-to-do farmer, who lived
a mile below my own farm, coming with
his fine span OF grays, the beams Of health
irradiating from his countenance.
''Yes-Im wife hunting" I said, face
tiously. refining to one side that he might
pass.
No, keep on; I'm not bound for the
village today; 1 turn toward Mr.. Darts
at the next corner. But, my dear Mr.. 30
lingbroke, YOU have left the woman you
want behind"
What do you nean?"
'.Helenettes the wife for you She's
economical, capable and your more than
half in love with each other"
Cannon! She thinks of nothing but
her work
Go back and find out if I'm not right
Why, you ought to marry heri She's
helped to buy the farm
My neighbor drove on leaving me TO
ponder over his words. 1 remembered
tae look on Helenette's face as 1 drove
away. What if it should be
ideuC. 0dNa you tell me now IaF II is
10 Gordon Bolingbroke'
I looked up to see a gentlemanly look
ing person standing in the road.
why do you wish to know"
Il want 20 see his housekeeper Hell
enette Rathburne. Having decided to
take wife, I intend to make her a pro-
posal.'
4 was dumbfounded for minute; then
I said CURLY:
one mile from here. Take the first road
that leads to the right. Good-day. sir"
l touched my horse testify with my
whip, the result being that / found my
self in the ditch, my tie out of gear. my
watch chain broken. For a while I knew
nothing, then somebody sweetly asked:
Are you feeling better, Gordon?"
It was the voice of Helenette.
Better? What's the trouble?'
Don't you remember being thrown
from your team a week ago?'
oh, yes, l remember; but that was
only a few minutes SINCE
You have lain here nearly seven days"
And where am 1. pray?"
In your own house. in bed"
In bed? What for? I'm going to get
up"
Gordon, listen. You are not yourself
You received a bad conclusion of the
brain, and have at times been violent
l had to have some one to take care Of
you
I raised myself in bed: beside me sat
the man had met on the road.
What, You here2" ] exclaimed.
Yes. begging your pardon. Mr.. Boil
ingbroke. If I were not you might now
be q dead man.
It all began gradually to come back to
me.
7 see you found my housekeeper."
said. significantly.
oh. yes.
And have you proposed marriage to
her?''
''No-I couldn't do that"
"Why7"
She is my sister, told you I had a
proposal to make. So I had. But IT was
not what you thought"
1 stared first at one and then at the
other. Heienette was smiling, but looked
at me earnestly.
What mystery IS this7" I exclaimed.
NO mystery at all. Nv sister ard
left our poor home five years since To
seek our fortunes. she going in one dfrec-
ton and I IN another. the agreement be-
ing that neither OF US should wed until
success crowned our efforts. Well I am
established il business. and came 70 ask
her 20 help ne get my house ready for
my future wife.
II am glad Miss Rsthburn IS your
sister
50 am T. she IS a treasure When
YOU marry she VIII como 70 live with
ne. That. also. was in the agreement
Never, I've been = fool Heleuette
vii you have me- It's YOU I wanted al
along, only oidr.'t Know t.
Helenette made some de-nur. bat q
nally promised 10 remain Gn the farm as
us mistress. And II s1y one wants % see
a - -rrrrT ra.as
az Gordon BoiInsbrake s.-Buffalo Re