The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1903-01-16
Cradle or Grave.

~ oRS. ARMSTRONG'S modest lit
lkxfl tie home was ablaze with light
0OAThe proud lady was giving a
small dance to celebrate her only sons
homecoming from college; and Teddy
why. he was the happiest young fell
low in the worldI And why not? Had
he not Just emerged from the univer-
sity with colors flying, and was he not
about to ask the girl OF his heart to
gladden. his hearthstone for lifef
His mother had said to him during
the day: Don't be too sanguine, Ted
DIV. for Helen has been accepting at
tentions from Mr.. Hawtrey during the
last few months, and he is rich and
world-weary, and just the sort OF man
to fascinate a young girl fond of fiat
terry and position"
"Helen loves me, I'm sure" replied
confident Ted land, besides, she would
not sell herself"
"Well, my dear, 1 hope you are not
TO be disappointed, but the ways or
the girl-of -the-period are beyond me-
You remember Mabel CoulterT
"Oh, Mabel was firt," broke in
that she would marry the man she had
led on; but Helen-I only want her
word that she'll wait until I've made
my future sure. She's true blue"
AS for the young lady herself, she
felt sure that Teddy Armstrong would
propose that night; and, though she
confessed that her heart was In state
of commotion when she thought of
him, still it would be awful nice to be
Mrs. Bruce Hawtrey and live in the big
mansion, have all sorts of luXurles ana
travel in Europe.
And Mr. Hawtrey. He was wild
over, old enough to be Helen's father,
and was voted to be something of
cad. 1.-The little Vernon fly" he had
remarked, has lots of go, and young
wife would be a novel plaything, now
that my clubs and life in general are
getting to be something of bore
The guests had all arrived. and ev-
erything was very jolly. Helen Yer
non. Mr.. Hawtrey and Ted were Gov
Gritty watched by all, as gossip had 1t
that both men were dead set on Win
ming the pretty belle of M.
One rotund dowager leaned toward
her neighbor and remarked: Teddy
is so young and Hawtrey so old that
if seems n race between the cradle and
the grave" accompanying her words
with a mirthless laugh that made the
sentimental young matron she address
ed. and who hoped that young Arm
strong would be victor, nervous.
Hawtrey, who, to do him justice,
was not so near the grave as the old
gossip implied took more of Helen ;
dances than good form allows, and
also assumed an air of prOprietorship
that made the younger man wild. He
forgot everything, and resolved, i'm
petuously to have it out with Hawtrey,
quite improperly forgetting that the
blose gentleman was his mother 5
guest and entitled TO every courtesy.
After his rivals second dance with
Helen. Teddy approached him and said
with sort of challenge in his voice:
Come upstairs. Hawtrey. l have
some capital cognac in my rooms. ia
like your opinion of it,"
"Done my boy" replied the older
nan suavely.
Scarcely had they reached the rooms
when Teddy began hotly:
Now see here. Mr.. Hawtrey-"
But he got no farther. Hawtrey
placed one hand on the fiery boy S
shoulder and observed coOlly:
Il know what you would say; but
let us not be impolite or hasty. She's
mine if she will or she's yours If she
will. Go in and win her, if you can
Remember I'll show you no quarter
'alrs fair in love-"
But she loves me, she's only daz-
zled by your money" asserted Ted
with amazing frankness.
Il don't care whom she loves; it is
whom she will marry that interests
me-" answered the older man, with a
cool stare.
by heavens, would you marry a
girl that only"
Il would marry any girl to whom
took a notion. if the mood pleased me
Love is an Old-fashioned commodity
Ask Helen. Mr.. Armstrong, when you
get a chance; mean to, during this
next dance"