Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-06-25


When explained to him that she had
headache, and did not wish to be dis
turbed, he exclaimed, what ais all the
girls today Anything the matter with
you, Rosa2 If there isn't, put OIL your
bonnet and I'll show you the city, for 1
am resolved upon riding with somebody"
AS my aunt made no objection was
soon ready and seated by the side Of
Herbert in the light vehicle, which he
drove himself / think he exsrted him
self to be agreeable, for l never saw
him appear 80 well before, and In my
heart did not blame my poor sister for
liking him, az | was sure she did. while
at the same time | wondered how he
could fancy Ada Montrose. As il diva
ing my thoughts. he turned suddenly to-
ward me and said Rosa, how do you
like Ada?"
Without stopping to reflect, replied
promptly Not at all"
Frankly spoken" said hs and then
for several minutes he was silent, while /
wns trying to decide in my own mind
whether or not he was offended, and |
was about to ask him when he turned to
me again, saying: I'VE are engaged
did you know ltT'
| replied that l had inferred as much
from the conversation which | had heard
between her and Miss Marvin, saying
further, for his manner cmboldened me,
that II was surprised, for | did not think
her such a one rs he would fancy
Neither is she" said he, again relaps-
ing into silence. AT last, rousing mp, lie
continued, II must talk to somebody, end
as you seem to be n sensible girl, | may
as well make clean breast, and tell you
all about it. Ada came up here from
Georgia last spring, and the momont
mother saw her she picked her out for
her future daughter-in-law. | don't
know why it is but mother has wanted
me to get married ever since | began to
shave. | believe she thinks it will make
me steady; but | am steady enough now,
for | haven't drunk a drop in almost
year | should, though, if Ada Montrose
was my wife But that's nothing to the
point. Mother saw and liked her | saw
her, and liked her well enough at first,
for she is beautiful. you know, and every
man is more or less attracted by that.
They say, too, that she Is wealthy, and
though | would as soon marry a poor girl
as rich one, provided | liked her, l
shall not deny but her money had its in
fuence with me to n certain extent. And
then, too, it was fun to get her away
from the other young men who tiocked
around her, like bees rounod honey jar.
But, to make a long story short, we got
engaged-heaven only knows how; but
engaged we were, and them" Herr
he paused, as if nearing a painful sub
ject, but soon resuming the thread of his
story, he continued: And then | stopped
writing to Anna, for | would not be dis
| IN ha oil
The question was so unexpected, that
I was thrown quite off my guard, and
replied: "Of course she did who wouldn't
feel mortified to have their letters un-
answered."
"'Twas wrong | know" said he. 81
ought to have been man enough to tell
her how it was. and / did begin more
than dozen letters, but never finished
them Do you think Anna likes me now,
or could like me, if l was not engaged
and she knew I'd never get drunk
again?'
Could he have seen her when first she
learned that his affections were given
to another he would have been sufficient
" answered; but he did not, and it was
not for me- | thought, to enlighten him;
so | replied evasivey, after which he
continued: "As soon as | was engaged
to Ada she began to exact so much at
tention from me, acting so silly, and APP
pearing SO ridiculous that | got sick of it,
and now my daily study is how to rid
myself of her; but | believe I've com
menced right. Can | make a confiiant
of you, and feel sure you'll not betray
me to any one, unless it Is to Anna?"
| hardly knew how to answer, for if
it was anything wrong which he medi-
tated. did not wish to be in the secret,
and SO ! told him; but it made no differ
ence, for he proceeded to say: 81 shall
never marry Ada Montrose, never; Meth
er would it break her heart if | shouldn't
for she's more than half tired Of Inc
, now"
thought Of the dark stranger and felt
that he was right, but l said nothing,
and he went on: Sometimes | thought
I'd go up to Sunny Bank, tell Anna Eli
) about 1t, ask her to marry me, and so
settle the matter at once; but then l did
' not know but she might have grown up
raw, awkward, and disagreeable, SO
, devised a plan by which | could find out,
Mother would burn her right hand off
believe. TO save me from drunkard' s
grave. and when | wish to win her con
( sent to any particular thing, all have to
no 10 10 lHTeHlSu HtI VIII lhc Wine cup
e "Oh, Herbert! how can your | ex-
e claimed, for l was inexpressibly shock
ed.
: It's way I've got into" said he
n laughing at my rueful face. And when
u u l suggested that Anna should spend the
i winter here, limited to the old lady that
{ if she didn't consent, I'd go off with q
!, party of young men on hunting excur
II sion. OF course she yielded at once, foi
c she well knew that II | joined my former
boon companions l should fall"
And so we are indebted 20 you fol
- our winter in Boston," said 1, beginning
to see things in a new light.
"Why, no, not wholly" he answered
II mother consented much easier than
IS supposed she would. The fact is, he'
q changed some since she was at Sum.
'r Bank. She's Joined the church. an,
TO though that in my estimation don
re amount to much, of course, she has to
vi better, for it wouldn't answer for pro
e, lessor to put on so many airs"