River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-03-03

she SdlO.
Let us sit down, Harry. / have
something to say to YOU"
Harry's heart thuniped so loudly that
he thought she would hear it. 1T
is coming" he murmured under his
breath
They sat down side by side She was
silent for moment, and then said: i
scarcely know how TO begin, for the mat
ter of which desire to speak is very i'm
portant"
Harry was tempted to slip his arm
around her waist, but he restrained
himself, and she went on: For year
or more | have been looking for man
like you, and having found him, feel
that / can go home happy, provided, OF
course, that you accept my proposal.
Dear lady" began the besotted
lover, but she stopped him by saying:
wait till l get through. 1t is new
experience to me, and | want to finish
| without interruption"
Please go on" whispered Harry.
She turned toward him and said.
clearly and distinctly: Il want to know
| first, Harry, if you have any objection
to getting married.
His head swan at these words, and
he caught at the fence to keep from fall
ing to the ground. She was tapping
F! the lower step with her foot while wait
| ing for his answer, which after several
efforts he made in these words: Moth
! ing could make me happier
1T is all right, then" she said, smil.,
ing Now my dear boy, listen to me. "
go on" murmured Harry.
Il believe l told you once" said the
! lady, that l inherited from my grand
father a large farm. the Old family es-
! tate, and a part of the fortune he willed
me-"
Il had forgotten" whispered Harry.
Well" she continued, that farm has
| been worry to my trustees and to me,
! for the man in charge of it is an ig-
norant, incapable person, and it has
years. | don't like to sell it, for it is
old family property, and don't like to
keep it at an expense"
YES" said the bewiIdered Harry.
Now" said Miss Stewart; II de-
termined some time ago to hire a. new
superintendent, but could not find one
to suit me. When l came here l no.
ticed that you seemed very familiar
with farm work, and it occurred to me
that you might be the man | wanted.
determined to satisfy myself of your
fitness for the place, and l must say
first that my investigation has had sat-
isfactory results. l shall offer you the
place. under certain conditions"
Madam" said Harry.
wait" she Interrupted, there are
certain conditions. There is com
| Portable house on the farm which you
must occupy, but rooms must be re-
served for my husband and myself, for
we shall probably spend few weeks
there each summer"
Your husband?" groaned Harry.
EYES," said the lady. "Mr. Lansdow
and l are to be married this winter, you
know, and shall visit the farm next
summer unless we conclude to remain
abroad for another year"
oh" muttered Harry.
II spoke to Mr.. Lansdow about you
soon after | came here, and he ap-
proved my plan, but he made sugges-
ton that l think wise. He says you
ought to get married. The farm will
need a mistress"
"Indeed?" said the befuddled Harry.
YES, said the lady, land while test
ing your fitness for superintendent,
have been arranging to secure you a
wife. My maid, Nora Jeffries is willing
to marry you and help manage the farm.
l have written to her. left her at home,
you know, for there is no room for her
here. You will like her, | know. She
is not pretty, but she is strong, indus
trious and good tempered, and not yet
80 years old. You can go to see her,
of course. but that is hardly necessary,
for she has consented. The reason
want you to marry her is that she knows
my ways, and will be a great conven-
fence to me when visit the place in the
summer"
Harry was love sick, of course, and
the destruction of loves young dream
was great shock, but he was strong,
healthy young man. The whole situa-
ton came to him like flash and he de-
termined to meet it without betraying
,, himself, so he asked in businesslike
way and with but slight tremor in his
voice:
What salary is attached to the po-
sition?'
81 am paying the present incumbent
$50 month" she answered, "but shall
pay you $780,
you are very kind, madam, but
l cannot accept your Offer
as that final decision?'' she asked.
in disappointed tone.
Indeed it isl he replied, land
leave tomorrow for Montana, where
shall locate permanently
81 am so sorry" she said. regretful-
ly, "but must look for some one else.
suppose"
They went to the house. When she
came down to breakfast in the morn
ing he was gone.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lansdow sometimes saw
the name of Harry Moulton in the pa
pers as one of the leading men of the
west but they probably never thought
of him as the same young farmer who
had refused to marry Nora Jeffries AID
manage their farm.
thought and even partial insensibility,
which are not infrequently observed
few hours after meals in chronic dvs-