Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-03-09

something to say to you
Harry's heart thun!ped so loudly thai
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: Il
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 l have been looking for man
like you, and having found him, l feel
that l 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 get through. 1t is new
experience to me, and l 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
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, them" she said, smil
ing. Now, my dear boy, listen to me"
Go on murmured Harry.
Il believe l told you once" said th~
lady, that inherited from my grand
father a large farm. the old family es-
tate, and 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
actually been run at loss for severa;
years. | don't like to sell it, for it is
old family property, and l don't like to
keep it at an expense
Yes said the bewildered Harry.
Now said Miss Stewart, Il do
SSA d
superintendent, but could not find one
to suit me. When | came here | no.
ticed that you seemed very familiar
with farm work, and it occurred to me
that you might be the man wanted.
determined 10 satisfy myself of your
fitness for the place, and l must say
first that my investigation has had sat-
lstactory results. shall offer you the
place under certain conditions"
Madam" said Harry.
watt she interrupted, there are
certain conditions. There is a 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 a few weeks
there each summer"
your husband?" groaned Harry,
'Yes,' said the lady MIR. Lansdow
and l are to be married this winter. YOU
know, and shall visit the farm next
unless We conclude to remain
abroad for another year"
Oh muttered Harry.
i spoke to Mr.. Lansdow about you
soon after l 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 mistress"
"lndeed?' said the befuddled Harry
Yes, said the lady, and 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.
| 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 vet
so years old. You can go to see her,
OF course, but that is hardly necessary,
for she has consented. The reason l
want you to marry her is that she knows
my ways, and will be great conyen-
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 a strong
healthy young man. The whole situa-
ton came to him like flash and he de-
termined to meet it without betraying
so he asked in a businesslike
way and with but a slight tremor in his
voice:
What salary is attached to the DO
sition?'
Il 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
''Is that final decision?" she asked
in disappointed tone.
Indeed it is" he replied, "and l
leave tomorrow for Montana, where
shall locate permanently"
II am so sorry" she said, regretful-
ly, "but I must look for some one else.
l 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 Jetfries AID
their farm.