Amador ledger., 1904-10-21
HER IDEAL
MAN
By OHIO B. sENGA
Copyright, 1901, by T. c. McCh.re


the girl who wrote stories.
every sweet" assented the school
teacher
"And subdued," added the editor,
laughing.
mo one says anything about the
groom's appearance mine," grum-
bled the best man, "and 1 came all the
way from Nebraska just for this we'd
ding"
''You looked quite like a Bostonian,
1 assure you," said the girl with the
violin consolingly.
GAS for Mr. Adams, he looked just
as he always does, all bones and
brains,'' asserted the schoolteacher
''I admire that type immensely"
The westerner was not tall and was
somewhat inclined to stoutness.
"My cousin Abe is an undeniably
brainy man." he retorted But be-
lieve me, Miss Selwyn, some slight
covering of adipose tissue over the
bones is not incompatible with intel
tectuality."
Mr.. Converse?" interposed the artist
pacifically.
81 did intend to leave Boston tonight
but have found that my ranch needs
a mistress. l shall remain week
longer and hope to persuade some one
to go with me-"
The words were uttered laughingly,
but there was n significant look in the
keen gray eyes that betrayed his ear
nestness of purpose There were vary
ing exclamations of surprise from six
of his hearers. The seventh remained
scornfully silent The others looked
from one to another Quest1oningly.
When eight young women have lived
together for year and one Of the num-
Der has just departed with the bless
ing Of the pastor and the shower Of
rice devised by Satan 1t is not un,
natural for the others to wonder,
''Who next?"
"You promised to show me the beau
ties of the library, Miss Selwyn," said
Converse, turning to the silent one.
Can we go tomorrow"
after 1 O'clock" she replied quiet
ly, but her dark eyes met his with
look of understanding and defiance, "if
you will wait until the next day, Sat
urday."
1--WE will go tomorrow" he decided
quickly.
''How can you spare the time for
sightseeing, Mr.. ConverseT' queried the
artist teasingly. 81 should think you
would want every hour of the week for
your wooing"
81 shall waste no time in my sight
seeing" returned Converse, with mark
ed emphasis, land you must under
stand that western wooing Is less
deliberate than is usually considered
necessary in New England. There are
no 'superfiuous women in Nebraska,
and with us it's a case of learn your
fate at once and get out of the way to
make room for the next man."
$50 these are the famous paintings
of Puvis de Chavannes," remarked
Converse the next day, bestowing a
very hasty glance at the mural dec
orations at the Public library. "They
are doubtless all that you have said of
them, Eleanor, but they really have
little interest for me just now. want
to talk with you. You are disappoint-
ed in me, Eleanor"
Miss Selwyn's pale face flushed pain
fully.
"It was very good of you, Dick, to
keep the secret. 1 have never told the
others that 1 knew you before you
went west or of our silly correspond
ence."
II don't call it silly" he said stoutly
''The only foolish thing about it is that
I did not come for you long ago. You
were only fifteen when left Vermont
That is fifteen years ago, and
"Heavensp' she cried hastily. Don't
remind me of my age An old maid
schoolteacher, suppose you're think
ing"
Nothing Of the kind. 1 was about
to say that in all those years I have
never seen any one who made me for
get you, Eleanor. If only you felt the
same toward me-
"But l don't Dick" deprecatingly;
'you-you have changed"
mot in my heart, Eleanor
She opened a small portfolio and
took out faded photograph. "See,
Dick, this is the man l love"
He looked at it curiously and laughed
softly.
"The boy, you mean. l must have
been about twenty then. Pretty little
fellow, wasn't 1? Aren't those curling
locks poetical?"
She put the picture away hastily.
'FYou had the soul of poet then"
she cried resentfully
THAT is twenty years ago. Eleanor,
and I've had some hard battles with
the world since then. The poetry liz
pretty well battered out of me, l con-
fess, but you might go home with me-
and put some poetry into my life once
more"
at couldn't be, Dick. You are too
too
"Say it. Eleanor-too fat, I suppose
you mean"
'Not exactly" desperately, "but you
are too prosperous and too well salts
| fed"
Il admit the prosperity, and 1 have
no reason to be dissatisfied. 1 really
thought, until 1 saw you again, that I
needed nothing more to make my life
full and complete. Now 1 want you"
Every afternoon and evening for the
next four days he pleaded, demanded,
argued-but to no avail. She admitted