The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-06-17
Marrying a ClOd

SS~S~SSS~~N~G~N~~
~ ODFREY PRIME was a very
WS7 rich and successful merchant
He had no wife, and but one
chtid--a daughter-whom he adored.
and upon whom it was his delight to
lavish every thing she asked for, II
money would buy 1t.
Annts Prime was very beautiful. and
she was, beside, girl Of considerab bic
sense; too much, indeed, to be easily
satisfied In her choice of husband.
She had many suitors, but none of
them suited her.
One day the merchant came home to
MS splendid mansion, looking like a
ghost he was so pale. His hair had
grown several degrees whittier since he
went away in the morning.
Going to his private room, he locked
the door and loaded his pistol.
IF l kill myself" he said. "Annis
VIII be obliged to marry some one of
her rich admirers, because she win
nave no home without. | could never
endure to live, and see her suffer the
mlserles of poverty which her rear
ing has SO lily fitted her to bear"
Then he took the pistol in his hand
and looked at it calmly.
Shall l blow out my brains. or
shoot myself through the hearth" he
said.
You will do neither, II you please,
papa" said Annis herself coming for
ward from behind the curtain of a
WINDOW In which she had been sitting
ever since he entered the room, what
Is the matter? Why do you wish to
kill yourselfW
Annis," said the merchant, sadly.
ever since your mother died I have
uved only for you. All cared to get
wealth for, was for you But Of late
have been unfortunate. l stand TO-
Gay on the verge of bankruptcy"
well, am sure that is bad enough.
without killing yourself" said Annis,
do you imagine oh, foolish papa! that
all the riches of the world could make
UP to me the loss Of you"
The merchant started, and looked
down as II ashamed. Then he opened
his arms wide, and his daughter few
into them.
Promise me this moment, papa,
she said, that you will never, never
Ghink of such wicked thing again"
My darling" answered the mar-
chant with emotion, II never will,
Now you must make me a promise, T
can stem the tide think, a month
longer-posslbly six weeks. l should
not care for myself, how soon the
crash came. II could see you provided
Tor. VIII you not, In that time, choose
yourself husband from all who are
90 anxious to marry your"
Annts made a face. Then, see,ng
how anxious her father looked. she
said:
I'm honestly try, papa. But who.
ever choose must know the truth
about your affairs before | will marry
him."
Certainly" said her father; "but 7
am sure 1t will make no difference.
You are too sweet and beautiful to be
loved for anything but Yourself"
Upon the following evening, when |
Annis received company, she made a
careful toilet.
She was blue-eyed blonde. and
she wore pale green tissue of silk
Topped with water lilies and sea grass.
eS and water lilies in her yellow.
floating hair
she looked a siren; but no siren was
ever so Indifferent to the homage law
ished at her feet.
One after another they came-tbe
tall, the fair, the dark. She looked in |
blue eyes, and she looked in black.
but not heartbeat quickened even
when the handsomest man In the
room bowed low before her, and mur-
INJURED fattering words In honeyed
tones.
All would not do. She felt a posi.
tive aversion to some OF them, and
having got into foolish habit of hay-
ing everything she wanted, because
Of her fathers indulgence, she could
not reconcile herself to the idea OF
marrying man for whom she did not
care half as much as she did for her
pet canary.
When the month was nearly up, dur
Ing which the merchant, while he wait
ed anxiously, said nothing. Annis
spoke.
Papa" she said, you are worth a
dozen Of them. had rather live in