The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-29

juvenile lovelaces, who count their con-
quests by their cotillions, and think
nothing Of making a declaration in an
avandtaeux to be told Of young people
in the year together, and speaking no
word of love until they were ready to
name their wedding day. Yet such was
the sober habit Of the place and time.
So there was no troth plighted be-
tween Allen and Susie, tho the youth
loved the maiden with all the energy Of
his fresh, unused nature, and she knew
marrying any other woman than Susie
Barringer, and she sometimes tried
new pen by writing and carefully eras-
ing the initials S. NJ. g., which, as she
was christened Susan Minerva, may be
taken as showing the direction Of her
thoughts
# Allen Golyer had been less bash
you'd never have been written; for
Susie would probably have said yes
for. want Of anything better to say,
and when she went to visit her Aunt
Abigail in Jacksonville, she would have
gone engaged, her finger bound with
gold and her maiden meditations fet-
tered by promises. But she went, as
finder SO infammable as the imagina-
ton Of pretty country girl Of sixteen.
+ !. +
One day she went out with her easy
going Aunt Abigail to buy ribbons the
CLANCY Creek invoices not supplying
the requirements Of Jacksonville So
ciety. AS they. traversed the courthouse
bone's place, and Miss sus deSsn vaeranat
glances rested on an iris Of ribbons
Eet 90 in here, ope She said with a9 ths
impetuous decision Of her age and sex.
owe will go where you like, DEAR
said easy,,going Aunt Abigail. It
makes no difference"
Aunt Abigail was wrong. It made
the greatest difference to. several per.
sons whether Susie Barringer, bought
her ribbons at Simmons or Pettybone g
that day. If she had but known.
But, all unconscious Of the fate that
beckoned invisibly on the threshold,
Miss Susie Tipped into "Simmons' EN-
porium' and asked for ribbons. Two
young men stood at the long counter.
One was Mr.. Simmons, proprietor of
ths emper9m yhe sEis Th his
ma 'am9 Yes, ma ANAL sorts, ma 'am
Cherry, ma 'amf Certainly, ma am
Jest got splendid lot in from st. Louis
this morning, ma am. This way
ma am
The ladies were soon lost in the de.
light Of the eyes. The voice of Mr.
Simmons accompanied the. feast of
color, insinuating but unheeded.
The other young man approached
HHere is what you want, Miss-rich
and elegant. Just suits your style
Sets off your hair and eyes beautiful. u
The ladies looked up. A more de-
cided voice than Mr.. Simmons whittier
hands than Mr.. Simmons handled the
silken bands; holder eyes than tho
weak, pink bordered orbs of Mr.. Sim
mons looked unabashed admiration into
the pretty. face Of Susie Barringer.
duce a fellow.'
Mr.. Simmons meekly obeyed: "Mrs
Barringer, let me introduce you to Mr.
Leon Of st. Louis, of the house Of
Draper & Mercer.'
''Bertie Leon, at your SERVICE" sale
the brisk young fellow, Selling Mis-
Susie's hand with energy. His hant
was so much softer and whittier thar
hers that she felt quite hot and angr,
about it.
When they had made their purchases
Mr.. Leon insisted on walking hom
with them, and was very witty an,
agreeable all the way. He had all tn
wit Of the newspapers, of the concert
rooms, Of the steamboat bars, at hi
fingers ends. In his wandering life b
had met all kinds of people: he had sol,
, ribbons thru dozen states. He neve
had a moments doubt Of himself. n