Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-03-01
Copyright. 1908, by Lee and shepard.)
CHAPTER NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

CHAPTER XXVIIl.-CONTINUED.
The climax of the fun came in the
evening, however, for Angie, always
thoughtful, had invited little party of
her oldest pupils to help entertain Mar
tins nieces and nephew, and the house
was turned almost topsy-turvy by
"Blindman's Buff "Puss in the Cor
ner," Groceries" and finally a game
of Button" in which even Aunt Com
fort and Aunt Lorey had to join. The
limit of rollicking fun was reached
in this, when the latter was called
upon to pay forfeit by kneeling in
the middle of the parlor floor and
measuring six yards of tape with
Meier This performance produced
shouts of laughter on all sides, but it
is doubtful if Meier enjoyed it.
There was one slightly ludicrous in
! cident however, for Martins mother,
who was somewhat deaf and had some
how understood that her son and An
gle were engaged, went to her at the
close of the evening and offered con-
CALCULATIONS in an unnecessarily loud
tone. Her intent was kindness itself,
tears to Angie, and no one informed
the old lady to the contrary. Neither
did any one consider it needful to do
SO, or that the outcome was anything
but a foregone conclusion
And so it was, for there are some ad-
justments in life so absolutely COM
patible and so evidently in harmony
with the law and sequence of events,
that no will can stem the current.
Happiness and a union with the man
Angles heart had never once swerved
from, were forcing themselves upon
her, and with her will or against her
will, no. alternative was possible 1t
may be called divine law or the law
of natural Selection--nO matter; it is
one and the same, and a power that
has covered this dear old world, this
queer old world" with countless happy
homes, and filled its isles and fields
and groves with joy supreme and the
sweet ripping laughter of children
Love was hers by that same divine
right, happiness for others meant her
own, and what was hers she could not
escape, even if she willed. More than
nature few men can either understand
or appreciate controlled her and forced
alteration.
Something of this was voiced by
Aunt Comfort that night when the
guests had been packed away and she
and Angie were alone
II hain't spoken on t afore," OBJ
served Aunt Comfort, "but l hope you
an Martin won't put off gettin' mar
ried too long. Thar amt no need on
7 now, and yer both old 'nough. N
I'D like ter see ye happy, ez l blieve
ye will be, an then thar's property
reasons. Ye mustn't expect DR.. Soils
goin' ter look arter them matters now
that yer nat'ral pertecter's come back. -
why, We are not even engaged
yet" answered Angie, with emphasis
land | told him / wouldn't be so long
as you need me, as know you do
''Why, Angie, I'm s'prised," came the
somewhat severe answer 81 don't
need We half so much as We do him
and we've both on We waited Ions
enough. If ye want to make me hap
by, We must consider my wishes il
fthio ihultCi, duu WOu NC Happy III
the day is sot n I've seen We two
made one. l amt alters goin to stay
round here. n then thar's yer father
How do We callate to take keer o. hin
alone in the world n 'thout a man."
1t was different viewpoint and ON
Angie had not considered. To her
duty seemed to live singly and do TO
those dependent, without dividing he
own thought and love, or assuming
wifely cares-in short to get alon
without man.
81 am not anxious to be married,
she said firmly, after duly weighing
what Aunt Comfort had said 1T /
serious step. and if Martin cares TO
me, it won't hurt him to wait fey
years. l have grown well used to
single life, and am quite content with
out him. AS for property, why, tn
mills and Mizzy lands won't run ava,
and you and / have got along yer
well so far Besides, there's my fathel
as you say. only your idea of my dut
and his need is different from min
Martin is going to take you and m
% him in the spring, he says"