The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-04-21

tudicfous. gushing epistlc. l could hardly
telrain from Laughing aloud and naturally
thought now different it was from tho
nee sensible one had dispatched to Miss
.ieieh GoldroN that afternoon, wherein |
had politely added thai / would call for
my answer in a couple of days-on the fol-
lowing Sunday in fact. Easter sunday
bliki1ls locke the whole thing over. and
men. looking up at me obviously. asked:
say, Old fellow, do You think this is an
right: Isn't it just-er-just a triie-er-
s%trons?'
1T was all | could do to keep from
laushinS right at him, poor chap. bur I
restrained myself and said in an injured
tone: ~
Ihats The usual thanks a fellow gets
for helping a friend out"
On, say. old chap. | didn't mean that"
ne said, apoiogizing profusely. "Of course
us all right IT YOU say so'-thi even
more obviously.
o course it is / answered eaylv. and
then | stayed until / saw him put it in
am envelope and send it out to be posted.
III was a great lark. l thought. as
strolled home afterward, and when Easter
Sunday came | spruccd myself up to wait
upon the sweet and wealthy Helen. to
whom L thought, after | had been ac-
cepted. l might tell the farce, and. as
she always exceedingly enjoyed a joke.
after she had playfully chidcd me for be-
ing SO cruel, l was quite sure to have her
JOIN me in a hearty laugh at poor Bifkins'
expense.
made my way to the Goldrox mansion.
aHd being admitted waited in the parlor
several minutes for Helen to come down.
Having to wait was unqucstionably a good
sign, thought i; girls always like TO put
IL lew finishing touches on their toilet
before they come down to meet their
future husbands, and l was rather glad
she made me wait.
When she did co,ne Gown she didn't act
llist as I'd hoped she would-that is, she
didn't come nesting into my arms or any
thing of that sort. But then, thought /.
Helen always a sensible sort of girl and
wasn't very apt to do that sort of thing.
so we just shook hands and ] sat down
on the sofa, but instead of joining me
tie'ei took a seat in one of the chairs
that stood quite near to the sofa, Sut vet
not near enough to be comfortable.
! confess L was slightly embarrassed for
a moment. but recovering my self COM
mand | softly whispered:
'Hclen. I've come in person to urge what
l asked in my letter of proposal and. hon
estly, sincerely trust that you care suf-
ficientlN for me to trust your future han
piness in my hands,
Helen didn't speak for nearly a minute.
when. sinking her voice, she said; BE
licve me. Mr.. Hardup. 1 am equally sim
cercly sorry, and l should have written
you. only | didn't know how to put it.
but the very next day after your pro-
posal l received another. so passionate.
so tiattering. so-oh, so bcautiful"'-and
her eyes lit u~p-"that, though 1 nave al
ways had a most friendly regard for Won.
! could not resist-the gentleman who
wrote the other proposals passionate.
beautiful pleading. and l wrote him a let
ter accepting him by return mail. IL
l h., wan. l,,rt 10, -.1
aWfullN sorry. but then there are any
number of other really nice girls. and
and and then no doubt fearing she
might put her foot in it Helen said no
more.
L sat half dazed for a moment, and
then summoned up enough courage to
murmur, May l ask the sentlemans
na1nc?'
YES" she answered timidly; its
Mr.. Bifkins.''
l was almost tempted to burst out
laughing. | thought it must be Il joke.
But instead L merely murmured, And
you care SO much for him?"
thought much about him before
Il received his proposal, but
when | read that, so fiery. so kind, so
full of burning admiration, my eyes
seemed to open and read my heart Alright.
and in Observation-Disclosures and fervor of
the moment j sent him my reply"
After that l didn't stay to hear much
more, and as | went down the front stairs !
l didn't know whether l ought to laugh
or feel sorry.
Bat as l went up the street and the
of that ludicrous letter filled
With the imbecile gush and farce comedy
herotcs that l had dictated for Bifkins
back 10 me and l came to consider
Helen Goldrox had taken the Laura
Jean Libbyian sentiments AS Serio,,s ,rd