The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-11-01

never gave much thought to 1t. | real
Iy don't suppose that anybody would
have me if / did" He bit %contemptu-
ously and looked innocently at Miss
Molloy, with something of i%nterroga'
ton in his glance.
oh" cried Miss Molloy, that's
rubbish, and ye know it. There's a
thousand that would jump at ye.
suppose now. that ye never looked on
me as Il matchmaker. But | am, ana
I'm wan of the most determined we
ever encountered. I've quite made up
me mind, Mr.. Billery. I'm going to
find a charming young lady for ye, and
I'm going to make a match between
we. Now ye're warned, and yen see
if I'm not as good as me word"
Il don't know" said Billery. 81 sup
pose that I'm an incorrigible. If
hadn't been, you see, | should have
thought OF it at one time or another,
but | never did"
oh, Mr.. Billery," cried Miss Belle,
raising both hands with a protesting
laugh.
Il never did, upon my word" Billery
declared. I'm getting on for forty. 1t
never occurred to me to think of it be-
fore, but | suppose that by this time
I'm a confirmed old bachelor.
A dreadful fascination seemed to
bold Miss Cole rooted TO the spot.
But just think of it," urged Miss
Nolloy. Think of the lonely and des-
o,Gte old g ye're preparing for your
self. I've heard ye say that we've not
a relative in the world"
Not ore Billery answered. at is
rather "A cold outlook when one comes
to examine it. But then, you know,
Miss Molloy, there's an old proverb
which says that what's sauce for the
goose is sauce for the gander. And II
that's true you'd naturally suppose
that what's sause for the gander is
sauce for the goose. You've chosen a
life of single blessedness for yourself
so far. You ought to take a line OF
your w counsel, you know, Miss Mol
10y, and have pity on some one among
the signing scores. There must have
been hundreds of them first and last
Faith, then" said Miss Molloy, with
perfect candor and courage, I've not
seen them. No, Mr.. Billery. The
for the gander is not the sauce for the
goose. The goose has to wait till the
gander asks her; and, upon my word,
he's such a gander in me W poor
-.z:...D tInt no utnp't do IL -
You'll never get me to believe
that" said Billery, gallantly.
will | not them" asked Miss Belle.
There was a young lieutenant OF
foot, with twopence a year for his in
come beyond his pay; and a widowed
curate with a family; and a person
born and brought up in the stables,
who'd have found me very moderate
little fortune come in handy, and-oh.
there's a list, 10 doubt, but it's not
worth thinkin' nor talkh' about. But
it's not my fate we're arranging, Mr..
Billery, but your own. Ye really ought
to think about it seriously, and not
lose time"
Miss Cole had disappeared. She
was within earshot, and Miss Molloy
knew it, but Billery knew only that
Miss Molloy and he were alone.
We'll, possibly he said, Il might
have done, once upon a time, but
you've known me a long time, Miss
Molloy, and we're very old friends by
now, and | can speak to you seriously,
can't |? There's a very good reason
why | should never ask any good
woman to share my life. | am one Of
the worlds failures. You know why
But that's all over" said Belle, lay
ing a hand on one of his. That's
lone with for good and all"
Il, wish it were" said he; Il wish it
were. There's dear old Truscott been
shepherding me for months past, and
I've been making him a promise from
month TO month, and once a month he
lets me have my beastly way for a
single night, and then he starts me off
anew. and | pull through somehow"
Well" said Belle. with a half sigh
and half a laugh. do you think a wife
wouldn't do that for We as well a. Mr..
Truscott?"
She might" said Billery, IF | could
find one woman in a Million"
"Ye don't need a woman in a mill
ion," cried Miss Molloy. mo. Nor a
woman in a score. Why, I'd do as
much as that meself, or I'd know the
reason why" She laughed as she
spoke. The laugh was tremulous, but
she carried it through bravely.
Would you. by Jove?" asked Bill
cry, with a sudden seriousness. by
George. now, il you only would. But
there. I've no right to take a girlish
joke like that and turn 1t into earnest"
"Ye'd best not ask me that again, il
We want to save your liberty, | can
tell ye,' cried Miss Belle.
NO" said Billery. But would you?
SeriouslyT
Deed. l would, then" returned
Miss Molloy.
WELL cried Billery, "I'm a lucky
beggar to have found a friend like
that. You-you lei it?"
"Oh. I mean It," said Miss Molloy.