The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-03-23

Il 49,
l was horribly embarrassed and I'M
comfortable, but he was as nice a.
possible.
| "Of course" he said, when / had
finally managed to make myself clear,
I've no wish but to make Alberta
happy, and if she wants sage-green
carpets, and-er-other things, she
can have them"
| That was dear of him. / no longer
wondered that Alberta wanted to
marry him, even though he did laugh
| at art and wear horrible neckties. And
| when he thanked me-actually thanked
! me for coming there for meddling in
what certainly was no affair of mine,
could almost have married him my
| self.
Then he suggested something that
| fairly took my breath away. Il
| haven't" he said, "the faintest idea
how to set about getting the things
you mention. Perhaps you could man
age it for me?"
| Obi" l said.
Perhaps" he went on, "you could
furnish the house while we are away,
and have it ready as a surprise Tor
| AiDerta when we get back?"
1t was a great responsibility. OF
course. Still 1 thought l could do 1t.
The other girls would help me, and
we could always fall back upon MT.
Farquhar for advice. We wrote to
him, and he selected most OF the
| things and sent them to us.
When we had finished, Alberta's
home was a perfect dream. There
never uad been anything like it before
in Pc Aaington, and l don't believe
there ever will be again. l knew Al
berta would be just wild with JOY
when she saw it. The night before
the day she was expected home hard
ly slept a wink for thinking of her
surprise aid delight.
The next morning l did perfectly
dreadful thing. l did so want to see
her in the moment when she first set
foot in her new home that l went to
the house little before train time
and established myself in a place
where l could see and hear, but not
be seen-unless / wished.
1t was just as l had expected. When
Alberta came into her lovely new
high-art home she was positively
speeches.. Then she turned to Mr..
Wyntoun and asked, with q little
catch in her voice: "Who did it?"
"Why, Miss Burton" he said. "And
ln;doc,ooo;dc holnod Mr. Far
quhar, also, I believe. It's all right,
isn't it?"
yes" Alberta said, slowly. Its
very artistic" she added.
Then she flung out hef arms In a
funny, passionate little gesture, and
caught her husband by the shoulders.
my DEAR" she cried, "if we begin
by deceiving each other, we'll never be
happy together, never In this world
Tell me the honest truth, now. Do you
like all this?"
"You know, my DEAR" Mr.. Wyntoun
said, 81 always like whatever you
do"
Now, surely, an answer like that
ought to have satisfied any reasonable
girl. But it didn't suit Alberta.
That's not answering my ques-
tion," she said. Honest and true,
now, do you like all this?"
l felt sorry for poor Mr.. Wyntoun
Like our illustrious first president, he
evidently couldn't tell a lie" He
got red, and stood first on one foot, then
on the other, and opened his mouth
and shut it again without saying a
word.
But Alberta was memorable. "Basil!"
she said, severely.
And Basil, being cornered, spoke his
mind. 81 think it's pretty dreadful, !"
he said. Then he looked as though he
expected Alberta to slay him on the
spot.
But Alberta did nothing Of the sort.
She fell upon him and kissed him.
"Oh," she cried, 81 was so afraid you
were going to fail me. Don't you
know that one of the things l love
you for Is your liking chromos and
red carpets, and lovely easy chairs.
For | like them, too; only l haven't
had the moral courage to say So"
This from Alberta! But l hadn't
time to be disappointed in her, | was
so busy listening to what they said
| next.
But what will we do with all these
things?" Alberta was demanding,
tragically.
ooh, we'll make them over to Miss
Burton" Mr.. Wyntoun said. And l
thought he chuckled family.
Now, high art things are lovely to
look atm somebody else's home.
But I'd never before tried to mag
inc what it would be like to try to eat
a comforting dish of ham and eggs
or a humble slice of gingerbread in a
| dining-room like the one l had fur
nished for Alberta. And as for get
ting into a high art bed with ones
hair braided in IL tight little pigtails
| so that ones pompadour would be
| wavy the next day-Oh, it wasn't to
| be thought of!
l gasped twice, then l stepped from
my hiding place. 81 hope you won't
think me ungrateful," said. Really,
I'm ever so much obliged. But if it's