The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-02-23
The Blind Bride.
BY Amy Randolph.

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Bentley Grange was pretty place at
all times Of the year, but loveliest Of
all when the reapers were at work in
the harvest fields and the yellow light
of the October sun turned the wood
land paths to enchanted aisles. A
long. low structure Of warmly tinted
red brick, with mullioned windows,
velvet-smooth sweeps of lawn and box
borders, which stood up like walls of
solid emerald on each side of the path,
it had a SAVIOR Of the antique about it.,
which one seldom sees in an American
| house
And old Brande Bentley, walking up
and down in the mellow sunshine, be-
tween the walls of black-green box,
with his eyes bent on the ground, and
his hands clasped behind his back,
corresponded we'll with the Grange.
Suddenly cheerful footstep rang on
the stone terrace steps-thc sound of a
clear: flute-like whistle rose above the
click OF the distant moving machine,
and Harry Wade. the old mans neph-
and sunshine before him.
Uncle" he cried merrily, you've
got the prettiest place in the world
here"
Mr.. Bentley took out his big, old
fashioned silver watch
Two O'clock said he, land the
bank don't close until four. Humph!
1t appears to ME, young man, that you
don't stick very close to business
hours!"
Like a linpet, uncle" said Harry,
and just for today. Will Caryl has
come to act as substitute, for ] real
! ly wanted to see you, uncle"
"Humph!" again commented Mr..
Bentley. You're very fond of me-
just OF late!" .
I'm always fond of you. Uncle
Brande,' said Harry. gravely, but I've
something to tell you
Some scrape you've got into" said
Mr.. Bentley
Nothing of the sort, SIR.
Want to borrow money, perhaps"
Upon my word. no."
I
girl, them"
You are right this time, uncle, %
said Harry, laughing and coloring;
"and, OF course, have come directly
to you to tell you of my good fortune.
1t is little Bessie Bird"
"A miIliner's apprentice!" snarled
the old bachelor.
III she chooses to help her mother
along by trimming hats in her aunt's
millinery rooms, see nothing derog-
atory in that" said Harry, valiantly.
"A mere child of seventeen"
But l don't want an old lady of
| forty-seven!"
''Humph!" growled Mr.. Bentley.
What do either of you know of life? ?"
Not much, to be sure, uncle, as yet,
admitted the young lover, but we
think we can easily learn-together. .
And where do you think the nap
kins and tablecloths and bread and
butter and rent and water taxes are
to come FROM" sardonically inquired
Brande Bentley.
Il have my salary, Uncle Brande, y
Gated to be very economical"
I'll have nothing to say to such
nonsense" said Mr.. Bentley.
But, Uncle Brande, all We want
Nothing. / say-absolutely moth
ing" thundered the old man. cts
olly--trash-sentime tomfoolery!
If you want my opinion, there it is!
Time enough for you to think of mat.
rimony when you are thirty. There
ought to be law to prevent young
people making fools of themselves
And Brande Bentley turned on his
heel and strobe back into the house.
So that Harry had no very inspir
iting news for Bessie Bird when he me-
her, as usual, on the corner of Broad
way, to walk home with her through
the pleasant autumn twilight.
Was he very cross ?" said Bessie
who was whitc-kitteny sort of a girl
with fluffy yellow hair, dimples in he
cheeks, and eyes the exact color of tn,
flowing blue china on our grand
mothers shelves.
"As savage as Bluebeard!"
did he scold dreadfully?" as.-et
Bessie.
Told me was a fool"
N "But IL he won't consent"
Then we must manage to get alonl
without his consent" said Harry. BE
cause, you know, Bessie, / do love 70,
] so very dearly. and you like me 2 lit
tie. don't you?" q
But your mother has always count
ed upon your being his5heir, " said Bes
sic. And to lose I'll that money
) just z 4ss t35
"Just for love and YOU archly 8
], terrupted Harry. rDsrling, there !