The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-02-15
The Blind Bride.
BY Amy Randolph.

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Bentley Grange was a 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 i've of the antique about 1t,
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 well with the Grange.
Suddenly a cheerful footstep rang on
the stone terrace steps-the sound of a
clear, flute-like whistle rose above the
click of the distant moving machine,
and Harry Wade, the old mans neph-
ew, stood like an incarnation of youth
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 limpet, uncle" said Harry,
land just for today. Will Caryl has
come to act as a 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, p%erhaps!"
Upon my word, MOI"
You've fallen in love with some
girl, them"
You are right this time, uncle"
said Harry, laughing and coloring;
and, OF course, l have come directly
to you 70 tell you of my good fortune.
1t is little Bessie Bird"
"a miliiner's apprentice" snarled
the old bachelor.
IF she chooses to help her mother
along by trimming hats in her aunt's
millinery rooms. I see nothing derog-
atory in that" said Harry, ~valiantly.
"A mere child of seventeen
But l don't want an old lady Of
fo~rty-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 Ear 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.
II have my salary, Uncle Brande,"
said Harry, land Bessie has been edu-
Gated to be very economical"
I'll have nothing to say to such
nonsense" said Mr.. Bentley.
But. Uncle Brande, all We want
is"
Nothing, l say-absolutely moth
ing!" Numbered the old man. Its
Observation-Disclosures 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 a law to prevent young
people making fools of themselves"
And Brande Bentley turned on his
heel and strobe back into the house.
So hat Harry had no very inspir-
iting news for Bessie Bird when he met
her, as usual, on the corner of Broad
way, to walk home with her through
the pleasant autumn twilight.
"Was he very CROSSE" said Bessie,
who was a white-kitteny sort of a girl,
with fluffy yellow hair, dimples in her
cheeks, and eyes the exact color of the
"flowing-blue" china on our grand
mothers shelves.
"As savage as Bluebeard!"
did he scold dreadfully?" asEed
Bessie.
Told me I was a fool"
"But if he won't consent"
"Then we must manage to get along
without his consent" said Harry. "Be-
cause, you know, Bessie, I do love you
so very dearly. and you like me a lit
tie, don't you?"
"But your mother has always count
ed upon your being his heir" said Bes-
sic. And to lose all that money,
just"
"Just for love and you," archly In.
terrupted Harry, Darling. there IL