Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-04-21
A GIVE-AWAY

But you never come out to this quiet
suburb unless you have an object"
"Object! What object?"
Irene looked a trife disappointed.
Haven't you heard?" she asked.
Heard! Heard what?"
"Oh, pshaw! l asked your object in
coming to Fernwood. You certainly
| did not come to make a formal CALL"
'Well, then, my dear, since you will
/ have it so l came out to congratulate
you on your engagement to my most in
innate friend" And l gave my sister a
smack.
''Were you surprised?"
Surprised? Of course | was sur
| prised. Sandie always said he wouldn't
marry a girl with money; that he
wouldn't play second fiddle to any wo-
man. He must be desperately in love
with you"
A happy look came into her eyes, and
warm color slowly spread itself over
| her cheeks
| "You heard it FROM
Him. He has already asked me to
be his best man-to give him away and
all that"
''The best man doesn't give the groom
away. The groom isn't given away at
all. It's the bride"
''Well, I'm quite sure" with a mali
cious twinkle in my eye, ''that Sandie
said something about giving him away.
Perhaps it was not to give him away"
''What?'
l f,.oy
from pleasure to pain that l gave over
being facetious temporarily and said
seriously:
Il suppose you are quite aware that
Sandie has nothing but his profession?"
Il know that. It's fortunate have
something. But tell me-had you any
inl1ling of it,"
My trouble has always been tend
ency to joke people. had very much
suspected Irene's and Sandie's love af-
fair but 1 preferred to give her the OPP
| posite impression. Since that time /
have learned that l never could give
people a direct answer. l must always
be misleading them. But l didn't real
ize it or the folly of it till later
''Not the slightest suspicion" 1 said
in reply to her question
'That's queer" she said thoughtful
ly. ''You are Sandie's most intimate
friend, and people must tell their love
to those nearest them"
Men differ about that; women must
! always have a confidant"
'And he never praised me to you?"
| ''NOt that | remember Still waters
run deep, you know"
There was pause, during which
Irene was evidently doing a good deal
of thinking.
''When did you first suspect?" she
| asked presently
Last fail. when I met Sandie at the
station on his way out here to see you
l was going to Pinnacle That was
let me see-the LIST Of November |
remember the date because l had to
go to Pinnacle on that day to attend
court Sandie when he saw me looked
Disconnected. where are YOU bound
for, old manY I asked TO Fern
wood he stammered. coloring. What
you got in your hand% | blurted. not
thinking Of the ruden2ss of the ques-
ton. Flowers lie replied. Then I
began to see that I was tramping
about in a bed OF budding plants.
Goodbye shouted as l dashed off to
get my train"
While | was giving this little episode,
to which Irene listened breathlessIy,
marked change came over her features.
There was. a growing expression of
pain, which settled down, after l had
finished, to hard, cold, rigid look
IF Sandie asked you to give him
away" she said, "you have certainly
accommodated him in the most friend
~ manner. 1 was at home on the 1st
Of November. No Sandie appeared.
Lou WeStcott doubtless received the
call and the flowers. What 1 suspected
is now confirmed Sandie wished to
marry Lou, but she is poor, and he
gave her up for me-"
She stalked out Of the room, turning
only to say: "I'm awfully obliged,
Bert, for giving Sandie away. You've
done me the greatest favor of my life"
''Hold on, Irene! 1 made UP most of
that story. It's true l met Sandie at
the station, but never asked him
word'-
There was no use finishing, for
| heard a door bang upstairs.
"Well, I'll come out all right" said
to myself. ''There'll be a tiff, Sandie
will explain, and they'll kiss and make
up" Thus comforting myself, l left
the house and returned to the city. On
| arriving l went straight to Sandie's
! roOms-for 1 felt anxious-but didn't
find him. The next day l went to his
office, but he was not there. | didn't
see him till another morning, when |
met him on the street.
He gave me a dead cut. joined him
to have it out.
whats the matter, Sander"
''What did you give me away for?