The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-03-30
HIS LAST STRUGGLE.

Henry Jameson Satterfield is discov-
cred leaning over the library table gaz.
ing intently at photograph in his
hand. He hears the sound of familiar
feet. Hastily sliding the picture un-
der heap of papers, he turns to greet
the newcomer with a beautifully do1e
imitation of relief. tHeo spealss.)
why, hello, Tom, old man! Glad
you looked me up-bored to death, you
know, and all that. No, you didn't in
terrupt me at all. l was just glancing
over the evening paper. Say, this Is
treat. Nobody sees anything of you
since you went and got engaged. Don't
you ever take an evening off? Lucky
she went away for the holidays or
shouldn't see you now, l suppose. No,
don't blame you. celia is lovely
girl-a regular prize-but we fellows
feel you've just about dropped US, and
old friends, you know.
"Oh, come off! l don't either know
how it is! Just because you're in love
is no reason for your fool insinuations
that every one else is, too! No, sir!
A bachelors life for me!
We'll, l can't help it If people do
gossip. A man can't look at girl
without every ones setting the we'd
ding day. I'm sure I've paid no more
3attention to Caroline than to lot OF
others. Well. howl if you enjoy it:
still, I don't see anything to laugh
about myself. She's mighty fine girl,
though, don't you think? So different
from most OF the others-seems to un-
derstand "a Fellow anu all that and 20
/ have little sense. Why, that girl
Now. see here, Tom. Can't man
speak admiringly OF girl without your
grinning that way? There's nothing
in it, l tell you. I've thought the mat
ter over long ago and you don't catch
me, running my neck into any matri-
monial moose. Why, I've been attract
ed by lots of girls and I always OUT
grew it. What If I'd married one of
'em before l came out of my trance?
What's that? Different from the pres
ent serious attack? am not suffering
from any attack, tell you.
Yes, l had Christmas dinner at
Caroline's. She knew my folks were
all away and thought it mighty nice
of them to ask me. It was her mo h
er's invitation, of course. knew you'd
say that-it's nothing of the sort. Her
mother is lovely woman and hasn't
an idea Of angling for anyone, espe-
cially for me. think it's pretty
state of affairs when people can't ask
fellow to dinner out Of simple kind
ness of heart without being suspected
of deep-laid plans. And what do you
Think? Caroline had made the mincs
pies and the salad herself. never
tasted anything like them. tell you
like to SEQ girl take an interest in
things about the house and it is all
the more creditable when she doesn't
have to. Most girls with three serv-
ants at home wouldn't be caught dead
in the kitchen. Caroline says she likes
tc cook. and fuss around. She getsiso
pink ard her hal: always rOugbs up
and curls around her ears when she
gets interes ed and excited;s so I'll bet
she looks sreat In the kitchen. She
"Oh, cut 1t out, Tom. I'm simply
telling you about my Christmas dinner.
am nor raying over Caroline. Not
that fellow would find it hard to rave
about her II he wanted to, only don't
go IL, for that sort of foolishness. Been
to any shows lately? haven't I'm
outgrowi1g those mpsical-comedy
things. They are SO tiresome. A per-
sou gets no eoou out of them, Caroline
says. She likes play that gives ysu
something 10 think about problem
plays, che calls them. 55 u &
y Say hut she has brk:ns! You ought
to have heard the line Of talk she put
Dur about the last ono We saw. She
taDk d.fIclent view Of 1T from the