Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-09-12
1ltAh ~,
: Her, THREE SUITORS

By..:lGERALDINE KEMP

V~V'Vs v"v'V V"v'tSVvvVVF
eph B. Bowles)
Courtney encountered few :olk on his
pleasant road to the farm. A couple
of farmers-a rosy-cheeked child and
an old woman were chiefly those who
crossed his path. The old men babe
him good evening; the little girl smil%d
at him, and the old woman as she
passed let fall with elatter the
bundle of sticks she had been gather
ing in the wood. She was very bent,
very gay, and very wrinkled; her face
encircled in big rusty black poke
bonnet. She was muttering and moan
ing strange things to herself as Dan
Courtney passed her by.
But as her mutterings grew more We
hement, he halted, threw her a coin
and s, passed on again.
Had he glanced round at the old
withered 4poke-bonneted woman, he
would have seen that a tear had glis-
tened in her eye.
Il am very tired" she mumbled,
"and the bundle is so heavy"
Permit me to carry it for you,' said
a voice, some minutes later in her ear
Walden, for it was he, stopped and,
Notwithstanding her protestations.
raised the bundle to his shoulder.
Where do you live?" asked Walden,
keeping pace with her feeble steps.
Near the wood" came the high
pitched, sing-song reply. Near the
wood"
You are too old to work.
Bread must be baked and fires must
be made"
DO you live alone?"
Granddaughter Mary lives with me
now"
Granddaughter Mary ought to as
sist you to gather the fuel for yc.lr
fire."
Mays young and goes a-sweet-
heartin'."
when you were young did you go a.
sweetheartin'
She nodded assent and hobbled more
briskly forward.
"Show me where your home u.s." he
said. Il should like to inform your
granddaughter Mary that it would be
more profitable to her if she cared less
for her sweetheart and more for her
grandmother.
"rwould be little use," quoth the
grandmother. She's young and it's but
natral.''
Natural to be thoughtless?" queried
the prince Have you ever been out
of Dovedale?"
She shook her head.
Then Dovedale is your world" He
drew long, long breath, as though
the idea was sitting.
-Four walls and bread to eat, a hus-
band, and children to rear" cried she
What more do a woman want?"
And you have been happy"
Never so happy as now!" exclaimed
a clear. ringing voice, and before Wal
don could recover from his astonish-
ment the old dame, with truly mar
Vicious agility, had vanished-whithe1
he could not say.
"Phrygia!" called Walden, flingine
the sticks into a hedge and following
the narrow side path Phrygia mus,
have taken. At the end of the path
| was a small wicker gate, and passing
through it Walden came unexpected
ly upon low, matched, rose-covere6
| cottage.
After waiting several minutes the
door opened and some one came swift.
ly towards him. No other, indeed, thar
Phrygia-no longer wrinkled, old anG
bent; but in her most captivating Of
summer attire; the simplest of hats
upon her bronze-gold hair, and the
| daintiest of blue ribbons around he1
slende: waist.
| Miss Dean," exclaimed Walden
bowling low, when will you cease t.
be everything that is bewildering ant
enchanting?"
Mr. Waldon," answered Phrygia
with a responding obeisance, 'whe1
will you learn to be anything but chiv
alrous and manly? What have vol
done with my kindling wood?"
Il threw it away to follow you."
ITO follow me?"
ITO the end of the world" he added
earn estly.
She coquetted a moment with he
ribbons and laces.
M. Courtney must have arrived a
the farm by now," she said. II hop
Lavinia will entertain him nicely
Shall we not 60 to Sweet Briar, toe?
Walden hesitated.
ION one condition." he said.
(Which 1s-?''
THAT Dan Courtney returns to tow
this evening with Harry Bond"
us that what Harry intends to do?
demanded she.
lis he not a wise man."
Very" she acquiesced. why d.
you not return also?"
II lack his wisdom truly, but can
not"
But if it is my WISH"
IF it is your wish,' he said, &C
obey" and he turned quickly on hi
Indeed, it Is not my wish" sh
cried. "stay, Mr.. Walden, and com
with me to Sweet Briar Farm. MI
Bond maybe wise; Mr.. Courtney de
termined, but you--you are chivalrous
I am content with what l have seen
Will you stay?"
Silently he bent to kiss her out
stretched hands, and they passed fror
the little cottage into the sunlight to
gether.