The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-11-02
THE
Bl'angWyn Mystery

of the last men in the world to be
content with permanent solitude"
II don't know" said Billery. Il
never gave much thought to 1t. real
ly don't suppose that anybody would
have me if did" He bit contempt,l-
ously and looked innocently at Miss
Molloy, with something of interroga-
ton in his glance.
"Oh!" cried Miss Molloy, that's
rubbish, and We know it. There's a
thousand that would Jump at We. l
suppose now, that We never looked OH
me as & matchmaker. But I am, ana
Pm wan of the most determined We
ever encountered. I've quite made up
me mind, Mr.. Billery. I'm going to
find a charming young lady for We, and
I'm going to make a match between
We. Now ye're warned, and yell see
if I'm not as good as me word"
II don't knew" said Billery. II sup
pose that I'm an incorrigible. If I
hadn't been, you see, should have
thought of it at one time or another,
but never did,"
ooh, Mr.. Billery!" cried Miss Belle,
raising both hands with aAprotesting
laugh.
Il never did, upon my word" Billery
declared. I'm getting on for forty. 1t
never occurred to. me to think of it be-
fore, but I suppose that by this time
I'm confirmed old bachelor.
A dreadful fascination seemed to
hold Miss Cole rooted to the spot.
But just think of it," urged Miss
A1olloy. Think of the lonely and des-
o;ate old age ye're preparing for your
self. I've heard We say that we've not
relative in the world"
"Not ore," Billery answered. 1T is
rather cold outlook when one comes
TO examine it. But then, you know,
Miss Molloy, there's an old proverb
which says that what's sauce for the
goose is sauce for the gander. And If
that's true you'd naturally suppose
that what's sause for the gander is
sauce for the goose. You've chosen a
life of single blessedness for yourself
so far. You ought to take line of
your own counsel, you know, Miss Mol
10y, and have pity on some one among
the signing scores. There must have
been hundreds of them first and last"
Faith, then," said Miss Molloy, with
perfect candor and courage, Give not
seen them. No, Mr. Billery. The sauce
for the gander is not the sauce for the
goose. The goose has to wait till the
gander asks her; and, upon my word,
experience that he won't do it."
|"Yonll never get me to believe
that" said Billery, gallantly.
will not them" asked Miss Belle.
There was young lieutenant of
foot, with twopence year for his in
come beyond his pay; and widowed
curate with family; and person
born and brought up in the stables,
who'd have found me very moderate
little fortune come in handy, and-oh.
there's list, no doubt, but it's not
worth thinkin' nor talkan' about. But
it's not my fate we're arranging, Mr..
Billery, but your own. Ye really ought
to think about it seriously, and not
lose time"
Miss Cole had disappeared She
was within earshot, and Miss Molloy
knew it, but Billery knew only that
Miss Molloy and he were alone.
"Well, possibly" he said, II might
have done, once upon time, but
you've known me a long time, Miss
Molloy, and we're very old friends by
now, and can speak to you seriously,
can't I? There's very good reason
why should never ask any good
woman to share my life. 1 am one of
the worlds failures. You know why
But that's all over" said Belle, lay
ing hand on one of his. "That's
done with for good and all"
II wish it were," said he; II wish it
were. There's dear old Truscott been
.shepherding me for months past, and
I've been making him promise from
month to month, and once a month he
let's me have my beastly way for
single night, and then he starts me off
anew, and pull through somehow"
well" said Belle. with a half sigh
and half laugh, "do you think wife
wouldn't do that for We as well as Mr..
Truscott?"
"she might" said Billery, ''if could
find one woman in million"
"Ye don't need woman in mill
ion," cried Miss Molloy. "No. Nor a
woman in a score. Why, I'd do as
much as that meself, or I'd know the
reason why" She laughed as she
spoke. The laugh was tremulous, but
she carried it through bravely.
Would you, by Jove?" asked Bill
cry, with sudden seriousness. "By
George, now, if you only would. But
there, I've no right to take girlish
joke like that and turn it into earnest"
"Ye'd best not ask me that again, II
We want to save your liberty. can
tell ye," cried Miss Belle.
mo-" said Billery. 'But would YOU?
Seriously"
deed, I would. then" returned