The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-11-21
Flirting to Desperation.
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about hirt that discounted all the
flirts who ever lived.
Kate Bunting as little girl was a
"tomboy" from the crown of her head
10 the soles of her feet She was a
ranch girl aud if she had been born
q boy instead of girl would have
been one of the most desperate of des-
| peradoes AS it was, she grew up a
reckless, harum scarum creature, half
horse, half girl, and if there was any
more of her it was revolver She
could ride and shoot with the best rid
ers and shots and wasn't afraid of
road agent, a whole tribe of Indians or
a cyclone
Kate was pretty and she WIS smart
Some thought her crack Drained, but
the method there was in that girls
madness was phenomenal. She had a
soft brown eye that could look as in
nocent as an antelopes while she was
Matching mischief. There wasn't a
man within Il hundred miles of her
fathers ranch but was in love with
her, and man was the only animal she
loved to hunt better than the wild
game of the country. She would lasso
one as easily as mule.
Rates father was an educated gen
tleman. He had been an attorney, but
on account of failing health had gone
west to become a ranchman. Kate
found food for her firt-powder in the
young English and American swells
who, after being graduated at univer-
stiles. went into ranching. Kingsley
harrington, younger son of a British
baronet, and Royal Pyle, New York
. er, finally distanced all others and
; came to neck and neck race Some
thought harrington would win on ac-
, count of his noble connections in Eng
land, while others were willing to back
Pyle because he was well fixed in
pecuniary way. Kate played one
against the other, wearing them both
! out like couple Of blades constantly
whetted on the same stone After
' encouraging them for months she final
ly engaged herself to both Of them.
Not that she kept her engagement to
one from the other. Not bit of it.
She told them both all about it and
actually insisted on each congratulate
, Ing her on her engagement to his rival
t Then when they asked her which she
r intended to marry she said both"
' There was nothing for either to do
but withdraw or let her play out the
game in her own fashion. She had
Fascinated both so far that neither
: would do the former, so both were
y obliged to do the latter. They sup
y posed she would lead them both up
p to the marriage ceremony, then throw
i the scales in favor of one. Either this
e or send them both after her other low
g ers. The truth is they were not sure
what she would do. except that she
would do something desperate.
And she did
Her father went east one day and
t left her to her own sweet will Two
), days before his return Kate notified
each one of her suitors that she would
: expect him at the ranch house the next
. day at noon to be married Upon in
! quiry each learned that the other had
received the notification. On the day
and at the hour appointed each got
> himself up in his best apparel and pro-
ceeded to keep the appointment, know
n ing or at least suspecting that the
: other would be there. They found the
e bride ready to receive them, and for
S a parson there was Oliver Shiverick.
h young man who had left the min
g lstry to turn sheep raiser, but who was
u still capable Of performing marriage
= ceremonies. He adored Kate and
= would have willingly exploded his re-
9 volver under his ear if she had asked
him to do 50.
a Each of the double grooms looked at
r his other self, at the clergyman, and
e at Kate. She had taken on that pc
Q culiar sOftness in her eye which indi-
Gated she was about to out Herod
> > Herod with some diabolical scheme.
. Nevertheless the grooms believed that
!, one would be her husband
o Kate gave hand to each, took them
Z to an end of the room and, placing
r herself and them with their backs to
fireplace, called on the parson to per
e form the marriage ceremony. The
n grooms were perfectly obedient, each
J expecting something different from the
SIN dNO"eu llll lue )uESOU
asked:
wilt thou, Kingsley Harrington and
Royal Pyle, take this woman for your
y welded wife,
- Neither groom supposed this double
), marriage had any meaning in law, but
n both answered:
: Il will
). The question was put in the same
|. form to Kate, who also answered:
n II will"
. Then the parson pronounced the trio
men and wife.
:, Come" said the Engishman in a
h disappointed tone, Il supposed you
would marry one of u.s."
II have married BOTH"
Not legally
81 yes. legally. I consulted my father
>, as to that, and he says person may