The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-10-24

Copyright, by Joseph b. Bowles.)

afford it.
Had Bess not been cross, her tone
and look would have been reproachful
as she answered.:
Don't be silly! You know 1 would
if l could"
But if 1 couldn't, how could To-"
finished Tom, provokingly. ooh! you
will get there some time. Bess. Take
it in on your wedding tour"
And proclaim myself to the world
a bride? Never! All the silly couples
think they must trot off to Washing.
ton or Niagara"
Il bet you will go to one or the
other, YOURSELF"
Not if 1 stay single forever and
ever. Just now. wedding trips are far
from my mind. My soul is narrowed
with grief because l cannot join this
jolly party. Just listen" and Bess
opened the letter which all this time
she had held in her hand:
Dear Bess: I write i'll haste to tell
you that Il party of us are going to take
advan,ass Of the Teachers Holiday .li En-
remembering how often you have. en-
pressed Il wish to visit your mothers
Old home. have set my heart upon hay
ing you for my chum Though the 9TH
crs in the party are strangers to you,
they are jolly, easy to know. and as nice
I set as YOU could find; and l assure you
L pleasant time.
'.Your first impression. know. will be
that YOU cannot so. but shall wait until
the Very last moment possible. hoping
that some kind fate will smile upon me.
for the round trip. including board for
three days at a first-class hotel. are only
twclve-tifty. Your name needs to be in
by the twenty-second. That will give
do let it be yes" Yours hastily.
Now, isn't that tempting? And to
think that there isn't the ghost of a
chance for me-"
Bess looked so very disconsolate
that Tom wished with all his heart
that he had the right to comfort her
in his own way. But. though in spite
of much sparring. they had been
friends always. at any attempt on his
part to assume the role of lover, this
little rose among thorns" made use
of her natural defenses. AS he ex-
pressed it, she always kept a fellow
at arms length" Tom had loved her
long, and without undue conceit felt
assured that she cared for him more
than she would own. This stormy lit
tie piece of contrariness would have
to be taken by strategy. But he knew
that Washington had long been her
Mecca, and realized that this was in
deed a great trial. So he was very
sympathetic as he said:
II wish 1 could help you out. I
would willingly loan"
Il beg to be excused" exclaimed
Bess quickly, feeling that she would
rather be beholden to anyone in the
world than to this old friend, and Won
dering why. Il don't ask help of any.
body
Il know you DON'T" replied Tom,
little nettled, the lover lost for the
moment in the man. II don't believe
you want to go to Washington: You
wouldn't go If you had the chance
the best chance in the world. You
are just SO contrary"
A little red spot burned in each
cheek as Bess looked at the young
man astonished. Spar they did, but
she never had known him to be so alb.
solutely rude as this, so downright
quarrelsome.
'Well-why, how rude you are!
There is an empty seat. Perhaps you
would better take it,"
This seat is very comfortable" re-
piled Tom coolly, seeing that for once
he had the advantage. but l believe
you are playing a part. You do not
want to go to Washington at all, and
I will wager that if before the twenty
second. a good opportunity presents
| itself. YOU will back out. In fact,
know you will. know you so WELL"
The decision, the provoking GOODNESS
with which he made this declaration,
| eXasperated Bess, and she replied hot
! ly:
| II accept your wager! If way is
opened for me to go without borrow
ing or accepting charity. I will go.
Make your own terms, Mr. Stickney,"
and l'ess grew very dignified.
A sudden rash idea, a sudden merry
twinkle of his eyes. and Tom leaned
down and whispered:
IF win, you are to marry me-"
With all his attempts at love-mak.
ing, Tom never before had gotten so
far as this. and he was delighted to
see the hot color sweep over her face
and neck, as she hesitated a moment
in great confusion, and then said
quickly:
That's not fair"
My only terms. though. If your
word is good for anything you will
accept"
Then she lifted her head proudly,
said. II accept" and took up the book
in her lap. Not another word said
she.
p was reached at last. Bess
hurried from the train and tried to
make. her way out of Toms sight. But
No Eorf ct0 1,1, Ct IT,