The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-08-14

Mrs. Briggs collapsed into the near
est chair. For the first time in her
life speech failed her. She glared
wildly at her niece.
And what about Bob Malcolm, who
loves you to Distraction"
'Yes, think he does, and / would
1ather be loved by him than by any
one | ever knew. | am really very
fond of Robert"
Then why don't you marry him?"
Il cannot afford It; he is too poor,
and hate poverty; have lived in an
atmosphere of It all my life. | want
a soft, calm, luxurious existence. Jew
els, dresses. motor cars, boxes at the
opera, a house in New York, trips to
London, Paris"
And what sort Of an adjunct do
you think old Rube Pedelty would be
% that soft, calm existence?' inter
upted her exasperated aunt. "A nice
6ggef he'd cut in a motor car or opery
COX. | don't believe a single person
the Gulch ever spoke to the old
'reak-until he struck II rich. I'm
sorry | took the critter to board; amt
you never noticed the way he eats?
tie amt go no more manners than a
Choctaw."
Lily laughed softly. II won't have
to see much of him after we're mar.
led, Aunt Hetty. That's one of the
benefits of riches. We can each live
our own life almost independently of
the other"
"Oh, Lord" exclaimed Mrs. Briggs;
and only last week, when you went
part way up the trail with Bob, and
was coming back, you both turned and
threw kisses at each other. saw 1t
all from this very window"
But IL we got married the chances
are we'd be throwing the crockery at
each other before a year." replied Lily,
YEARLY. ~ know it's the fashion to de-
plore amarriage without love; from my
own observation know that one
without money is fifty times worse. 1t
entails constant companionship, IN I
that is a deadly foe to loves young
dream"
ITS living in this high altitude that
has affected you. Lily Farrell. Your
ideas are all wrong; a marriage with
out love leads to misery, shipwreck
and lifelong regret. Love is the best
thing in the world"
Who would suspect you of being
so sentimental, Aunt Hetty. and mar
ried three times, too! / never thought
you bhssfully happy with either of
your husbands"
mo, amt had no kind of luck with
husbands-so far" admitted Mrs
Briggs. Miners consumption, acci
dents and bad whisky makes life very
uncertain in a mining camp But
young Malcolm is healthy, and amt
got no bad habits, either. He's a
man that's bound to win, and besides,
you're engaged to him"
Engagements are not taken seri-
ously in Colorado" returned her
niece.
Long after her niece had retired for
the night, Mrs. Briggs sat by the open
window. thinking. planning, resolving.
shes only ambitious, not wicked"
Aunt Hetty murmured to herself
No, 1t would never do; she's dead in
love with Malcolm, and that old Pc
ielty'll seem doubly repulsive by con
trast. I'd be justified in preventing
by fair means, or foul. Some one'n
snap the old fossil up for his money
anyway believe it's the ouly way"
Aunt Hetty greeted her niece with
an indulgent smile when the latter
made her belated appearance in the
deserted dining-room next morning.
Here's your breakfast. dear, nice
and hot. | believe I'll take cup Of
coffee with you. feel rather done up.
so I engaged James sister to come
and help me out for week or So
I've been thinking over our last
nights talk" she continued. las
you've made up your mind to marry
old Rube Pedelty, don't expect
there's anything in this living world
that can let or hinder you. But you'll
need some new clothes, as you intend
to start right off on your wedding trip.
and / won't have 1t said that a niece
VI iAlii0 Meh bAAhlhNh ~ any man hA
til she married him. So here's 5000"
pressing the money into the aston
ished girls hand.
"That1l get a nice tailor made trav-
cling suit, and all the other fal-lals
you need, Youll have time to catch
the morning stage, and that will give
you two whole days in Denver; time
enough for any alterations that may
be necessary, and get back Friday
afternoon" Aunt Hetty never lost
sight of the excited and delighted girl
until she was safely on board the Den
yer stage.
Mrs, Briggs exchanged her plain
wrapper for n becoming blue linen
suit, which she selected from her
nieee's wardrobe. With the help of
curling tongs her still abundant hair
was arranged in fluffy pompadour.
Makes a deal OF difference" she
considered, complacently surveying
her reflected image in the glass. "a
little color wouldn't hurt none," rub
bing her sallow cheeks into a faint
blon,,, ond oftar a HftIo bacftotfon