The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-12-11

UoIv now. He 10 ordinarily one OF the
kindest and best Of men. I never be.
fore knew him to be unreasonable,
but I'm sure he has never seen you
or your aunt" said this willy young
man.
He has never shown any anxiet,
to meet U.S." remarked Barbara, ''and
ne has been most uncivil to Wing and
judy"
Il beg that you will let me atone
for his discourtesy by helping you
with the fence. Please do. I ask as
favor that you let me dig"
Did your uncle send you to help
u.s." queried Barbara. IF he did, I
shall refuse your aid, but If I thought
1t would annoy him"
1T would! It would" cried Jack
earnestly. HE would be furious"
VERY well, them" said Barbara, re-
linquishing the long-handled nipple
ment. "but mind, If he doesn't have
fit of some kind shall be very
much disappointed"
1T will be nothing short of apo
plexy," said Jack, solemnly, as he be-
gan to dig.
And Mr.. Norris, arrested in his
morning stroll by the astonishing
spectacle Of his nephew digging post.
holes for his enemy, while his enemy's
niece lightened his toll with pleasant
conversation, was so indignant that
Barbara. had she known, would have
been appsased. .t
Bless my soul!" cried Mr.. Nor
ris, breathing heavily and staring in
angry amazement at the unconscious
pair. Il won't have it," he cried,
shaking his stick at the young people,
who were happily out of hearing. "Do
you hear? I won't have it. I'll write
to that old harden" (meaning Miss
Lettie, whom he had never SEEM land
warn her to keep that disgustingly
forward creature at home. But no."
he continued, these old maids have
such COMPOUNDED way of twisting the
the most harmless sort of note into
a proposal. I'll just go see her, and
I'll talk pretty short, too. Lucky
thought of it in time! l might have
let myself in for breach of promise
by writing"
Well, to make long story short, he
did go to see Miss Lettie, and when
he saw the real Miss Lettie, with her
wavy brown hair and pink cheeks, in.
stead of the shrewish old spinster Of
his imagination, he forgot all about
the object of his call and apologized
humbly and sincerely for his former
conduct.
He and Miss Lettie found so many
fruitful themes of mutual interest that
they spent the entire morning in
pleasant discourse, and when he de.
parted they found that much remained
unsaid;. so after Jack and Barbara
had gone to work, he returned the
next morning, and yet many more
mornings.
"The last day-the very last day."
said Jack one sunny morning. "The
line fence is finished"
1T seems to me you've been hor
ribly SLOW" said the ungrateful Bar.
bara.
"Slow!" echoed Jack, reproachfully.
Has the time seemed long to you?"
Barbara did not reply in words. but
the smile she gave him was most reas.
surfing.
Hand the hammer, DEAR" he said
and don't go away, for I want you
to hold the wire. There now"
well. think can manage to hold
the wire without your supporting
arm" said Barbara. I'm not de-
crepit."
Il think" said the audacious young
man, I'll just hold you here until you
put into words what your dear eyes
have often told me. Say: I love you.
jack"
my eyes!" cried Barbara, what ex>
traordinary lies they must tell" and
she favored Jack with another radiant
smile. Nov, let me 3d." she contin.
ued. wing will be here in minute"
"Say 1t, then" said Jack, FOR
won't let you go until you do"
= "Well, Jack" said Barbara, slowly,
II do not altogether despise you.'
Nov say may speak to your aunt
and tell Uncle Theodore we're en-.
gagged"
"Gracious! No." cried Barbara
Aunt Lettte would think me SO bold
and forward. Do you think she would
engage herself to a man she'd only
known six weeks? She'd die first
Well have to know each other at least
q year before we can be engaged, and
then she'll think it proper for us to
wait several years.
"Nonsense!" cried Jack. Were en-
gagged right this minute, and we'll be
married next month. Well not wait
till we're old and gray-haired Just to
satisfy the prudish notions of vener.
able. old FOSSILS" and Jack empha.
sized his declaration with defiant
kiss, planted somewhere in the depths
of Barbara's sunbonnet.
Were standing with our backs to
ward you," said bland voice, land
as we can't see you, you needn't blush.
We've merely come to inspect your
work" .n a.Ii