Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-07-02
WE ATE OUR "scRUMPTIoUs" LUNCH.

WE ATE OUR "sCRUMPTIoUs" LUNCH
ny, and all due to a never known rich
old uncle, now dead. But Iolanthe was
proud, so first | would win her prom
ise-win it while she believed me pool
as herself.
Purity and courage and gentleness
and beauty-that was my Iolanthe
Mine? All, when our May day was
over, should be calling her mine?
"Who are you today?" she asked
stopping to fill her lungs with the
buoyant air.
We had habit of playing we were
other folks when we went on these ex-
cursions-childish no doubt, but we
were never going to grow old, we said,
so 1t was best to be children a long
| time.
"Why. l am King Cophetua," an
swered promptly, with a great inflat-
ing of my kingly chest and throwing
back of my kingly head as we walk
ed on.
Her arms across her breast she laid;
0Hc was ludu WOIu6 Sdh soy.
In robe and crown the king slept down
To meet and greet her on her way"
"Who are you today, Iolanthe"
Its pretty story" she unused, not
answering my question, "but Suppose
II were turned around Suppose that
1t were Queen Cophetua and the beg
gar man. Would he be good and let
her love him? And would he be will
ing to sit on the throne with her?'
"Oh, that's different | said. "Of
course man could not take favors
from a woman. The beggar man
and win his fortune. He couldn't take
it from his queen. You know he
couldn't, don't you, IolantheT'
mo, / don't know anything about
It," she said bit GROSSLY. But Iolanthe
never could stay cross long enough to
make it pay, so in a moment she was
talking merrily again.
Presently we reached the spot we
were bound for, a spot of sun and
shade and running water and new
spring flowers. We ate our "scrump-
tious" lunch, and then we sang and
talked and had long spells of social
silence. and al the while l was won
dering how I should make her say
Eyes" If at first she happened to say
mo"
II am going to tell you pretty
story" she remarked after one Of
these silences. Its a true one too. |
am invited and so are you. and you'll
go. won't your
''Oh. sure" | answered recklessly.
"Wheref'
"a reception tomorrow evening to
meet the richest girl you ever saw.
She has so much money she doesn"
know what to do with it all, but folk!
have just found it out. She has pre-
tended to be poor for reasons. Were
both going because you said yol
would"
II would do anything or go any
where to please you. little girl
answered with so much meaning tina
Iolanthe flushed and her dear eye,
wavered before my gaze. don't know
quite how it happened. but suddenly
had my dream in my arms-my unre
sisting, perfect. red Tipped dream-anC
/ was quite mad with delight.
Then presently she cried out that
must never let anything come between
us.
"'Nor height nor depth nor any othe
creature" said reverently.
"'Nor any other creature" she re
peated after me and made me say 1
every little while all the rest of tina
wonderful day. and I did not tell hel
about my fortune after all, though
had intended to. When you come I,
think of 1t, money is sordid thing {,
discuss when two folks are quafin,
nectar and nibbling ambrosia.
The next evening l went to the re
ception and was presented to the lad,
OF riches. 1t seemed to me that all thu
room hushed its breath and waited
while we two went through what wa,
required Of US. 1t seemed to me that
lived an con before we were free fron
the great eye of the room and In som,
place where there were a splash Of
water and quiet and heavy perfume o.
lowers. There in the dim light sh.
stood, slender as an English laburnun
tree. swaying in her yellow siIken robe,
toward me. Her hands, weighted witt
jewels, were held out to me. He,
mouth that ! had kissed was smiling
at me-was saying:
Nor any other creaturer"
stood there staring at this wonder
ful new Iolanthe. and all could thinl
Of and all ! said was:
"Barefooted came the beggar maid.
Before the king cophetuar'
Which ocr.t5~~s. ~