Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-05-14
DA|SY'S GREAT FAULT


1t could hardly be said hat Win
throp Mosier courted the girl. Some
thing Of the sort was limited, more or
less broadly, by Sphinx in the office,
but Winthrop repealed the soft I'M
parchment with horror and distress.
This was by reason Of his abnormal
mOdesty.
You ought to be kicked for even
ssupposing such n thing said Win
throp to Sphinx. Miss Consldine is
gracious enough to receive my visits
occasionally he went on, land her
mother has been exceedingly kind to
me-far mere so than I had any right
to expect. I have been entertained by
the family most Hospitality, but l hope
1 would be the last to presume upon
their goodness. l suppose you were
comfy Joking, Sphinx, but l must say l
consider such jokes in very bad
taste"
W%hereupon Sphinx subsidized, content
INK himself with a wink to the other
fellows.
1t seemed TO most people that 1t was
hardly necessary for Mos1er to depre-
,ciate himself in the way he habitnally
did. He was certainly not much to look
ut, being understood and washed out
IN appearance. The color in him really
ppe red to be diluted to a point
where it was doubtful. 1t was hard
to tell whether his eyes were blue or
gray. or whether his hair was faxen
or bleached brown. He had a funny
little snub nose, a wide, thin-lipped
mouth and im~perceptible eyebrows. AS
to his ability, that was just about the
average. The office considered him a
roi, 20 competent man and paid him a
ratr1v good salary, which seemed to
Mosier V6st astonishing.
~ don't understand it at ALL" he
said to spi Is. Il know fellows who
ora twice os clever as I am-good,
steady fellows. zoe. who aren't doing
ho1f sc we'll. 'Now there are hun
dreds of better mel out OF emplov-
ment altogether. Eveh' Aefe~-iooh a.
Dinsey and Kraus. They 22esh' 10 Dc
where I am and 1 ought J." ps "heie
they are"
sure" replied SPHINX t'no Y:
To 20 back to Miss Considine: Tine
Young man continued his visits to 1he
house and for a long time there W.
nothing to distinguish the attentions
ae paid the daughter from those which
the mother received from him. He
did his little best to be agreeable t"
Doth. and showed no particular disap- i
pointment if the girl happened to beS
out when he called I'm course Of time,ts
however. all that changed.
The FIRST sign Sphinx noticed was a
pronounced moodiness. He and Mo-
sier, 1t must be said, were roommates.
Sometimes Mosier dressed himself
with great care Il went OUT presum-
ably to call on the Considines, for
three or our evenings hand running
At other times he remained in MS
room for an even more extended perl
cd, reading "Lalla R(Okh' and other
poetry Of a distinctly sentimental ma
ture. If Sphinx spoke ID him he resS1ed
In m~onosyllables and, he sighed until
his companion complained Of the draft.
His, appetite for lreakfast was poor
and occasionally he Neglected to shave
himself. Sphinx, who was not a young
man Of great experb .nce. was inclined
to attribute all this to liver trouble.
Tnat made Mosier 1lad
What is it. the asked Sphinx.
At last it came. out, In a despairing
explosion. j,
"It's Miss Vonsidine" confessed
Winthrop.
What about ,her?' SPHINX inquired.
"What's wrong with herT'
.What.s wrong with herr" echoed
Mosier.1 aNothinfs WRONG with her.
It's me. Tommy, I'm afraid I've al
lowed myself to fall in love WIN
her.
"I don't see why that should make
you feel bad" said SPHINX.