The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-06-23

the very neartStr1ngS OF those VINO
heard her. So 1t is not remarkable
| that they had awakened new desires
in the heart of the young man. And
this was what the father feared. If
his son were to wed Laurena he would
naturally go to live with her people,
as her father was dead.
| If Charlie left home his father would
be obliged to hire two men to do what
they had managed between them, with
the assistance of the mother. 1t was
not so much that he had anything
| against Laurena as that he did not
wish his son to leave him that had
actuated him until now. He had
talked frankly with his son and told
him many things, all calculated to
wither any budding sentimentalism.
So now Charlie had entered the par
lor with heavy feet He knew what
was to come, and he knew what had
gone before-yes, only a short half
hour ago. No wonder his heart was
heavy.
"Well?" said his father, eying him
with disconcerting scrutiny.
Charlie held his peace. In fact, he
could not trust himself to speak. His
eyes were cast to the floor and filled
with unspeakable despair. He could
not trust his voice. His father sat
down with his aching feet on the floor
instead of the stool and again uttered
the one word that meant so much:
"Well"
Charlie was so handsome, with his
brown curling hair his gentle brown
| eyes, his big frame and tanned cheeks,
| that the old man felt thrill of pride,
but he never allowed that to check his
determination to have from his son the
last word of what he knew he was
| trying to withhold. Finally Charlie
looked up once at his father, whose
sharp glance showed him the misery
in the soft brown eyes Of his son.
Again he said "Well?" adding that he
was listening. Finally Charlie lifted
his head, saying:
"You need not worry. It is all off,"
"What's all off? Tell me the hull
thing from first to last"
eve finished our practice, and all
started for home, and the rest hurried
off, but Laurena and I, we walked
along slower. She said she had some
thing to say that she could not put off.
| So we walked along"
"You said that before. It isn't to be
supposed that you rode along or flew
along or sailed along. Go ahead"
"Well, you know. father, that am
fond Of Laurena. I told you from the
beginning
"And so you've been and asked her,
you ungrateful boy, after an I've said
and DONE
"No; haven't asked her nor told
her, but feel as though should have
done so. We walked among the graves
and didn't talk much at first. Then
she said: Charlie, I want your advice.
We have been such good friends al
ways"
eyes, see, see. She thinks you
can be caught with such chaff, but 60
on. go on"
II said that we had, and then she
continued: You know that folks have
a habit Of taking things for granted.
I am not blaming any one, but we
have been going together so much-for
four years since we grew up-and now
IL think l must say that this can't
60 on any longer. Bert Jumel asked
me to marry him, and I thought I
would ask your advice before answer
him."
"a trap, a trap" shouted the old
man, land you fell into it like the soft
ninny that you are! Didn't tell you
that I'd searched out her family on
both sides to see If they had any de-
scending ailment and that her father
died of decline? Didn't 60 to their
house and eat myself Alex twice to
find out how they cook and set table
and they're all extravagant? And her
sperrits is too oneven. One time she
Is full Of laugh and the next looks all
in the dumps. She may know how to
sew and keep house, but she cares
more about singing than anything
She's too Eighty. l won't allow you tc
have her. l won't, I tell you! What
did she do then?"
"Why, nothing" replied Charlie mis-
erably, ''for we stood a minute still
and silent l didn't dare to tell hel
how felt till had seen you, and she
leaned against old Mr.. SANDERS monu
ment and cried.
eyes, she's artful, sly and smart
I give her the credit, but she's got me
to deal with. She got tired Of waiting
for you to bite at her bait and just
give it witch to make you snap al
it. l am older than you and know al
about women. You have to live al
the rest Of your life with the one YOU
choose, and it stands you In hand tt
look about and see them all-weigf
every ones faults and advantages.
J pretty face amt all, nor Is a gooi
! singing voice. Now, I've pointed GU
: to you the failings Of all the other
! from the time you began going out IL
: society. Jennie Tubbs was too youni
ond %oo xr,ooly1u Ann}o SforIy fon ci11v