The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-10-02

dreamiy at an alert moving white patch on the lawn.
II was the bulpup Mr.. Marvin had brought Religious
controversy was not N her mind.
didn't go 10 confirmation because Mama had bad
headache After she was quiet | went down to the
porch cool of. and there Captain Kent again He
had brought note from Mrs Seymour, asking to the
tennis tournament few days later
] wouldn't have told him where Portia was, but Papa
had mentioned already and they had been laughing
over it. know very well from the way they grinncd at
each other when ! said she
Well that organist stayed i'll and Portia played every
Sunday she with She prolonged her visit, too
and stayed over two months
The last night-,shc was to leave next day-shc
looked quite pale when she came in from church. Mr.
Marvin remained only moment
There! She's refused him! ] thought
I confess I dsgustcd, for she must have
known she leading him
When reached our room, she suddenly flung her
self into MY arms and cried
"Oh Constance, I've been such fool-d fool-A
FOOL! But I'm so haPpy!-oh' so happy"
! thundorstruck.
I've told Jack all about it" she went on in blissfu
murmur, and he showed me Just where | had gone
can lean him and feel how he will take care of you
and guard you always Hes so tender"-'
Do you mean" asked presently. g" Mr.. Marvin"
At that she began to laugh and cry both together
"Of course goosie! she said; who else is there like
him."
Do you know. Mama and Papa weren't at all sur
prsed astonishing as it all waS7
She told them right after breakfast and then went
upstairs write to him. because he couldn't down
And in the evening she wrote to him again, so he
would be sure to get letter IN the morning
the porch "ftcr dinner. feeling little bit
lonely If the truth must be told and rather left
in way got to thinking OF those girls had
at the Fort and OF how gay and fascinating they
It's all very we'll to be told that is wellbalanccd
but there other qualities which useful certain
contingencies. The Fort naturally suggested Captain
Kent to my mind and what lot OF lovely girls he must
know.
At this point my musings interrupted By the clip
clop of horses hoofs and the Captain drew rein at the
"All alone?" he said, settling himself comfortably in
big char opposite nc Not even parso4 TO tighten
Every time he had been there during those two
nonths-and it had been pretty ofen-he had found
Mr.. Marvin calling, too.
"A great deal has happened to Mr. Marvin!"
WHAT" the Captain shouted.
Then lie modified his tone, with glance toward the
you don't mean it, he said in elceful undertonc
$50 they're engaged told you sol"
No you didn't either " l contendcd feeling little
cross. though couldn't have said why =" You said a
month It's two months.
Oh we'll / said thought he could do it in month
If he idcd away his tme-ddnt attend strictly to bus
ness-hat isn't my fault"
| laughed in spite of myself / was getting used to
his teasing He always trying shock ne by
such light remarks which, had learned not really
Aippant
"What can two people possibly know of each other
after two-months' acquaintance? inquired ju-
dicially
"A lott" replied the Captain with conviction. "of
course it depends circumstances. However. you're
right from point OF view. decent sort of fellow
does lot OF hard thinking before hcasks girl to be
his wife For thing, it isn't much OF compliment
to assume that she's easily And il she
lieht-minded TO be taken by sudden fancy man
who was any OF wouldn't want her How
ever that doesn't in But these GLIB sort of chaps
who propose after they've known girl week, aren't
the right kind.
al think though you're a little too-in1cxblc-in
your opinion that two months is always too soon 1t
depends so much on circumstances. Sometimes, you
lie mi nd abOut-Dconc
times a man doesn't have to spend much time making
up his mind For instance. once in long time
once III hetimc-you little woman who you just
feel is so sweet and sensible and unsclhsh and-snd-
dcor-you know-and you think. There's the wife for
a soldicr George Shed stick to him through any
He broke off looking rather embarrassed in the
moonlight and laughed tFifc unstcadly
So he i'll love too!
My heart was beating so could hardly hear his last
words.
After he had spoken them. he sat gazing into his hat
looking nervous and rather foolish, as though he had
said something he hadn't intended to.
After moment j arose
L must SO up to Mama, Captain Kent, said She
isn't we'll"
| heard him sammcr something but went in, not
even shaking hands with him
wondered if / ought to have congratulated him. If
I only had then he wouldn't have had any TO
think that perhaps / thought
In short cried myself to sleep wished Portia slept
in another room for couldn't cry with bit OF COM
fort and almost smohcrcd myself in tho pillow. And it
heard step on the back porch, but didn't look up
till the door ratified and Captain Kent came n
He was looking pale and worried
was so wretchcd myself that was almost glad OF 1t!
1t was funny for him to to the back door, but
didn't think OF that-just elowered at him with my
hands in the dough- my eyes wet and checks Strcaked
| couldn't make anyone hear at the front door, he
apoogzcd
Then he went OIL, in hard voice.:
I've got bad news l mean-bad for me I'm
ordered TO Porto Rico
Are you?" l said in such cool tone that was
amazed myself
Then / turned around and began kneading savagcly,
without quite knowing what was doing.
He step
Constance he said huskily. az don't suppose its
any usc-I know its awfully soon. even if you ever
could-but-wont YOU go with me-"
burst out crying like nnny. and in moment
Tom was holding me and calling names too dear to
be written down here and drying eyes on the bread
cloth
Now you'll have 10 help me brace up little woman"
he said after few minutes, and then he went :" 10
speak TO Papa in the library.