The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-09-29
A Bold Suitor
By KATE ELDRIDCE
Copyright. 1870 by American Press
Association.

OF water called thunder lake, and in q
little town at one end. called Thunder,
there is Thunder hotel. There is
also in this modest city with so terri
BILE name kursall (casino,. where an
orchestra discourses in the afternoon,
to which people listen and drink beer.
One afternoon Herr Streilitz. his
wife and daughter Lena. the last
named aged twenty. were seated at a
table in the kursall. Papa Streilitz
smoking his pipe. Mamma Streilitz
munching crackers and Swiss cheese,
while Lena Streilitz was slipping an ice
with a spoon.
At another table sat young gentle
man tapping his boot with a cane
while on the table beside him was a
half emptied glass of Munich beer. He
was looking at Fraulein Lena very
hard. and Lena was conscious that she
had excited the young mans attention.
Presently he arose. went to the table
where the Strei!itzes sat. made a pro-
found bow with his hat under his arm
and addressed Herr Streilitz:
Herr. dare say that l shall sur
prise you. | have confession to
make. l have several times seen you
here with your family. I have con-
ceived passion for the young lady
and beg your permission to pay my ad-
dresses to her. I am aware that such
q request may seem remarkable, but I
am ready to convince you that bear
q good reputation. that am Of an ex-
cellent family and abundantly able to
support wife. Here is my card"
He produced pasteboard on which
was engraved the name, "Alphonse de
la Tour. Dion, France"
Herr Streilitz puffed. fumed and
scowled. Frau Streilitz looked nom
committal, while Fraulein Lena looked
very much pleased. The father was
about to make an angry reply when
the mother forestalled him by saying:
Believe me. sir. we are not at all
offended that you should have given
way to natural impulse. We shall
at least accord what is due you by per-
hitting you to produce your creden-
tials."
THAT is all I ask. madame. l may
have to put you to some trouble. for
De la Tour could not ask any one to
vouch for him. Besides it would be
easy for an imposter to furnish fraud
ulent credentials. Nothing will salts
fy me but your going to my home in
Dijon. visiting my ancestral estate,
making the acquaintanc of my parents.
by brothers and sisters. and thus sat-
isfying yourselves that I am what I
pretend to be-"
THAT would be incontestable proof"
said the lady will you join our par
ty, NJ. de la Tour?'
The young man sat down. Papa
Streilitz maintained stubborn silence.
Lena, of course. could say not a. word.
while Frau Streilitz took the burden
of entertaining the stranger upon her
own shoulders. The four sat togeth-
er for an hour. at the end of which
time NJ. de la Tour received an invita-
ton to. call.
A few days later Frau and Frau
lein Streilitz took the train for DijOn.
At the railway station NJ. de la Tour
came up to them. bearing bouquet
of flowers. which. with look of in
tense devotion. be handed to Lena.
ut is for you" he said. Ito satisfy
yourselves. Here are your tickets
first class. including return"
Frau Streilitz accepted the tickets
without qualm. while Lena blushed
and exclaimed:
"Oh. mamma"
M. de la Tour gave the young lady
a glance of mingled reproof and ten.
derness. His last words were to her:
II beg you to give the flowers to my
dear mother. who. with others Of our
family, will meet you at the station"
The journey was not interrupted ex-
cept for half an hour on the border be-
tween Switzerland and France. where
the train stopped for the custom ex-
aminations The fraulein opened to
them her belongings and permitted an
inspector to get Whit of the per-
fume of her flowers. When the ordeal
was over the train went on.
At Dijon young man on the watch
for them announced himself as CASTOR
de la Tour and introduced white
haired lady as his mother. Lena at
once handed her the bouquet.
This way to the carriage said M.
CASTOR. and the frau and the fraulein
were hurried out Of the station. put
in a cab and driven away.
That was the last they ever saw of
any Of the De la Tours. They returned
the next day to the unsympathetic hus-
band and father.
WELL" said Papa Streilitz. what
did you discover
Lena put her handkerchief to her
eyes. and her mother made no reply.
Her brow was very dark. After awhile
she sgave her experience to her hus-
band. ending as follows:
1.-The driver drove US some distance
and stopped before large dwelling
house. Wondering why these people
had left us. we went to the front door
and knocked A maid came to the
door. and when we asked if the De
la Tours lived there she said No and
shut the door in our faces"
| What was the object of thus mis-
! LEADING thdSo GOOD Mamie Was nof for