Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-11-10
The Happy Pair
By IzoLA FORESTER
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copyrish.sd. 1910. By Assoeialsd Literary Press

A telegram had been handed her
by Mrs. Ted at the depot. She had
crushed It In her hand, unopened, but
now, as Steve took up a magazine, and
actually started to read II, she remem-
bered the envelope, and tore It open.
1t was brief, and from her only broth
er in Seattle.
Best love and congratulations to
the happy pair"
Something in the message made
the quick tears spring to her eyes,
and tremble on her lashes. The happy
pair. How could she ever be really
happy when she knew that Mrs. Ted
had deliberately invited her to Beau
voir, In the hope that Steve Charlton
would take q fancy to her, and marry
her? He had seen her portrait first
of all. and had fallen in love with that,
80 Mrs. Ted declared, and It was a
good match. Rosamond hated the
word--a match, a bargain, and excel
lent sale! She looked up, and met
Steve's troubled glance. He saw the
tears, and reached for her hands, in
spite of the rest Of the passengers.
Dear, don't cry, don't, cant stand
1t. II any one has made a mistake,
1t is !, and I'll stand for 1t. / should
have known better all around. But
knew it was what you had been used
to, and as long as / couldn't give 1t to
you / thought It didn't matter. We
loved each other, and my cousin is
bully good to me out at the mines"
Your cousin?" faltered Rosamond.
The other Steve Charlton, you
know. The millionaire kid they call
him out there. I'm only the under
study. I'm chief mining engineer at
the Dominic Coalition, that's all, dear.
But I'll make good. I'm getting three
thousand a year now, and making
stray punches on the side. AS the
Coalition grows, l will grow, too. II
you can Just be patient, and do as you
please with your own fortune, ] will
climb up beside you soon, in the
money line"
MY fortune? l have no fortune,
Steve" Rosamonds hands grew chill
ed In his strong, close clasp. What
do you mean?"
Mrs. Ted told me you were heiress
to Heaven knows how much real gilt
ter" Steve explained, laboriously.
I've hated your money ever since /
heard Of it, but 1t had to go with you,
and l couldn't afford to wait l want
ed you, don't you know. grille? You
don't blame me. do you?"
And you haven't any fortune your
self" Rosamond's eyes were soft and
tender.
"Divil a Bit" laughed Steve. reck-.
lessly. IT'S coming"
Neither have /, dear" she told him,
happily. Mrs. Ted Just made it all
up so we would marry. She evidently
thought you were the millionaire kid,
as you say, for she told me SO, and
I've been miserable playing the part
Of the beggar maid to my king. Is
is 1t nice little shack, Steve, where
we're going to, way up in the noun
tains?"
Steve thought for a minute, and
pulled out a timetable.
1T is" he said, finally, emphati-
cally, "and we're going to it now.
Well get off this train at New Ro-
chelle. catch an express back, and go
straight for Charlton Peak, Nevada,
as fast as a western limited will take
us. l don't like being patronized. and
petted, do you, lady?"
Rosamond flashed back a smile, In
her old, happy way.
"I NAV not he an heiress Steve
she said, half seriously. But I'm a
splendid cook"
you won't have to cook. keep
heather Chinee."
At the New Rochelle station, wire
went back to Mrs. Ted.
Don't worry about us. Going west.
Have one thousand in cash in the
whole world between us.
1.-THE Happy Pair"