The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-07-15
IS Whitehead is thirty and home

Miss Whitehead is thirty and home
ly?"
81 am not a Judge of beauty. You
might think her fairly good looking"
ut takes two to make Il bargain.
What do you think Miss Whitehead
would say to your planY"
"She favors It,"
"Favors it,"
eyes. sir. She has told me several
times that it's the only way of making
! satisfactory permanent settlement"
"Oh, l see. Miss Whitehead. having
such an opinion. prefers to let it be
known through another. I'm inclined
to think she went away on purpose to
enable me to get it through you"
you're right, sir. The story about
her aunt was made up"
"Well, upon my word! You're very
frank about 1t. But. while Miss White
head. you say. favors a settlement by
marriage. it doesn't mean that she
would settle it in that way without
seeing me, and If she sees me she
might decide that no such settlement
is possible"
II think that part Of it would be all
right, sir"
"Why so?"
"Well. Miss Whitehead is a very
sensible and a very practical woman
She Is also peculiar and has some
strange notions. She thinks that love,
often blinds us to u best interests.
She went away resolved that If this
settlement by marriage be agreed to
by you her consent would depend en-
tirely on my report of you."
"The dickens she did! That beats
anything of the kind l ever heard of
as coming from a woman"
"Miss Whitehead. as I told you. is
very peculiar"
Il should think she is, leaving the
partner to her maid"
But. under the circumstances, don't
you think. sir, that 1t shows a certain
depth of wisdom"
II don't know but it does"
well, sir. since my mistress has left
her part in the matter to me it is set
tied. Now, what shall | say to her as
to your part?
"You a say that l am so astonish-
ed at this remarkable method Of bring
ing about Il settlement that | don't
know what to say. It's my opinion
that you have furnished the brains to
concoct such a plan. If you were
making the proposition on your own
behalf l would say. It's a 60 AS it
is l must see Miss Whitehead before
giving an answer"
Very we'll, sir: l will telegraph her
to come at once" 4.
"How long will she be coming?".
"She will be here for dinner"
With that the maid arose, remarked
that the periodicals on the table were
of the latest issue and left him. In.
stead Of reading them he got up and
walked about the grounds. He saw
nothing, however, his mind being en-
tirely taken up with this remarkable
turn in his affairs. The maid had
doubtless been instructed to say that
Miss Whitehead was older than she
was and plain looking. It would not
do for her as her mistress spokesman
to say that she was young and beauti-
full. He was very impatient to see
this practical and peculiar lady and
sincerely hoped that he would find her
prepossessing since much depended
upon whether he could bring himself
to marry her. But he could not divest
himself. of admiration at the way her
maid had acquitted herself Of so deli
cate a mission. Indeed. he was re-
markably pleased at both the plan and
the manner in which it had been car
ried out. But the as yet unseen Miss
Whitehead-would her appearance cor
respond with her talent for diplomacy
or her maids diplomacy?
Every ten or fifteen minutes he took
out his watch to note the time. which
dragged heavily. Between 8 and G
o'clock he went to the house and asked
a servant what time dinner would be
served. He was informed that Mrs.
Whitehead usually dined at z. Then
he inquired IL Miss Whitehead had re-
turned. There was no need for him to
ask this question. for. he had been
watching all the afternoon to see her
drive up. When he received a negative
reply he sent for the m~aid-secretary
and asked her IL she were sure her
mistress would return in time for din
ner.
"she will surely be here, sir" was
the reply. II think It Is time for you
to dress for dinner. sir. Miss White
head always expects her guests to
wear evening dress for dinner"
With that. Mr.. Jurnegan went up to
his room. It was In the rear Of the
house. so that he, could not see Miss
Whitehead's arrival, but since her
maid had 20 definitely informed him
that she would come In time for dinner
he dismissed the matter from his mind.
At half past 6 he heard carriage wheels
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