The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1913-10-24

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but plain magic In that test.
Cornelius grew hot and cold ~ the
hour approaches He had scarcely a
word with Mary Finn. SO absorbed was
she In her duties as hostess.
At ten minutes before midnight the
girls withdrew to a bedroom. from
whence issued much giggiing and push.
ing about aud sudden shrieks Vt laugh
ter Mrs. Finn ambled to and fro In
friendly banter with the waiting young
men In the parlor.
mo cheating. boys" she warned. her
voice shrill above the vigorous singing
Of Mr.. Christopher Brady at the piano.
They laughed good naturally and join.
ed in the chorus Of "She Said She Low
ed Me, but Now She Loves Another
Fellow" and something in the air stuck
In Cornelius memory and could not be
eradicated for many a day.
II don't see where we fellows get
any fun out Of it ALL" growled Mr..
Brady, whirllng around on the stool.
II wonder II I couldn't let down my
hair and run around with a hand mir
ror-what do you think I'd see. ehT"
You'd see q conceited puppy!' joked
MIR. Finn. slapping Mr.. Brady's broad
shoulders with easy familiarity. LET
me whisper a secret, Chris-excuse me.
gents"-he bent down and whispered
In Mr.. Brady's red ear. while that gen.
tleman nodded mirthfully.
Sure. I'll do It. I'm on. thought
maybe there was something more!
Have a cigar. Mr.. Finn" He followed
Mary's father into the Kitchen. and
Cornelius sat silently alone. envying
the easy Of the big Mr.. Brady
and his apparent intimacy with the
Firms. Did this friendliness portend
some bond between Christopher Brady
and Mary Finn?
Cornelius grew wretched as the time
passed. Mary must Don make her
test of fate in the gloomy hall. When
would he know If it was his own face
she had seen over her shoulder? Would
she tell it to the assembled company
or would she acknowledge it by blush
ing when his questioning glance sought
hers? Desperately he calculated the
chances that fate held for him. and he
admitted they were very few indeed.
Everything he had ever gained he had
had to struggle for. as had his father
before him. He had fought tooth and
nail for his position as Office boy in
the beginning. and he had fought his
way up to his position as shipping
clerk by sheer force of will and pluck.
In his practical experience he had
never called upon luck Of fortune or
fate to aid him in his climb. He just
planned what he wanted and then
worked up to It. 1t had proved a
good method in the past.
Now he wanted Mary Finn. Ii he
Won her it must. be by his usual meth
ods. He must not trust to chance nor
to any other doubtful means. There
was no time to fool with luck Or the
magic s6feeries s0f HallOweo0. he
must have Mary Finn In spite OF
magic. in spite Of Christopher Brady.
in spite Of everything.
Then It was that q daring thought
came to Cornelius Babcock-daring be-
cause he was unaccustomed to In.
trigue or fighting in the dark, and this
game called for darkness. Leagued
against him were Christopher Brady
and his intimacy, with the Finns. and
also on the opposing side were the
chances that Cornelius would not win
SO he resolved to fght for what he
wanted-for Mary Finn.
Mr.. Finn entered the parior and lift
"a q hand to the chandelier. IN be
dousing the light. boys" he warned.
"Ev~erything's got to be dark a. your
hat. Out she goes"
In the thick velvety blackness that
followed. Cornelius stepped. swift az
a cat, across the door to the door that
led into the corridor. It was ajar and
he pushed 1t open, slid around It and
entered the hall where he felt his way
into the embrasure Of another door and
waited, his heart pounding heavily.
Mary Finn would soon come down
the hall, her fair hair swinging loose,
her sweet face peering In the mirrors
depths for the face. Of her true love.
And Cornelius would be there, booking
over her shoulder. his eyes meeting
hers in the candlelight-settling thei'
futures at one blow.
A door opened, and with mumed
shrieks q slender form came into view
holding a lighted candle befors her Il
WAS Mary Finn!
Christopher held his breath - she
advanced. She looked 20 much Nike o.
angel. with the mist Of hair about heI
shoulders and her eyes liked um1dly
on the glass. that he almost forgot TIL
role be had selected to play.
Az she approached his hiding place
Cornelius braeed himself to ovsrcooal
TIE .shyness that began 70 steai evsi
him. Here was his opportunity 70 fore
stan the goddess Of chance-hs would
win Mary Finn In spite Of magic!
Al she passed he leaned forward
and poered over her shoulder just q
. dark shock head leaned from ~
opposite doorway 70 perform the sant
service Their heads bumped vi9oP
AAE -. !. 80 " I