The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-12-25

there was perfect quiet in the stock
room. Al the door opened. Cephas.
taking his last chance. went forward
to meet Patty. who was turning down
the skirt Of her dress. taking the cloth
of her bead. smoothing her hair and
tying on a clean white rufled apron. In
which she looked as pretty rs a pink.
Patty" stammered Cephas. selling
his golden opportunity. Patty. keep
your mind on me for a minute. I've
nut a new coat o paint on the ell just
to please you. Won't you get married
and settle down with me! ! love you
80 l can't eat nor drink .ior tend store
nor nothin'!!'
"Oh. I-l--cOuldn't. Cephas. thank
YOU. I just cou~ldn't-don't ask me-"
cried Patty, as nervous rs Cephas him
self now that her first offer had really
ONE I'm only seventeen. and | don't
feel like settling down. Cephas. and ia
Their wouldn't think of letting me get
married"
Don't play tricks on me-, Patty. and
keep shown me off so an givin' wrong
reasons" pleaded CephaS. whats
the trouble with me: | know mothers
temper'S onsartin. but we never need
go into the main house daytimes. and
fnthcr'd alters stand up ag'in her if
she didn't treat YOU right. I've got a
good trade, and father has 500 o. my
SHvin's that | can draw out tomorrer If
you'll. have me-" -.
IL cant. Cephas. Don't m~ove-stay
where YOU are. No. don't come any
nearer. I'm not fond of you that way.
and. besides and. beSides"-
Her blush and her evident embar-
rassment gave Cephas a new fear.
"YOu amt promised already. be
YOU" he asked %anxious!y. when there
amt a Teller anywheres around that's
ever stepped foot over your fathers
doorsill but jest me-?
II haven't promised anything or any
body" Patty answered sedately. gain.
ing her self control by degrees. but
| won't deny that Pm considering
that's true.
"Considerin' who?" asked Cephas.
turning pale.
"Oh-several. if you must know the
TRUTH and Patty's tone was cruel in
it's jauntiness.
"Several!' The word did not sound
like ordinary work-a-day Riverboro
English in Cephas' ears. He knew
that ~"several' meant more than one.
but he was too stunned to define the
term properly in it's present strange
connection.
whoever it's wouldn't do any bet
ter by you'n l would. I'd take a lick
in for you any day" Cephas exclaimed
abjectly, after a long pause.
THAT wouldn't make any difference,
Cephas." said Patty firmly. moving
toward the front door as if to end the
interview. IF l don't love you un-
licked l couldn't love you any better
licked, now. could l? Goodness gra-
cious, what am l stepping in? Cephas,
quick! Something has been running
all over the floor. My feet are sticking
to it."
Good gosh! It's Mis- Morrill's mo-
lasses!" cried Cephas. brought to his
sense suddenly.
1t was too true! The gakOn meas
ure. forgotten by Cephas. had been
filed to the brim ten minutes before,
and ever since the treacly liquid had
been overlooking the top and spread
ing in a brown food. unnoticed. over
the floor. Patty's feet were glued to
it. her bun calico skirts lifted high to
escape harm.
II can't move" she cried. "Oh, you
stupid. stupid Cephas! How could you
leave the molasses spigot turned on?
See what you've done! You've wasted
quarts and quarts! What will father
say and how will you v clean up
such q mess? You W can get the
floor to look so that he won't notice it.
and he is sure to miss the molasses.
You've ruined my shoes. and l simply
can't bear the sight Of you!"
At this Cephas all but blubbered in
the agony of his soul. 1t was bad
enough to be told by Patty that she