The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-10-30

myself to stay about the place much.
Ny niece tells Inc that she took care of
you. Do you like your room?"
Every much"
"Well, come in to luncheon. Since
our guests are all gone it would be
lonely for you to eat alone, so We will
take you in with u.s."
That's very kind of you"
The party. consisting of Mr.. and Mrs
Thorne. Miss Humphrey and Mr.. Win.
gate. sat down to table in a dining
room handsomely furnished and par
| took Of IL luncheon which the guest
| pronounced equal to any he had ever
eaten IN "a private house. What
| puzzled him was that both the landlord
| and landlady seemed to be to the man
ner born. while their niece was evident
ly every inch Il lady. True. the land
lord talked a great deal about the fine
season they had had and the money
they had made out Of their guests.
This seemed to be notifying to his
wife and niece. for during these boasts
they both concealed their features be-
hind their napkins. When they had
finished the meal and were rising from
the table Mrs. Thorne said to her
niece:
"Luella. | think you had better take
Mr.. Wingate out for an auto ride this
afternoon. This is a dull place. Mr.
Wingate. but we'll do the best we can
to keep you from being lonely"
II shall consider myself under deep
obligations replied the guest.
When an hour later a runabout was
brought to the porte-cochere Miss Hum
phrey took the wheel. and she and Mr.
Wingate sped away merrily. They re-
turned only in time to dress for dinner
please charge up all the extras" he
said to the landlord privately. 1.-The auto
and any wine l order. and ri pay
when l settle my bill"
you'll find everything charged" said
Thorne, "even the cigars"
Mr.. Wingate was so delightfully."- en-
tertained that he didn't fret about the
delay in the widows coming. He play.
ed tennis with Miss Humphrey in the
morning and rode i'm the auto with her
in the afternoon. In the evening the
four occupants of the house played
cards. and the days sped by merrily
One day Miss Humphrey said to her
companions:
when do you expect Mrs. Over
aker?"
Mrs. Overaker? Why. l expected
her on the LIST of the month. What's
this-the 3d?"
This is the 9th"
You don't mean it. l wonder what
is delaying her"
Delaying her? You don't expect her
at all now do yOu?"
Mr.. Wingate hoped in his heart that
she would not ONE. but he said that
something might have occurred to
change her plans. That evening it
was evident to all except Mr.. Win
gate that something of Importance vas
at hand. A delicious dinner was served
Miss Humphrey vas clad in a costume
dream of heaven" After dinner the
landlord and landlady excused then,
selves and left the place. leaving Mr.
Wingate and their niece in the drawing
room. A perfume Of flowers came in
from the conservatory adjoining Mr.
Wingate forgot all about the widow
and well. when Mr.. and Mrs. Thornt
, returned be was engaged to Miss Hum
phrey.
A supper YVES set in the dining room
to which the four persons adjourned
Mrs. Thorne and her niece hung back
for a few whispered words. Then
there was the popping of a champagne
cork. and Mrs. Thorne. holding her
glass high. proposed the health of the
newly engaged couple. Mr.. Thorne
kissed his niece and. slapping his guest
on the back. said vociferously:
This is no hotel. This is the resi-!
dence of your humble servant. Edward
Thorne. banker: But you've been wei.
come, my boy. and we give you oul
little Lu gladly. We've heard lots
about you from Mrs. Overaker. and ali
to your credit"
The. expression on Wingate's face
was a mingling of surprise. shame and
happiness
When do you expect Mrs. Over
aker?' he asked.
Tomorrow afternoon"
Il regret that my limit Of time to be
absent has expired and l shall not have
the pleasure of meeting her after all
must gosback to the city in the morn
ing" =.
$50 SOON exclaimed the host and
hostess in a breath.
Don't detain a man from his bust
ness" said Luella. II think Mr.. Win
gate is perfectly excusable in goin"
and If l don't complain no one should :
Wen all 60" said the host.
The next morning an automobile con
tanning Mr. and Mrs. Thorne. Miss
Humphrey and Mr.. Wingate pulled out
from under the porte-cochere destined
for the city. Mr.. Thorne at the wheel
They had been gone only Il few min
1 - 1- --1 IT, .sl