The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-01-15
Bankruptcy In
the Court of
Love
A Story For New Years Day.
By WILLARD MALTBlE


Bella" said Mr.. Dudley to his
daughter on the 31st Of December.
handing her a birthday present and
giving her q kiss. don't you think that
q girl of nineteen Is old enough to set
tie down and take some thought for
the future?'
Il certainly do. papa"
To-day you begin q new year In
your life, and tomorrow you begin a
new year of the calendar. Suppose
you do some thinking If to your &C.
lions during the past few years. make
up your mind as to what is necessary
In your case and form such resolutions
as may seem essential to your future
happiness.
TELL me what you think necessary
'"The main thing | have In mind Is
this: The most important event in a
woman's life-sO | consider it's her
marriage-that is. If she is to be a
wife. | have noticed In you an un
fortunate propensity to regard those
things which are preliminaries-in this
country, where people usually marry
for love-to the union Of a man and
oma with the consequent rearing Of
q family. very much as you would con
slider a game of tennis.
This. my daughter. is all wrong.
Love Is nearer akin to divinity than
any other part of our nature. 1t il
~serious-very serious. |, your mother.
your brothers and sisters. we who
form a group so closely cemented. are
held together by this n element In
the composition of life-love."
"Oh, papa. how beautifully you talk!
A shadow passed over the fathers
face. realizing from this remark that
he had not produced the impression
he desired. He vas turning away dis
appointed when his daughter caught
his hand.
Really, papa, explain what you
mean, and l will do what you wish me
to do"
"Well. then, to come down to plain
language, stop flirting"
"Oh. that's what you are driving att
"Yes. Tomorrow morning when you
wake up refreshed after q good sleep
think over your treatment Of worthy
and worthless young men. which is
based merely OF your fancy, and make
resolution that II you have any en-
enlargement to bestow upon any one
Of them 1t will be given to some one
who should you marry him-and you
are now at a manageable age-will
make you q worthy husband, n you
can be proud Of before the world"
Bella sat musing.
"A penny for your thoughts" said
her father.
Il vas thinking that tomorrow morn
ing will be a better time to make such
resolutions than now"
"Why SOP"
We'll, tonight | go to the SeymOur>
70 see the old year out and the new
year in"
what has that to do with resoIu
ionsY"
why. Jimmy Halliday will be there.
md yesterday. just because | accepted
l rose from Tom Erskine, he passed
ne on the street. pretending he didn't
zee me-"
"WellY"
why. papa. you don't think I'm go
ng to stand that. do your"
do you care especially for HALL
layT"
"Oaro for him! OF course not"
Then why should you trouble your
elf about himy
"Oh. papa. how stupid you are! You
Ion't understand such things at all. |
will give Jimmy tonight as good as
e has given me Tomorrow morning
will make your resolutions
MY resolutions"
lesire."
Her father. who adored her, gave her
mother kiss and left her. feeling that
is words had been without effect
lot so Bella. She had really been i'm
ressed. but not for such general rea
ems as had been mentioned by her
ather.
Far down in the bottom of her
cart was a soft spot into which a
ertain quiet, reserved young man,
:dward Corwin by name. had settled
imself without asking her permission
he had treated him in accordance with
er usual methods. with the result
lat he had locked himself up-to
oeak 6guratively-and all her efforts
get at him had signally failed.
Miss Dudley passed the evening OF
le 3lst Of December at Seymours'
anced the cotillion with Tom Erskine
liled to favor Jimmy Halliday, smiled
o Elliott Tracks and sat out a figure
18th Fred Swords. when she made
p q spat with him. throwing him into
:stasies Then. when all were assem-
led about a round table feasting the
ew year In. she exchanged bonbons
18th Bob Sparkles. reviving a hope
lat had nearly died out. As for Ed
ard Corwin. he was not present.
On New Years morning Bella awoke
I'D. looking at a tiny clock on a brack