The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-04-16

value HE COO lluCu VI L SAdll ioSc Lily
head-I that have never known a
sweet word in all my life save those
that my sister has given me. | must
tell you all about Patty now"
81 happen to know more than you.
dear. l met her at the bridge when |
was coming home from the woods and
| saw her safely to Uncle Barts door.
l don't know why we speak OF it as
Uncle Bart's when it is really Aunt
Abby's! | next met Mark. who had
fairly flown from Bridgton on the
wings of love, arriving hours ahead of
time. 1 managed to keep him from
%avenging the insults hcaped upon bis
bride. and h" has driven to the Mills
to confide in his father and mother.
BY this time Patty is probably the
center of the family group, charming
them all, as is her CUSTOM
"Oh, l am so glad Mark is at home.
Now 1 can be at rest about Patty.
And l must not linger another mo-
ment, for l am going to ask Mrs. Ma
son to keep me overnight" cried Wait
still, bethinking herself suddenly Of
time and place.
81 will take you there myself and ex-
plain everything. And the moment
I've lighted a fire in Mrs. Mason's best
bedroom and settled you there, what
do you think l am going to do? | shall
drive to the town clerks house. and If
he is in bed. rout him out and have the
notice of our intended marriage post
ed in a public place. according 10 law
Perhaps I shall save a day vt # IL
fourteen I've got to wait for my wife
Mills indeed! | wonder at You. Wait
still! AS if Mrs. Mason's house was
not far enough away. without your
speaking of mills"
Il only suggested mills in case you
did not want to marry me-" said Wait
still.
Walk up to the door with me-" beg
ged Ivory. The horse is all harness
ed. and Rod will slip him into the
sleigh in a jiffy."
ooh, Ivory. do you realize what this
means"-and WaitStill chung to his
arm as they went up the lane together
that whatever sorrow whatever
hardship comes to u neither of us will
ever have to bear it alone again?"
II believe l do realize it us few men
could. for eve in my five and twenty
years have l had a human creature to
whom l could pour myself out. in
whom l could really contide, with
whom l could take counsel. You can
guess what it will be to have a COM
pretending woman at my side. Shall
we tell my mother? Do say 'yes;' !
believe she will understand. Rod, Rod.
come and see who's stepping in the
door this very minute"
Rodman was up in his bedroom, at
firing himself deliberately for sentry
duty. His delight at seeing Waitstill
was perhaps slightly tempered by the
thought that flashed at n through
his mind-that if she was safe he
would not be required to stand guard
III the snow for hours as he had hoped.
But this grief passed when he fully
realized Waitstill's presence at the
farm at this unaccustOmed hour really
meant. After he had been told he
hung about her like the child that he
was-though he had a bit of the hero
in him, at bottom, Concentrating her
waist fondly and bristling with won
dering questions.
"1s she really going to stay with US
for always, lvOry? he asked.
.sEvnrv 10V, nn1 oil fhn 1ovc oynrv,
night and all the nights. Praise God
from whom all blessings f1ow!'" said
Ivory. taking off his fur cap and open
ing the door of the living room. But
we've got to wait for her a whole fort
night. Rod. Isn't that a ridiculous
snail Of a law"
Patty didn't wait a fortnight"
Patty waited for anything"
Ivory responded. with a smile. but
she had a good eason and. alas. we
haven't, or they'll say that we haven't.
And l am very grateful to the same
dear little Patty, for when she got her
self a husband she found me a wifev
ROdman did not wholly understand
this. but felt that there were many
mysteries attending the love affairs of
grownup people that were too compli-
Gated for him to grasp. and it did not
seem to he just the right moment for
questions.
Waitstill and Ivory went into Mira.
Boynton's roo quietly, hand in hand.
and when she saw Waitstill she raised
herself from her pillow and held out
her arms with a soft cry of delight.
81 haven't had you for so long, 50
long," she said. touching the girls
cheek with her frail hand.
"You are going to have me every day
now. DEAR" whispered Waitstill, with
a sob In her voice, for she saw a
change in the face. a new TRANSPARENT.
cy. a still mor ethereal look than had
been there before.
Every day?" she repeated longingly.
Waitstill took of her hood and knelt
on the door beside the bed. hiding her