The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-04-30

our wedding"
Don't worry about that. dear |
can handle the matter"
But there is one large item Of ex-
pense-the largest item-that is really
not necessary you should incur"
What is that, pet?"
why. in the matter of furniture"
The furniture?'
"Yes. | have some very nice furni.
ble."
You haveY
"Yes-that is, If you would act sen.
sibly about using furniture that was
provided"-
She was stalled.
"Provided how?"
ut was bought at a time when"-
"When"-
"Did I ever tell you that when l vas
a child was engaged to marry
WHAT"
"A man a great deal older than my,
self. He was old enough to be my ia
ther."
do you mean to tell me that you
had been engaged before giving your
self to me?"
He had drawn away from her and
was looking at her with a cold stare.
Haven't l eve mentioned it before?'
mentioned it! No! You told me that
I was the only man you ever loved."
did II"
"Yes. and now you tell me that you
have been engaged BEFORE"
There was an awful pause between
them which Joaquin broke.
"What has this to do with the furni.
tureT" he asked.
"Why, it was provided-provided by
the man to whom
"Heavens! What an awful decep-
ton! I can never excuse it-never.
never, never!"
He buried his face in his hands.
joaquin, dear, why do you set so
much store by something that happen
ed ever so long ago, when was a mere
chit and knew nothing of lover"
"Knew nothing Of love! We're you
going to marry a man you didn't lover
II thought I did,"
How did you find out that you
didn'tw
Here was another stumper. Pepita
did not reply.
Come! Confess all since you are
about it."
After a long silence the rest came
out haltingly.
81 was young and giddy. A man
about my own age attracted me-, and
I broke with the other"
"Oh. you really fell in love this
timer"
No answer.
"Well. what became Of this second
love AFFAIR."
1T didn't come to anything"
"Why not?"
There was a terrible temptation to
lie. but Pepita was a good girl and
would not lie even to ret tin the man
she loved.
HE didn't fancy me-"
Instead Of approaching Pepita's hon
esty Joaquin went off into a passion
ate TRADE about having been deceived
&c rose while venting his spleen and.
with Il wave Of the hand and a formal
bow. said:
"All is over between u.s."
Then he swept out of the room.
Pepita was not crushed. She follow.
ed him with her eyes in a sort of o
der, while within her was breaking q
revolution rs real as that in her lover
was emotional. His unreasOnablenesS.
his injustice. stood out in contrast
with the generosity of Leandro Ortez.
who had refused to hold her or to
blame her when he learned that she
had given her heart to another. but had
insisted on her keeping all his gifts.
When Joaquin's outburst had sub
sided it began to dawn upon him that
he had made a fool of himself. He
passed the next day in indecision and
in the evening, having repented, went
to Pepita for a reconciliation He re
ceived word by a servant that Senorita
Sierra was engaged. He turned away
with a cry Of anguish.
Senior Ortez had never married. He
had given his heart to Pepita when
she was little more than a child. and
she still held it as a woman.
There is a celebration in Mexico City
called the battle of flowers. When the
next anniversary of this fete came
round after Senorita Sierra broke with
Joaquin Molina she was riding within
a line Of carriages in the ChapuItepee
park meeting another line Of carriages.
while persons in both lines were pelt
ing each other with roses. Suddenly
Pepita caught sight Of Leandro Ortez
coming. Az he passed be was struck
in the face with a rose. Looking at
his assailant. he saw Pepita smiling at
him.
Ortez considered the rose and the
smile q recall. The same evening he
saw Pepita and their engagement was
renewed.
Within a short time after the new
engagement the furniture that had