The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-03-09
TheUndesiirable
Suitor
By EUNlCE BLAKE

Bertha Henderson's father was in a
quandary concerning his daughters
choice Of husband. There were two
suitors for her hand, the one, Arnold
Deane, staid chap, not at all brilliant,
but Of latent force Of character; the
other, Algernon Page, a man especial
ly adapted to pleasing young girl,
but with nothing to recommend him to
any one Of mature judgment. Mr.
Henderson, realizing the danger Of en-
differing his daughters life and that
opposition in such cases is often add
ing fuel to the fire, said nothing to her
on the subject except to approve Of
Deane and express a lack Of confidence
in Page. But he took occasion to tell
the former that he hoped he would
win.
One day Mr.. Henderson told his
daughter that the son Of an old friend
of his he had not seen for years had
called at his office and he had invited
the young man to dinner. When he
appeared In dinner costume it struck
Bertha that he was not up to his
clothes-in other words, he had not
that refinement she would expect in
the son of friend Of her father.
Henry SOuthwick - that was the
young mans name-was about thirty
years old and, despite his lack OF re-
finement, had a way Of ingratiating
himself into ones confidence. Bertha,
however, was too refined herself to
overlook his failing. Still, he seemed
to have her fathers approval and
came often to the house, where he
met the suitors and soon seemed to
be hand in glove with both Of them,
though he appeared to court Page.
One afternoon, while Page was with
Bertha, Southwick came in, saluted
both with that brusque manner Of his
which was especially Objectionable to
the young lady and asked If Mr.. Hen
derson had come in. Bertha replied
that he had not. Southwick seemed a
bit perplexed, then, calling Bertha into
an adjoining room, said in low voice:
II am in q hurry and can't wait for
your father. so must ask you to call
his attention to something l shall
leave for him. Since it is Of value l
will explain. Many years ago when
my governor was down on his luck
Mr.. Henderson lent him 5000. have
received a check from the old man
for three hundred. one hundred Of 1t
for me. l have cashed the check and
have brought two hundred OF the
amount with me-"
Southwick took a roll of bills from
his pocket and was about to hand them
to Bertha when be suddenly paused.
seemed lost in thought. then continued:
II am sure this payment Of an old
score will be pleasure to your father.
not on account of the money, but be-
cause it will show that his friend Is
honorable. I wish we might put 1t
where your father will come upon 1t
unexpectedly. with my old mans let
ter concerning It,"
Papa does his writing at home on
that desk over there. You might put
it in the drawer where he keeps his
stationery"
'The very thing!' exclaimed South
wick, and, going to the desk, he opened
a side drawer, put the money with the
letter in it and, turning to Bertha,
looked very much delighted with his
scheme for surprise. Then he hurried
away. He had no sooner gone than
Mrs. Henderson called out from above:
Bertha, come up here, quick"
Bertha ran upstairs and found her
mother gasping for breath. But she
was not pale and gave no other sign
Of ailing except to put her hand on
her heart. She dropped on bed and
appeared to be very much frightened.
Bertha asked what was the matter,
whether she should send for doctor
and many other questions. After
awhile her mother seemed easier, but
Bertha, not being willing to leave her.
called a maid and sent her downstairs
to Mr.. Page with request that he
should excuse her on account of sud
den indisposition Of her mother. Soon
after the delivery Of the message Page
took his departure.
When Mr.. Henderson returned his
wife's condition had put all thought Of
the money left for him In his desk out
of Bertha's mind. He did not use the
desk that evening nor the next morn
Ing, when he went to business. leav-
ing Mrs. Henderson quite recovered.
After his departure Bertha went to
the desk to assure herself that the
money was there. She did not like
leaving It in an exposed position. What
was her CONSERVATION to find It gone!
She hardly knew what to do. The
theft-if It was theft-should be re-
ported at once and investigated. She
ran upstairs and told her mother Of
the leaving of the money and Its dis
appearance. Mrs. Henderson. instead
Of looking troubled. seemed to be pleas
ed. She advised Bertha to wait till
her father came home In the evening,
then to tell him the story.
Nothing was done in the matter. and
a week passed. Then Bertha was In
formed that Mr.. Page had stolen the