The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-12-03
$50. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndica

&c. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.)
John Inglis began it-very badly at
that. Which is not at all like him
commonly he is rock Of refuge for
anybody in the neighborhood who let's
herself get overgirled. You see he can
do anything, and has nearly everything
cars, gated saddle horses, two ca
noes on the mill pond, delightful big
old house, with an adorable aunt to
play propriety at need, money in both
pockets, a sweet disposition, and the
most engaging brand of ugliness,
unique, even distinguished.
He claims to have helped raise me
and intimates that he is not proud OF
the job. l know how to take that
as CUFF for public consumption. Pri-
vately he looks another story-though
he hadn't ever asked me outright, my
mind was quite made up to marry him,
when was good and ready-Say after
I was rising twenty-five. Maybe l
ought to have told him, but it takes
SO little to make a man give himself
airs-even John. Then really couldn't
conceive him giving Lady Loring
thought, except as my friend.
Yet he called up at an ungodly hour
just after daybreak. wake up the
Lady Bird and have her ready to ride
with me-" he said. "Your toys will fit
her-she'u look fine in my Mexican
saddle-and tell her to let her hair
fly-it is a dead match to Trimble
Toes name and TAIL"
The impertinence of him! 1t took
my breath a second. / flared out at
him like house afire, but he only
laughed back. 'Don't be foolish,
Nancy. Green eyes don't become you
not one bit" Then as / gasped,
''You shall have roses washed in dew
If you're good. Otherwise-well, the
Lady Bird won't be jealous of sister
blossoms" OF course, 1 froZe after
that-bade him come in a hurry-rout-
ed up lady-she was horribly cross
until she knew why-then she asked
me as she went into the bathroom:
SLOW rich is this scarecrow of yours,
Nan? / mean in real money-belOng-
ings don't interest mel must invest
myself for hard cash, you know"
II think he has as much as seven
dollars" I flung after her, so angry
I could barely keep my voice steady.
wanted to tell her she'd be lucky to
get on bargain counter, but didn't,
being hostess cramps your style
sometimes.
When they rode off to breakfast at
the Pines l had to laugh-John rode
so easy and lady so hard. 1t was
about her third time in saddle
know she wanted to hold on to Trim
BILE Toes name, but she didn't. must
say she was game.
Just then dad came down, wearing
mostly a dressing gown and a wor-
ried look. Mother was ill-he had
called the doctor-now it was up to
me to call off the garden party due
that aflernoon-mOther wasn't able
to endure noises Of chatter, squealing,
motors, and so forth, to say nothing
Of jazz, even on the lawn. A pretty
big order, but luckily waited till af-
ter breakfast to start carrying it out.
The riders were back then-Lady with
her nose burnt scarlet at the tip. John
lifted her down just as though she had
been me, and set her on the piazza,
so had to say: ooh, do your boots
pinch, dear? I'm so sorry! Get them
off quick" John frowned little, but
forgot it when he heard the pickle I
was in, and like an angel got me out
of it. Went home and took the party
bodily off my hands. I loved him for
it until he called up to tell me every
thing was arranged, and wound up
with: ''Of course you won't like to
leave your dear mother, so I'm coming
to fetch the Lady Bird in time to help
Aunt Jane receive"
That made me murderous, but had
no time even to see red, for here came
the Lorton car, with Jessie Farrell and
Elsie Duke inside, all packed around
with bags, and suitcases, and things,
and explaining that they had come
this Thursday instead of waiting un-
til Saturday, when they were expect
GU DCSduSC "CiS any
way to the party, and Mrs. Lorton
sighed so over the price of gasoline.
But after all, it wasn't so bad. I call
ed up John telling him to bring the
big car-not the roadster-that is, I'M
less he wanted to make three trips
tete-a-tete.
When mother had fallen asleep I
tiptoed into Lady's rOom-found her
whimpering on the bed, her blistered
nose dripping cold cream, her feet
swollen two sizes, and red as
beets. "But-they-a-are-
she spluttered, 81
can't sit down-Pm so s-sore. But
II must go. Even though it s-seems
I can't hardly s-stand."
"Of course, you must go-you shall,
if / have to get litter" said crisply
John should see the
wreck of his happiness while the