Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1922-06-29

to court Dlantha Bowman, the rosy
checked, golden-haired idol Of his boy
hood Dianthas cheeks were not rosy
now, and her hair was more silver than
gold, but she was not yet his wife.
And he had tried so hard to win
her! Year after year the rosiest ap-
pies from his orchard and the choicest
honey from his apiary had found their
way to Dlantha's table; and> year
after year the county fair and village
picnic had found him at Diantha's door
with his old mare aud his buggy,
ready to be her devoted slave for the
day. Nor was Diantha unmindful Of
all these attentions. She ate the ap-
pies and the honey, and spent long
contented hours in the buggy; but she
still answered his pleadlngs with her
gentle: II hain't no call to marry yet,
Phineas,' and nothing he could do
seemed to hasten her decision in the
least. 1t was the mare and the buggy,
however. that proved to be responsible
for what was the beginning Of the
end.
They were on their way home from
the county fair. The mare, head
hanging, was plodding through the
dust, when around the curve of the
road shot the one automobile that the
town boosted. The next moment the
whlzz!ng thing had passed, and left
superannuated old mare looming
through cloud of dust and dancing
on two wa bly, hind legs.
"Plague take them autymobiles I"
snarled Phineas through set teeth, as
he sawed at the reins. II az pardon,
I'm sure Dianthy," he added shame
facedly. when the mare had dropped
to a position more nearly normal ''but
hain't no use fur them ERE contrap.
tiors!"
Diantha frowned. She was fright
ened-and because she was frightened
she was angry. She said the first
thing that came into her head-and
never had she spoken to Phineas SO
SHARPLY. .-.Sse-.'--.s7s
III you'd have some use for 'em,
.Phineas Hopkins, you wouldn't be
.crawlin' along in shiftless old rig
like this; you'd have one yourself an
be somebody! For my part, I like
'em, an I'm jest achin' ter ride In 'e..a.,
tool"
Phineas almost dropped the reins
in his amazemerlt. "Achin' ter ride
in EN-" she had said-and all that he
,cogtu give her was this "shiftless old
rig. that sic so scorned. He remem.
bered something else, too, and his face
famed suddenly red. 1t was Colonel
Smith who owned and drove that au-
tomoblle. and Colonel Smith, too, was
a bachelor. What If Instantly in
Phineas' soul rose fierce jealousy.
II like boss, myself" he said, with
some dignity. II want somethin' that's
talive!
Diantha laughed slyly. The dan
ger was past, and she could afford to
be merry.
"Well, it strikes me that you come
pretty near havin' somethin' that
want alive Jest cause you had some
thin that was!" she retorted. Really.
Phineas, I didn't s'pose Dolly could
move so fast!'
Rhineas brindled.
Dolly knew how ter move once u
iAC lCJVLuSu SduSC AuUOuy
pretends ter say she's young now, any
: more'n we be-" he finished with some
defiance. But he dropped visibly at
Diantha's next words.
"Why, don't feel old, Phineas. an
Il amt old, either. Look at Colonel
Smith; he's jest my age, an he's got
autymobile. Mebbe I'll have one
some day."
To Phineas 1t seemed that cold
hand clutched his heart.
"Dianthy, you wouldn't really-rlde
in one!" he faltered
Until that moment Diantha had not
been sure that she would. but the
quaver in Phineas' voice decided her
Wouldn't I? You jest wait an
see!"
And Phineas did wait-and he die
see. He saw Diantha, not weel
later, pink-cheeked and bright-eyed
sitting by the side Of Colonel Smith
in that hated automobile. Nor did HI
stop to consider that Diantha was onl!
one Of dozen upon whom Colone
Smith. in the enthusiasm Of his new
possession. was pleased to bestow tina
attention. To Phineas it could NEAR
but one thing and he did not chang
his opinion when he heard Dianthai
account Of the ride.
ut was perfectly lovely" sh,
breathed. "Oh. Phineas, it was jes
like fyin'!"
=. FLYNN" Phineas could say n,
more. He felt as If he were chokin,
choking with the dust raised b,
Dolly's plOdding hoofs. ,435,
AN the trees an Ahe houses swer
by like ghosts continued Diantht
.Why, Phineas. Loud a'SIodeg o. d
on furever!'' 81 Fl as..s. D 3, ::
Before the ecstatic rapture ~ .
antha's face Phineas went down In q
sss9 feat. without one word he turnt
away-b but in his heart he registert
~ q a. snlpmr1 VOW: he too would have 6