i ' V
Colonel
TODHUNTB
of Missouri
By RIPLEY D. SAUNDERS
Copyright. 1911, by the BoLbs-Merrl
Company
tMAC I CM VIII.
Tom Striokland Faces Colonel Tod-
hunter In a Sentimental Crisis.
H
tOXESTLT. Mary." protested
Tom Strickland, "it isn't safe
for you to drlvo home alone.
It's all very well to make be
lieve that you'ro not afraid of a horse,
but I know better. Won't you let me
Bee you home?"
The two had met In the lazy quiet of
Nineveh's town square, and Tom wa9
quick to see his opportunity. Mary
Todhunter laughed at his apprehensive
manner.
"How can you keep a straight face
when you say that, Tom?" she asked.
"You know as well as I do that I've
driven old Solomon a million times,
more or less, and that nothing on earth
would make him run away."
"You can never tell about these old
reliables," said Tom.. "Solomon might
take It into his head to get frisky any
minute. I can see devilment in his eye
right now."
He placed on entreating hand on the
buggy's side.
"Well, get in, then," conceded Mary,
tossing her pretty head. "I reckou I
won't have any peace until I let you
have your own way."
Tom swung himself into the buggy
Instantly. "Thnt's a mighty wise con
clusion, Mary," he remarked, taking
the reins and heading old Solomon to
ward the shady road that led to Mary's
home. "I wish to goodness you'd make
up your mind to It as a permanent
thing."
Mary flashed mockery at him. "1
reckon you do," she exclaimed. "It's
Just like you. But there's no dauger of
It's coming to pass, Mr. Tom Strick
land." They were now well out of the drow
sy town. Old Solomon trotted content
edly along under the leafy foliage that
arched his always welcome homeward
way.
"That's one reason I'd like to see
yonr father elected governor," contin
ued Mary. "Those Jefferson City girls
will Boon teach you your proper place,
Tom Strickland, even though you are
the governor's son."
"I'm not the governor's son yet,
Mary," responded Tom, an intentional
meekness in his tone. "And even if
the time ever comes that I am, Jeffer
son City will see mighty little of me."
"What do you mean?" asked Mary.
"You'll certainly have to go to the
state capital when Colonel and Mrs.
Strickland go, won't you?"
Tom's face took on an Injured ex
pression. "I declare, Mary," he spoke,
"you never seem to realize that I'm no
lonfeer a boy. Please remember that
I'm a grown man now and that I've
studied law and been admitted to prac
tice at the Missouri bar!"
Laughter gleamed In Mary's eyes.
"Well, Mr. Thomas Strickland, great
lawyer that you are," sho mocked,
"what then?"
"Why, Just this, that I intend to stay
right here in Nineveh," announced Tom
loftily. It's nil settled too. I'm going
to bo taken into partnership with my
father and old Judge Bolliug, and then
I can hold my father's practice if he's
' elected. Anyway, I'm to be a partner.
'Strickland, Boiling & Strickland.' that's
how the new sign will read!"
Mary laughed outright. "Goodness
me!" she cried. "Won't we be a big
man then? Oh, Tom, It'll be such fun
to hear you make a speech in court!
Ahem Gentlemen of the Jury"
"Shame on you, Mary Todhunterl"
cried Tom, reddening boyishly. "It's
Just like you, though. You've poked
fun at me all your life."
"I haven't cither!" denied Mary In
stantly. "I've only laughed at your
high and mighty ways now and then,
and you know It."
Tom's angry eyes looked straight to
the front.
"You had no right to say that about
me," continued Mary. "I've been
mighty good to you."
"Up to a certain point, yes," agreed
Tom. "But Just the minute I get seri
ous nbout anything you beglu laughing
at me."
"Why, Tom, 1 don't do anything of
the sort!" protested Mary. "I never
dreamed of such n thing! You can try
nic this very minute and see!"
"All right, I will!" spoko Tom quick
ly. "Mary, I love you. I want you to
pronilso to bo my wife. Won't you?
I've loved you all my life!"
"Tom Strickland!" cried Mary, blush
ing lmtly. "You ought to be ashamed
of yourself! You've got no right to say
that Just because Just because 11
was trying to ho good to you!"
"Miiry," wild Tom sturdily, "if you
don't know I've been in love with you
all this time you must be blind. And
now I've told you, why well, you've
Rot to fdvo i no nn answer- iind l love
you ho tlmt I'm nfrnid to hear It! if
It' iio-woll, It'll brail; mv heart. Hint's
Hill"
'J'Im'I'o wns no answer to Ills I'loinl'ms
Mui'v Imil t'lviMi Mm ono sliiitli'il look
I 5 J&ttrM
mm
8
Then her eyes had softened and turned
away from his. It seemed to Tom that
be was crying.
"Mary," he said humbly, "I didn't
mean to say anything to trouble you,
but I had to tell you some time or
other. I've loved you a long, long
time. Is there any chance for me at
all?"
Still there was no answer.
"I reckon I've been the blind one,"
said Tom sadly. "I reckon you can't
care for me the way I care for you.
Yes, Mary, I reckou it's me that's been
blind!"
"Yes, Tom," replied Mary Todhunter,
"it's you that have been blind."
Tom bowed his head. "I ought to
have seen that you didn't love me," he
said. "I ought to have seen It. Then
I wouldn't have given you the pain of
having to tell me so."
"I'm not going to tell you," said
Mary.
"All right, Mary," replied Tom. "I'll
take my answer without hurting you
"l there any chance for me at all?"
by making you put It into words. I'm
no hog, anyway; I know when I've had
enough."
To his amazement Mary burst out
laughing. "Of all the funny things to
say at such a time!" sho cried. Her
eyes were full of mischief, yet beauti
fully tender. "Oh, Tom, indeed you are
the blindest of the blind!"
A sudden hope stirred In Tom's soul.
"Mary!" he exclaimed. "You don't
mean"
"I do, Tom," softly replied Mary.
"How could you believe I didn't love
you? You ought to be ashamed of your
self." And Tom Strickland took Mary Tod
hunter in his arms, leaving old Solo
mon to go his own way ungulded.
"I'll tell Mrs. Todhunter and the
colonel this very day," ho announced
a few moments later. "Lord, they'd
see It auyway in my face, I'm so proud
and happy. I want to know if they
think I'm good enough for you."
Mnry tossed her head. "They'd bet
ter think so!" she retorted indignantly.
"Not good enough, Indeed!"
But Tom was near to being paajc
stricken when they had gained (lie
wide gallery of Mary's home and were
confronting her parents.
"Howdy, Tom!" spoke Colonel Tod
hunter. His glance passed from young
Strickland to his daughter with Just
the faintest twinkle of amusement in
his gray blue eyes.
Tom Strickland had taken Mrs. Tod
hunter's hand. "Howdy, Mrs. Tod
hunter Howdy, colonel," he said, his
face an open book of confession. "I
I well, I Mury was good enough to
say I could come home with her!"
"We're plud you did, Tom," replied
Mrs. Todhunter. "And you've got to
stay to supper."
Colonel Todhunter's lips were twitch
ing. "I don't know about that, honey,"
he spoke. "Tom don't look to mo like
he's very hungry."
Mary flushed swift indignation at
her father, ill's. Todhunter looked at
the colonel in surprise. Then in sud
den understanding, the shot n quick
glance Bl tlio, young, pll'lc.. Tom
y r
r
Sti'lckl.-uitl Muhol redder than ever.
Mary Ered at her mother one soft vol
ley of eiittvnty from dewy eyes and
then fled precipitately Into the house.
Her face tilled with comprehending
tenderness, Mrs. Todhunter followed
Mary, making no excuses.
"Tom." Siiid Colonel Todhunter. "you
leem to have been kicking up a mighty
funny rumpus tills loud o' poles, young
maiiT'
Tom stood like a condemned felon
in the dock. "I reckon I have, colonel."
he made answer. Theu, after a dis
may filled pause, "11 I've been ask
ing Mary to marry in sir."
Colonel Todhunter's f ice was impul
sive. Tom Strickland stood very erect.
Pride shone In his eyes. "I don't know,
sir, whether you've noticed it or uot,"
ho resumed, "but I've been in love with
Mary for a Ions time."
A rclisliful twinkle was in Colonel
Todhunter's eyes.
"And, sir and-well, Colonel Todhun
ter, it's just this," exultantly but blush
iugly exclaimed Tom, "I know 1 don't
deserve it I can't hardlv believe It
but Mnry says she loves me, too and
well, sir. I waut to ask Mrs. Todhun
ter's and your consent to our marriage,
sir."
Coloael Todhunter wns contemplat
ing the youqg man with eyes brlmfu!
of kindly amusement.
"Tom," he said, "as long as you live
you'll never forget how skeered you
are this minute, sun. But you got
throuch wJth It like a hero, a blamed
sight hotter than I did when I asked
for Mrs. Todhunter. That sure was a
terrible experience."
But the next moment his face was
grave. lie laid his hand on young
Strickland's shoulder.
"Tom, my boy," he said, "I'd rather
give Mary to you than to tiny other
man in tho world, and you ought to
lia' known it without my tellin you.
I've known you and liked you nil the
time you've been growiu' up, and 1
love your father like he was my owu
brother. 1 am glad you and Mary
have got ft all settled, and I'm sure
Mrs. Todhunter thinks as much of you
as I do. God bless you and Mary both,
my boy."
There was a sudden break In tli
colonel's voice. "It's up to you and
Mary to arrange all the rest of it,
young man," he spoke again after a
little pause. Then, with a whimsical
smile: "And all of your troubles arc
ahead of you both. May the good Lord
have mercy on your souls."
A splendid gratitude shone in Tom's
eyes. "All I've got to say is this, Colo
nel Todhunter," he said, "God helping
me, I'll make Mary the best husband la
the world."
"You'll need the Good Marster's help
considerable, too, my boy," responded
Colonel Todhunter quizzically. "And
don't bank on beln' too blamed success
ful in that thero undertakln', sub. Be
in' a good husband ain't no sinecure,
not by a long shot It's the biggest con
tract you ever undertook, and you've
got to keep hammerln' away at It ev'ry
minute, sun. It's enough to skeer a
man to death, Tom, if it wan't for one
thing beln' a good husband means
havln' a happy wife, and that's tho fln
est thing on God's green footstool. You
Just live up to that great truth, Tom,
and it's all I'll ask of you."
"You won't havo to ask more than
once, Colonel Todhunter," replied Tom
fervently. "I'll think of nothing but
Mary's happiness all my life, sir. And
that'll mean mine, too; we're going to
be the happiest couple in nil the wortd,
colonel."
"Now that's where you slip up again,
Tom," said Colonel Todhunter. "Mar
rlcd life ain't Just one long dream of
unalloyed bliss, not by a jugful, sub.
You got to take it as it comes, the bad
with the good, and sometimes it may
look like the good ain't as plentiful as
it might be, but that's percisely when
you got to sit tight and watch and pray
for a change o' luck. And a man's wlfo
ain't no chronic angel,- young man, no
moren't a woman's husband is. You'll
be powerful lucky if Mary makes you
as good a wife as ber mother's mado
me, but, all the same, I've seen days
when Mrs. Todhunter looked more like
a destroyin cyclone to me than any
thing else. And she can tell a hundred
shortcoming on me where I can tell
you one on her, bo there you are, sub.
It's give and take, that's what it Is,
and you Just got to do your best, keep
on whlstlln for cheerfulness' sake and
stand ready to make a quick duck if
things get too stormy, suh!"
Tom Strickland could not help but
laugh. "Well, colonel," ho responded,
"if Mary and I are as happy as you
and Mrs. Todhunter I'll be more than
satisfied. And I'll try to make her a
good husband, I promise you that."
"I know you will, Tom," replied
Colonel Todhunter. "And I know
Mary'll try to fill her part o' the con
tract the same way too."
The young man's gazo went nervous
ly past the door through which Mary
and her mother had vanished.
"I wonder where they are, colonel?"
he ventured apprehensively. "I hope
there's nothing serious happening."
Colonel Todhunter tugged at his grlz
zled mustache to keep from smiling
openly In Tom's face.
"Don't you worry none about Mary
and her mother, suh," ho spoke
"They're Just havln' a heart to heart
talk on the all absorbln' subject of
marrluge, Tom, and they got to have a
good cry while It's goin' on. I ltet
they've already shed enough briny
tears to float a battleship, suh. That's
a woman's way at such n time as this,
All mothers has got to wall over their
daughters then like they wna goln' to
die 'stead o' gettln' married. But
they're ull rlxht nftor that, suh. When
Mary and Mrs. Todhunter get through
and wipe each other's wecpln' eyes
they'll show up out here as serene as
a summer's day. I reekon Its tlx
Cttod Marster's will they got to do it
that way. suh." ,
At this moment Mrs. Todhunter ap
peared In the doorway. She went
straight to Tom and put both hands
on his shoulders and kissed him on
the forehead.
"God bless you and make both of you
happy. Tom." she said, her voice trem
bling "Mary loves you very dearly.
You've got to be a good man, Tom.
for her sake. Yon will, too, won't
you?"
Mary's sweet face wns now In Tom's
view from where she stood In the
shadowy old hall behind her mother.
The young man bowed his head at
Mrs. Todhunter's tremulous speech.
"God helping me. 1 will. Mrs Tod
hunter." he replied.
Something very like the dimming f
tears came into Colonel Todhunter's
eyes at the picture thus presented But
he strove manfully to conceal the fact
of such emotion.
"Come out here. Mary," lie cried ln
dignautly. "You've been ten v hi' Ton
to face the music alone long enough."
But when Mary Todhunter obeyed
the summons her father took her into
his arms and pressed his suspiciously
quivering Hps to uer lrovn lutir.
Ain't von ashamed of yourself, hon
ey, lie asued. "for noin so wtutn to
leave your mother and me Just Iwvause
that snip of a Tom Strickland wants
you? We're goin' to be mighty lone
some without you. da lighter.
And then because Mary cried, her
face hidden on his breast, Colonel Tod
huutcr scowled ferociously at Tom.
"It's all your fault, you young ras
cal," he ejaculated, pattlug Mary
soothingly on the shoulder at the same
tlmw "You had uo business wautlu
her, add you know It."
At which not one of his three hearers
could refrain from laughing, and this
was precisely what the colonel desired.
(To tie Continued.)
Items of Interest to Old and New
Residents of City Which Were
New Forty Years Ago.
Frank White has one eye closed
up suspended sight. It shut up
I he same day the bank closed, but
refused lo open Monday morning,
because the hank merely closed
i
Ill PLMISill
FORTY YEARS AGO
to-
Buy 8
T'S CLEARANCE SALE time and our stock must be
cleaned out very promptly. It's time for you to
save money by spending it. The more you ''spend the
more you save. Buy oxfords now buy them for this
season, or buy them for next season; you'll make big
interest on your money. Men's, women's, boys' mis
ses' and children's Oxfords all come under the discount.
Sale
Bops
These
Men's
Men's $5.00 Oxfords now .... $3.75
Men's $4.00 Oxfords, now . . . .$3.00
Men's $3.50 Oxfords, now . . . .$2.55
No goods
charged ex
cept at regu
lar prices.
for lack of Map; but Frank's eye
shut tp for winter repairs.
Miss Maty Jones was married
to J. If. Wilbur, in Omaha, on the
Kith in st., and left for New York
City. There's another of our
beau klo.ll girls pone and got
married. Woll, Miss Mary, we
heartily wish you long life and
happiness and may your later
day in Nebraska bo richer and
grander and better than the first
by many measures of happiness.
frank Camilh lias returned
from Indiana with ten pounds of
new lloosier fat on him.
The (ileal Northwestern Sur
viving parly of lorringtoii & Co.,
havo returtieTI, and brought their
"bar" all back by I ho skin of their
teeth.
I'.ddio Humphrey, son of Mrs.
(ioo. Humphrey, formerly of this
place, was badly hurt by a train
of cars running over his foot, on
the Iowa side of tho river. He is
telograph operator there, and
was trying to get on tho tram to
deliver a message, when his foot
slipped from off the step and ho
was thrown under the train. Dr.
Livingston was sent for, and the
boy ncTv lies at (en. Cunning
ham's. We had the pleasure of an in
troduction to Mr. fleo. 0. Man
chester, of the U. & M. 1. R. in
Nebraska, the other day. Ho says
lie has been supposed by somo to
be a mythical personage, because
his whereabout aro so various and
his belongings hang up in so
many different quarters. We beg
leave to assure our readers that
Mr. Manchester is no myth, but a
real pleasant, jolly little fellow,
and a live man. If you don't be
lieve this talk business to him ten
minutes or so and you will find
out. James Wood, esq., also of
the 11. Sc. M., gave us I he above
"introduce," arid it may be hero
remarked (hat although (he name
may suggest ideas of the sturdy
oak, the curly maple, or the lleeey
rotlonwood, our friend. James, is
none of those kind of Woods, but
parodoxical as it may seem, this
Wood is perfect brick about R.
R. biz, anyway, 'i
Pleasant Ridge Sunday school
held a picnic on Saturday last in
Nick Holmes' grove. Speeches
F&urth Off
xfortis oi a Big
May,
Prices Tell the
per pair buys your choice of 213
Women's Low Shoes that sold up
HP OTPs P
were niad' by the Hev. Messrs.
Harlle and Arnold. The brass
band of Four Mile Crook dis
coursed some good music, and a
bountiful lunch helped to mako
things pass pleasantly and soci
ably. After dinner Mr. Mutz and
Mr. (lilmoro addressed tho chil
dren a fow moments. Over 150
people were there and all enjoyed
themselves honestly and heartily.
Reports of tho Sunday school were
then road and. everybody went
homo delighted ami pleased with
tho picnic.
Horn To the house, of John
son 1. F. (that is all fair) one
day last week, a son and heir.
Thi. time I hero is no mistake,
and wo congratulate Mr. and Mrs.
J. with alt our heart and mind.
Mr. F. J. Metloer took the ilrst
premium at the county fair on
the Marsh harvester. This well
known machine still continues to
bo a great favorite with the
farmers and Mr. Metleer, by his
winning ways managed to sell a
groat many of them.
The band of death has been
heavy in our town for the past
week. The little child of Mr. and
Mrs.. Latham died on Sunday
morning, and the body was sent
east by the early train.
Mrs. Rickabaugh died on Friday
evening and was buried on Sun
day last.
We are also pained to notice
the death of the infant child of
Mr. and Mrs. J. Newton Hayes of
Fremont. The child was buried
in l'lattsmouth on Monday.
Truly has it been a harvest
week for the reaper Death.
County Deputy Joseph McCluro
organized Three Grove Grange P.
of H., with 2t5 members, at Buck's
school house in ML Pleasant pre
cinct on Monday evening, April
28, 1873, the oflleers for the cur
rent year are: F. Z. Linnville,
master; Richard Pell, oversoer;
(i. F. Shryder, lecturer; William
Kikenbary, steward; G. S. Upton,
assistant steward; J. S. Upton,
treasurer; Henry Wolfe, sec
rotary; David Itrinsen, chaplain;
Robert Clark, gate keper; Miss F.
E. Drinsen, lady assistant stew
ard; Mrs. Jane Wolfe, ceres; Mrs.
C. Hunt, Fomona; Mrs. F. Buck,
flora. Regular meetings first and
third Saturdays in each month, at
1 o'clock p. m.
li
July Iflili
Story:
Women's
ecount
Women's $3.50 Oxfords $2.65
Women's $3.00 Oxfords $2.25
Women's $2.50 Oxfords $1.90
pairs of
to $3.50
Now buy
Oxfords at
a big
discount