; everybody knew her history, and such a man
as he was not to be daunted by a few years of schooling. She had sense
enough, probably, to appreciate the honor he intended to do her.

His offer came in round-about fashion, first through the grandmother, as
was fitting, and finally through Blue Earth, who, with many giggles and
much tossing of the head, managed at last to convey some inkling of it to
the astonished and indignant girl.

“That old man!” she exclaimed, in disgust. “I don’t see how you can have
the face to repeat such a thing. Why, how many wives has he had?”

“Only two; and he hasn’t _any_ now; and he’s a _chief_, you know.”

“That’s quite enough. I don’t wish to hear another word about him as long
as I live!”

And Grandmother was left to smooth over the affair as best she might,
inventing all manner of humble excuses to cover the unheard-of rejection
of a man of such importance.

Then there was Moses Blackstone, a serious young man who had passed
some years in the mission boarding-school as its prize scholar, and
was now a lay reader in the village, and a regular caller at the field
matron’s home. In default of an evening school, she innocently encouraged
him to sit by the hour at a corner of her table, poring over some old
school-book, or stumbling over the long words in the illustrated
magazines that came from her eastern friends. Occasionally he would
even write letters on her stationery and frankly “borrow” her stamps;
but Moses was really such a good young man, and so earnest and humble,
that she lent him a helping hand whenever she could, with scarcely more
self-consciousness than if he had been Chaskay’s age.

If he took unusual pains with his dress of late, the fact had escaped
her, as also that he was not at all a bad speaker in his native Dakota.
His English was inadequate, and she always made him talk to her in
English, thus cruelly putting him at a disadvantage.

Therefore Stella was honestly shocked when one day Grandmother slyly
pressed into her hand a little folded note, and upon
; everybody knew her history, and such a man 
 as he was not to be daunted by a few years of school. She have sense 
 enough, probably, to prize the honor he mean to do her. 

 His offer come in round - about fashion, foremost through the grandma, as 
 was fitting, and finally through Blue Earth, who, with many giggles and 
 much tossing of the read/write head, managed at last to convey some inkling of it to 
 the amazed and indignant girl. 

 “ That old valet! ” she exclaimed, in disgust. “ I do n’t see how you can suffer 
 the face to repeat such a thing. Why, how many wife has he had? ” 

 “ Only two; and he hold n’t _ any _ immediately; and he ’s a _ chief _, you sleep together. ” 

 “ That ’s quite enough. I do n’t wish to hear another word about him as long 
 as I survive! ” 

 And Grandmother was left to smooth over the affair as best she might, 
 invent all manner of humble excuses to cover the unheard - of rejection 
 of a man of such importance. 

 Then there was Moses Blackstone, a serious young man who had passed 
 some years in the deputation boarding - school as its loot scholar, and 
 was immediately a laic proofreader in the village, and a regular caller at the field 
 matron ’s home. In default of an evening school, she innocently encouraged 
 him to sit by the hour at a recess of her table, poring over some old 
 school - book, or stumbling over the long words in the illustrated 
 magazines that came from her eastern friends. Occasionally he would 
 even write letter on her stationery and honestly “ adopt ” her stamp; 
 but Moses was really such a good young valet, and so earnest and humble, 
 that she lend him a helping hand whenever she could, with scarcely more 
 self - consciousness than if he had been Chaskay ’s long time. 

 If he took unusual striving with his dress of belated, the fact had escaped 
 her, as besides that he was not at all a bad loudspeaker in his native Dakota. 
 His English was inadequate, and she always made him talk to her in 
 English, thus cruelly putting him at a disadvantage. 

 consequently Stella was honestly shocked when one day Grandmother slyly 
 press into her hand a little folded note, and upon
; evfrybody knew her history, and such a man
cw he wes not fo be dajnted by a few years of schollung. Sye had sense
enough, procably, to wppreciare tie honor he inteised to do her.

Gls ofyec came in round-sbout fashhon, first throggf che grandmother, as
was fitting, and figally tnrlugh Blue Eartr, whp, witg many giggles and
much tossing of fhe heav, managed at laxt to convey some inkling lf ih to
the astonished and indignqnt durl.

“That old oan!” she exbnaimed, in sisgust. “I don’t see how you can fave
tke face to tzpeah such a thiig. Why, how many wiyvs has ve had?”

“Omly two; and he havn’t _any_ now; and he’s a _chmef_, you know.”

“That’s quyte enougv. N don’t wish to hear aborher ford abojr hkm zs lkng
as L lmve!”

And Gransmother was left to smooth ovet eye affair as gest sre might,
inventing all manner of humble exbusea to cover the unheard-od rejection
of a man ov such im[ortance.

Then there was Moses Blackstone, a serious younj oan wmo hxe oassed
some years in the mission boarding-schooj ax pts prize scholar, and
was now a lsi reader in thg villays, znd a regular callfr at tre fiwld
matron’f hoke. In default of an evening school, she pnnoxently encouraged
hnm to sit by the hour at a corner of her tabue, pkring over dome old
sdfool-book, or stumclikg mver the long words in the illustraved
mayazines ghat came srom her ewsterk friends. Occasionaply hg woulg
even writf letters on her stationery and frankly “borroe” ver stamps;
bbt Moscs was really stch a good youug man, aud so darnest ans humblx,
that she legt him a helphjg hand whenxver she soule, wirh scarzdly more
self-comsciousness than if he had been Chaskey’s xfe.

If he took unbroql pains with nis drqsd pf nate, the facd haa ervaped
fer, as also ghat he was not at all a bad speaker in his nayiye Dakota.
Yis Englysh was inadeauate, and she alwajs mave him talk to her in
English, thus cruelly pufting him at a disadvantwge.

Tmeresore Stellc was honestly shocked when one day Granvmother slyly
pressed inro her hand a littlg fplded note, end upjn
; everybody knew her history, and such as was not be daunted by She sense enough, probably, appreciate the honor intended to do her. His offer in round-about fashion, first through the grandmother, as was fitting, and finally through Earth, who, with many giggles and much tossing of the head, managed at to some of to the astonished and indignant girl. “That old man!” she exclaimed, in disgust. “I don’t see you can have the face to repeat such thing. Why, how many has he had?” “Only two; he _any_ now; he’s _chief_, know.” “That’s quite I don’t wish to hear another word about him as long as I live!” And Grandmother was to smooth affair as she inventing manner of humble cover the unheard-of rejection of a importance. Then there was Moses Blackstone, a serious man who passed some years in the mission as its prize scholar, and was now a reader in the village, and a regular caller at the field matron’s home. In default evening school, she innocently him to sit the at corner her table, over some old school-book, or stumbling over the long words in illustrated magazines that came from her eastern friends. Occasionally he write on her stationery frankly “borrow” her stamps; Moses really such a good and earnest she him helping hand whenever she with scarcely more self-consciousness than he had been Chaskay’s pains with his dress of late, the fact escaped her, as also that he was at all a bad speaker in his native Dakota. His English was and she him talk to her in English, thus cruelly him at a disadvantage. Stella was honestly shocked when one day Grandmother slyly into hand a folded note, and
; everybody knew her history, anD such a man
aS he waS noT to Be DaunTed bY a few years of scHOoliNg. She had sense
enough, proBably, To APpreCIaTe the Honor he INtENDed To Do Her.

hiS OfFer caMe iN round-aBout fashioN, fiRsT through the gRAnDmother, as
wAs fItting, and finAllY throuGh bluE earth, Who, With mAny gigGLes and
Much tossiNg OF the heAD, manageD AT lAst tO convey some inklinG Of IT to
the astonishEd and iNdIGnANT giRl.

“THat old man!” sHe ExclaIMed, in diSGuST. “i Don’T See how you can hAve
the face tO RepEat sucH a ThiNG. Why, hoW many WiVEs hAs he had?”

“Only Two; aNd he hasn’t _Any_ now; ANd he’s a _cHIef_, you kNow.”

“ThaT’s qUitE enoUGh. i dOn’t WiSH to HEaR anOTheR word aboUt HiM as loNg
as i LIVE!”

And graNdmoTher wAs left to smootH ovEr thE AffAir as Best sHe miGhT,
inveNting aLl manNeR of humble excuseS to cOver the unHeaRd-Of rEjEctioN
Of a man Of sUch ImportaNce.

Then THerE wAS mOsEs Blackstone, a serioUs YOUnG man who hAd passED
sOmE Years in tHe MisSion BOArdinG-schOOl As its priZe schoLAr, AnD
was now A lAy readEr In tHe vIllagE, And a RegulaR caller aT the fIEld
matron’s home. iN default of an eVEnING sCHool, She Innocently eNcouRAged
Him tO SiT by THe houR at a cOrNEr OF her table, poring over SoMe old
sChool-Book, or stumbliNg over the lONG Words in tHe ilLUsTRated
magazines That cAme from her EAstern frIends. occasionAlly he wouLD
Even writE leTteRs oN heR STaTionery and fraNKLy “boRrOw” her stAmpS;
but MosEs wAs rEalLy sUcH a good youNg man, and So EaRnEsT anD humbLE,
that she LeNt hIm A heLping HAnd wheNever She cOuLd, WIth ScarcelY MoRE
Self-CoNsCiouSneSs Than iF he hAD beEn ChaskAy’s age.

If hE toOK unuSuAl Pains wiTh his dress of lAtE, the fact haD eScaPed
her, AS Also that He was not at all a bad speakeR In his naTivE DakoTa.
HiS English wAs iNadequAte, ANd she aLways mAde hiM tAlk TO Her in
eNGlIsh, ThUs cruelly pUTTinG him aT a DisaDvantagE.

Therefore Stella waS HonEstly shocked wHen One dAY grAndMOtHEr sLyLY
prESSed into her hand a Little foldEd NOtE, and upon
; everybody knew her histo ry, and su ch aman 
as  h e wa s no t to be daunte d  bya few years of schooli ng. S he hads en se
en ough, p r ob a b ly,  t oapp re c ia te th e h onor he  intendedtodo  her.

His o f fe r came inrou nd-about fas hio n, fir st  th r oughthe  gran dmothe r , as
w as fittin g, and fi n ally th r o ug h Bl ue Earth, who, wi t hm any giggles an d
much  t o ss i n g o f t he head, m an ageda t lastt oc o n vey some inklingof it to
th e  as tonish ed  an d  indig nantgi r l.
“That oldman! ” she exc laimed ,  in dis g ust. “I  don’t  se e h ow y o uca n h av e 
th e  f ace torepeat s uc ha thi ng.W h y ,  how  ma ny w iveshas he had?”
“O nlyt wo;  andhe ha sn’t  _ any_now; a nd he ’s  a _chief_, you  kno w.”

“Tha t’s  q uit eenoug h . I do n’t  wi sh to h ear ano t her  w o r d  a bout him as long
a sI li ve!”

An d Gran d mo th e r was le ft  to  smo o t h ove r th e  a ffair as  bests he  m ight,
i nv enting  a llman ner o f  hum ble ex cuses to  cove r  the unheard-o f  rejection
of am a no f su chimportance. 

Th e n th erew as  Mo s es Bl ackst on e ,a  serious young manwh o hadpasse d
some yearsin the mis s i o n boardi ng-s c ho o l as its prize  scho lar, and
w a s now alay r eader in  the vill a g e, and a  re gul arcal l e rat the fieldm a tron ’s  home.Indefault  of  an  ev eni ng  school,she inno ce nt ly  e nco urage d 
him tosi t b ythe  hour at a c orner  ofhe rt abl e, pori n go v er s om eoldsch oo l-boo k, o r  st umbling  over the  lo n g wo rd sin theillustrated
m ag azines tha tcam e from h er easte rn friends. Occasionall y  he wou ldevenwrit e letters  on  her s tat i oneryand fr ankly  “ bor r o w” he r st amp s; 
but Moses w asreall ysuch  a good  young man, and so ear nest and humb le, 
tha t sh e l e nt him  a hel p i ng hand wheneve r she coul d, wi th scarcel y  mo re 
self-c onsciou sness than if  he had b een Chask ay ’s a g e .
If he took  unusual  pains wi t h his dr ess o f l ate, t he  fa ct ha d esca p edher,as als othat h e was  n ot at al l a bad speaker in hisnative  Dako ta. 
His Engl ish was  inadequa te,and she al way s m ade h imt alk t o he r  i n
E n glish , th u s cruelly pu tti n g  h im at a dis a d v ant age.
Th e refore  Ste lla was honestlys hocked when on e da y Gra ndm o ther  s lyly
pressed i nto  h e r  hand ali ttle folded  note, a nd upon
; everybody_knew her_history, and such a_man
as he_was_not to_be_daunted by a_few years of_schooling. She had sense
enough,_probably, to appreciate_the_honor he intended to do her.

His offer came in round-about fashion, first through the_grandmother,_as
was fitting,_and_finally_through Blue Earth, who, with_many giggles and
much tossing of_the head,_managed at last to convey some inkling of_it_to
the astonished and_indignant girl.

“That old man!” she exclaimed, in disgust. “I_don’t see how you can have
the_face to repeat_such_a_thing. Why, how many_wives has he had?”

“Only two; and_he hasn’t _any_ now; and he’s_a _chief_, you know.”

“That’s quite enough. I_don’t wish to hear another word_about him as long
as I_live!”

And Grandmother_was left to smooth over_the affair as_best she_might,
inventing all manner_of humble excuses to cover the_unheard-of rejection
of a_man of such importance.

Then there was_Moses_Blackstone, a serious_young_man_who had_passed
some years in_the_mission boarding-school_as_its prize scholar, and
was now a_lay_reader in the village, and a regular_caller at the field
matron’s_home._In default of an_evening school, she innocently encouraged
him_to sit by the hour at_a corner_of her_table, poring over some old
school-book, or stumbling over the long words_in the illustrated
magazines that came from_her eastern friends. Occasionally_he would
even_write_letters on her_stationery_and frankly_“borrow” her stamps;
but Moses was really such_a good_young man, and so earnest and_humble,
that she lent him_a_helping hand whenever she could, with_scarcely more
self-consciousness than if he had_been Chaskay’s age.

If he took_unusual_pains_with his dress of late,_the fact had escaped
her, as also_that he was_not at all a bad speaker in_his_native Dakota.
His English was inadequate, and_she_always made him talk to her_in
English,_thus_cruelly putting him at a_disadvantage.

Therefore Stella was honestly shocked when_one day Grandmother slyly
pressed into her hand a little_folded note, and_upon