The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-07-20

stead of finding her dear old Will, she
had stumped upon such a lot OF friends.
''Can you give me something real good
to eat?" and she glanced at the table
with its dirty dishes and scanty remains
of our supper.
That table was cleared off in fifty.
| plate was washed and can of chicken
opened Aunt Betty made a cup of tea,
and another stirred up fap,jacks- and
another Of US thought to scour knife
and fork by running them into the ground
several times. Oh, they were lively
times for few minutes ysu'd better be-
lieve. Only the Judge-he never moved,
but looked right at her. She did not
seem to notice him. but watched our
operations with great interest.
While she ate-and the quaIhtness OF
our surroundings did not affect her ap
petite-we all stood round and waited
upon her. | guess never day passed
while she lived with US but what she
laughed about her first meal there. We
partitioned her off bed room in ore
corner by putting up some blankets, and
all but the Judge and Aunt Betty went
into the storehouse to sleep.
You'd think that when we got there
we should be likely to talk over the Won
derful event. but we didn't; not word
was spoken concerning it: But ! reckon
there was considerable thinking done in
that one night.
By light we were all up and pacing in
front of the cabin. The teamster had
given notice of the charge he had left
with US, and all the boys were over there
to learn how things were. There WASH t
stroke of work done in thot camp that
day, and not much for week.
Then the Judge called us together and
told us '"twouldn't do; we were getting
demoralized; that Miss Browning was
unhappy because she felt she had inter
E ruptcd cur arrangements, and we must
, come right down to steady days work
after that. Well, we tried to, but we
could never get back to old times. There
was good deal of rivalry among us,
and some cutting things were said. The
Judge sent letters in all directions for
. Will, but three weeks had passed with
out word of reply. We had all in turn
offered to accompany Miss Browning to
San Francisco. but she said she knew nc
one there; VIII would be sure to come
l before long, and would be so disappoint-
ed if she should leave besides badn't
l she eight of the very best brothers in the
world q? She would wait while longer.
and she would helm and cook and mend
She had few new books she had bought
for VIII, and she would read to us even
ings. We came up All hour earlier than
usual. and our table was always ready
for US, and it had many a touch that
none but a woman would think Of We
were a silent set of men during the day.
but each did our best when we got home
Stories were told, songs sung, and with
: her reading we were all entranced. She
olways called US by the name which were
first given her, and ever so many times
she went through the introduction, act
. ing out all our parts. It seemed funnie1
to her than it did to us. She talked to
, South Carolina about the beauties of the
, Southern sky, and of the flowers and
, trees which eclipsed anything at the
North.
To Nutmeg she praised New England,
! and she had some favorite topic to dis
cuss with earth of US.
l Of course we were all in love with her,
but none dared boast of having received
any sign of preference from the lady We
: had all proposed to her once, and some
of us a half dozen times. She just
: made light of it; said we were crazy, ano
; didn't know what we were about, but she
There was open war. Veal acted like
mad men, except the Judge; he would not
answer any OF our taunts, but was most
pleasant to all. Yet he grew to look rea
careworn, and every time he met any o.
| us alone he would say he hoped VIII
| would come soon. He talked to us about
keeping the peace, and appealed to oul
: honor as men and our love for our old
comrade. Kate herself had quiet little
: talk with each one. | don't know how
9 she managed it, but she left the impress
sion upon us all, that we were more
likely to be accepted if we behaved
/ ourselves and kept quiet but twas
S no go-we couldn't.
t One evening she refused to sit down
with US to the table. and so little was
eaten. She walked up and down the
room and then said emphatically, L am
going off. | don't know where, but |
must go away; this is getting unbearable.
cannot meet one of you but [ am i'm
portuned to marry you all. and if [
choose to show one bit of pleasure in the
, Now ask you what shall [ do? Will
doesn' come, and am all alone [ wish
) you would drop all this nonsense and be-
) have yourselves. Why won't you %
She looked from one to the other, ard
) finally asked of Jack, Come, ycu own
to being wicked, and you We been an aw-
fdl tease; won't you reform, and then all
the rest viii %