The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-24

CneTo now hanging between Lno
'Huguenot Lovers and His Only
Friend He's a poor bare-footed boy
a-lying fast asleep in the road, and his
only friends dOg-one of them big
fellows, you know
eyes, yes" interrupted, rather i'm.
patiently II know all about it,
Ned, evidently somewhat offended,
was silent for about three minutes, and
then began again. ooh, my. didn't
they talk that day? Vic sent word to
everybody else that came that she was
out. Wasn't that whopper I was
snuggled up on the sofa over in that
dark corner there, and they didn't see
me, and heard every word they said.
Wouldn't Vic have boxed my ears if
she'd caught me!''
II wonder what they talked Of" l
said to myself, with Il jealous Qualm-
to tell the truth, I'D been little stag
gered by the picture episode; and then,
though it wasn't exactly the right
thing to do, although certainly excus-
able in case like this, where a mans
whole happiness was at stake, I made up
my mind if possible to find out.
"Ned,'' said l, II saw splendid
knife the other day-six blades
six blades - repeated Ned, his eyes
sparkling.
"Yes, or five blades and file, don't
remember which. 1t was a beauty,
though, and if wasn't afraid you'd
cut yourself with it, I'D buy it and
give it to YOU
"Cut myself y said the small boy
VYif mi 70 II 1>n1 xyy
SWELL" said 1, ''the knife shall be
yours And then continued in non.
chalant way: "W hat is it you said your
sister and Mr.. Thornton were talking
about g
81 didn't say nothing said Ned.
"When'n you bring the knife g
''Iou shall have it tomorrow re-
piled. Ibid they say anything about
me, for instance p
"Oh, lots - said Ned, starting off
rapidly. ''Charley said, ooh, Vic, you
would never have given me up il
hadn't told you how rich he was.
what fool I've been! l might have
known that that would have been too
much of a'-let me see: Lead us not
into temptation '-temptation for such
girl as you are. Good heavens !! and
he jgrabbed hold of his hair just as
though he was going to pull it all out -
and the small boy suited the action to
the word, and tugged at his own curly
locks with such an assumption Of des-
peration as brought the tears into his
eyes. ''Good heavens!' he says, <how
selfish and cruel you are! I'm sure
don't know how can love you. Are
you going to marry him 2 And Vic says
L am
"Oh, you are,' thinks the attentive
listener.
s. 1T would be awful silly she
says the small boy rattles on, ''for US
to get married. I might think I was
happy, for a little while, cause I be-
}ieve love you as well as l could love
anybody, and then I'd he jolly misera-
BILE, for must have a seal-skin jacket
and a new switch, and hair like mine
costs ]ike'-Oh, no, that's what she
said to ma this morning. [ mean, she
says, For l never could be happy with
out fine house and d carriage, and all
sorts of hobby things, and ever so much
more can't remember. and 50 be a
good boy she says, and console your
self with May Newton. She likes you,
I'm sure, and she is a sweet little
thing and would make you an excellent
wife.
II don't believe shn ever will then. -
| mutter between my teeth. SEQ OH,
| Ned
NO, she wouldn't t. says Charley ;
'and as for her liking me you never
were more mistaken in your life !: or,
| if she does like me, it is because | am
the friend of the man she loves-Ar.
| thur Bell - I'm Arthur Belly yes,
she loves him as dearly as I do you,
and has loved him for years. 1t was
| for his sake she refused handsome
Phil Akers, to say nothing of that
rich old bachelor, Quimby, that all the
other girls are hulling caps for Poor
little wretch !! l know how to pity her
You'll both recover says Vic, and,
ten chances to one, fall in love with
each other. There's nothing like
catching a ball on the bounce.
"A heart on the rebound, think
yon mean, Ned say, with astonish-
ing calmness.
well, perhaps do" assents the
small boy, whistling couple of bars
Of Yankee Doodle, thoughtfully.
''Anyhow, ending with a false note
that makes me shudder, "Vic stuck
to it she d marry you, cause you was
50 slap.bang.set. 'em.up.again rich -;
and Charley smashed his hat on his
head and walked out of the room like
this" and slipping from the table, the
small boy seized my hat from my
hand, literally ''smasheA'' it upon his
curly head, and strobe out into the
hall in such a melodramatic manner