Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-02-23

beside herself. clyde minds his own
business. she said pointedly TO Bridge
man, "and that's more than you do, old
as you are. don't want you whisper
ing about me to Tom or any one, and I'll
not have it; do you hear9 Stop telling
lies about me, or III stick you for il
some time, sure"
.'Great shucks! what a spitire!''
laughed Bridgeman, as he walked away.
.'She don't mean it., his wife called
after him.
Don't |. thought said Hazel; ''you
too, if you don't look out
bah! YOU mountebank thingn' re-
torted the elder woman. running con-
temptuous eve over Hazefs shapely
limbs, 50 lavishly displayed
"Youneyer did anything worth speak
ing ofin your line, anyway" said Hazel,
fiercely, "If il WASH t for Bridges goats
you couldn't get scratch engagement
anywhere on earthn'
"Oh, shut up and shake hands, cried
Scully, testify. What's the row all
about?''
"Clyde thinks himself cut above
her, is the matter with Hazel, Mr.
Scully"
Here. We had enough of Clyde"
said Scully, in rough way.
''Some of us can never get enough"
cried Hazel, her eyes on Mrs. Bridge
man face.
land some of us can get so precious
little that we ret sick over it and fret
ourselves for more began Mrs. Bridge
man. with a malicious air
You git cried Scully,' and 90 tell
old Bridget said so, if YOU like. III not
see Hazel annoyed She amt herself
tonight"
Mrs Bridgeman went away after that
with her head in the air and the tread
of a tragedy queen.
Hazel put her face up against Scully
and began to sob. He sat stroking her
head, very much as he would have pat
ted one of his favorite animals, and in
kindly sort of way. 80 it's Clyde?'
he said, after a while Look up and
tell me about it, Hazel. | won't give
you away"
ITS not Clyde" she said shortly,
and sat up by herself.
Nor nobody else?''
Nor nobody else" she replied
Then what is il? I'd like to know"
80 would ~ she said, trying to
laugh. I'm not sick, and it's some
thing worse than the dreams told you
Of, Tom. It's something goes with me
to torment me night and daylight and
day
ave heard men talk that way" said
Scully absently, still stroking her hair:
''womcn, too, once in while. But you
haven't the same reason for it they
had.
Don mind me, he said. TRY
and forget it; that what | try to do,
Tom forget all tue time. And tonight
it Just seems as if | could mt forget any
more. I'm Just done for. The time
has come TO shut down. | can never be
good for anything in my line again.
The games up with Hazel after this
Nonsense rotr' said Scully. angrily;
but he could say nothing to divert the
girls mind
u wish YOU 90 away and leave me,
Tom, she said. after awhile II want to
be alone.
He left her, but before he went he did
what he seldom did now that she was
not 4 child and had given up climbing
on his knee; he laid his lips to her lips
and kissed her good night.
In the morning she was haggard
looking and white, and there were dark
circles under her eyes. She tried to
laugh it off with him, and said, Look
as if I'd been on tear last night-a
regular bowling racket, as the boys say
don't I2''
mo" said Scully 'just q little off,
that's all You'll be all right by
night.
Hazel returned his glance in a way he
never forgot. A smile crossed her lips,
but she did not speak.
On him." said Scully, under his
breath, as he thought of Clyde.
The worst of il is that he doesn't
care shucks for her, said Bridgeman.
Scully kept lookout all that day for
Clyde After a while, he saw the Texan
moving among the horses, and stopped
him as he was going away. You heard
Hazel disappointed the house lastnight?
he said
No said Clyde, with scarcely
concealed impatence at being detained.
"She didn't follow the bill wasn't up
to the leap. =
Mop" said Clyde again.
Have you seen her in that?''
Nc"
Good Lord" muttered the other;
can get anything out of the man
but MOP
Clyde was pulling at his moustaches
in a bored, indifferent way.
Scully wondered what Hazel could see
in him TO like II want you to be front
tonight he continued, land see her
when she comes on for the ] cap. It's
the best thing she does.
Yes" assentcd Clyde, with an unin-
terestcd air.
you'll be sure to be there? Sit
close by the ladder if You will. I'll have
a place kept for you. You can be there
easily CROUCH. if you will. You don't
ride after half-paSt; and what do YOU
generally do with yourself after that
time?"
',Go TO bed, believe
join us tonight for supper, Hazel
and me,
Thank you; but my digestion is
everything to me. | don't eat late"
All right said Scully, and he let
the young man pass.
Mrs Bridgeman seemed TO be waiting
for him a little further on. The two
walked away together
Hazel came up directly and took hold
of Scully by the arm. ''She likes him.
Tom, she said, without any sort of a
preface; land hes always putting her
self in his way and speaking to him
whether he viii or not
whats there in him to like?" asked
the man, putting in words the thought
that WIS uppermost in his mind.
Il don know. said Hazel. He's
different from any one elSe1 ever saw
lies "a began Seully suddenly,
and checked the word ON his lips He
great dark eyes and the rising flush on
her face.
4 what? She demanded mperiously.
4 pretty decent sort OF a chap, | guess
Hes u gentleman, Tom, through and
through
My poor Girl, said Seully to himself;
You re hit hard. aud no mistake
You were talking TO him Just now.
Tom What did YOU say2
Asked him TO supper tonight; but he
wouldn't come. Thinks sight too
much Of his i Il digestion for that
He said nothing more?
Yes, / believe he wants to see YOU
from the front tonight Asked me to
keep place for him by the ladder.
No not really! cried Hazel, and it