The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-20
TIE BOOKKEEPER.
~. NJ. Merrill Ia The Current.l

voice, anu the nttie pookhetpeT rcoiou ohS
shrank under 1t. He felt his insignificance
then IL never before Why could he not be
a man among msni He had uttered TINS
question men ally hundred times, but ne
never felt hi, littleness as be did that night
when that one word OF contempt and scorn
foil from the full red lips OF janet Lyon
She was the acknowledged belle OF the
Nusksgon valley, the daughter OF the senior
member OF the firm OF Lyon. Haight & Co.
Janet was not child OF fashion, but
strong, healthy child OF the pine WOODS.
Mu.kegon was the end Of the world to her,
and at tho same time of which We write was
a mere village with no railway connection
with the outside world. 1t YVES yet the
lumberopois Of western Michigan, and
RAPIDLY growing in Importance
IL was at dance in log house near
Maple Top that Mark Farnham received the
rebuke described. A great hulking logger
had trodlen on the skirt OF Janets cash
mere and ripped it at the waist. The logger
merely said dBlank the dress" and went on
with his dancing
aThe insulting puppy" exclaimed Janet
with flu bed cheeks. And then, minute
later, she turned on Mark Farnham, her
escort, little, pale faced fellow. with mild
tlue eyes and effe miDate cast OF counten-
ance, with the one word that opens our
sketch.
What would she have him dol
Too well tho pale little bookkeeper knew
the backwoods code. 1t WINS his duty TO
insist on an apology from the bulky logger.
or fog him for hii insolence. This Mark
Fsrnham was not able to do. He knew the
man who.had insultej Janet as bully and
hard pet from near the Dam, a village on
the river some six miles from Maple Top
there's no use having any trouble said
Mark IF the fellow troubles you again
I'll settle with him."
"Oh. he idear exclaimed Janet Il think
the next time go out in company it will be
with a man. aud she turned her back on
the little bookkasper, and began relating
her troubles to a group OF girls near. The
set was disarranged by the incident, and
another couple was called on TO fill up the
gap, and then the dance went on a though
nothing had happened.
Mark Farnham noticed indignant glances
turned toward him by the back woods lasses,
and knew that the worl coward was passed
from lip t, lip.
~ wonder il Janet would be better salts
fad if ! ,houlI offer myself sacrifice on
the altar OF her Tended dignity. | might
get my head knocked Off, but what would
be the u,ei I'll SEQ that DANTE AMI IN"
him apologize, il die the next minute"
But the little bookkeeper was not Pc
mttsd the privilege Of receiving thrash
ing for Janet Lyons sake. A newcomer
had appeared upon the scene in the person
o Richard Wellington, magnificent speci
men Of muscular development, with the
dress and air of gentleman. He was Lyon
Haight q Co.'S foreman in the great mill al
Mnskegon. and a primo favorite with the
senior member of the firm.
"Ihe coward permitted that ruffian, River
Dan. to Insult ms grossly. It'll be a long
time before l am seen in his company again
can tell you that" Janet was saying a.
she pa>sel the little bookkeeper leaning OF
the arm OF Mr.. Wellington.
where is the fellow nowl' questioned
Wellington
"Nsver mind do not care to see hin
again Let it drop"
"But will punish the scoundrel as he dc
serves No man shall insult you while an
around, Janet"
"No, no." and the fair girl chung to the
arm Of her Apollo-like companion. at /,
not your quarrel, Dick. shan't permit yor
to make trouble now | know if you had
been In Mark Farnhams place you would
have promptly knocked the rufllan down
was so ashamed of him. He is little COW
ard"
Again that word 1t cut like knife, and
the palid little bookkeper never before fell
his utter insignificancs as he did that nj ,ht
He was glad when the dance came to al
But Janet wa already tucked under th,
robes in Dick Wellington's cutter wher
Farnham went for her to ride back with
him. Another insul The pallid cheeks OF
the little bookkeper held two spots of fame
rs he went alone to his cutter.
"Goin' past the Dam. amt YER
stalwart form in red shirt and overalls
loomsd up before the bookksper in the NOON
light
Farnham at once recognized the man who
had caused him such extreme humiliation
this night,
81 am going past the DAM admitted
Farnbam
"Alonef'
II expect So"
"Mebbe you'd take passengerl"
Certainly; get in"
The huge bully thrust himself under the
robe. Fsrnham seated himself beside him,
AMI then they went spinning away over the
the openings at rapid rate
"'Twas you with that high-strung Lyon
gal, Want itr
Yes admitted the bookkeeper.
"She looked mad enough when troll on
her dress. Sich trails don't admire nohow
No sensible gal would wear en- to dance
but then I've been thinkin' didn't do the
squar' thing Tonight cap so when you set
the gal agin, jest tell her Pm sorry tore
You'll tell herr"
was garrulous, and did most Of the talking
and the little bookkeepsr felt that under hi;
rough manners the giant riverman had 6
good heart, after ALL
"You sea- III been takin' too many drinks
was what allied me, cap wouldn't insuI,
no respectable gal for nothin' in the world n
The explanation and apology we're ample
and all this had come about without bat
blooi a row, and bloody face, On th,
whole, Farnham felt that he had pursued
the wisest course after all
The little bookkeeper left River Dan a
the dam and finished his journey to Oxbov
alone
MIR. Lyon made no mention of the troubl,
at the dance to his bookkeepsr His daugh
ter gave an account Of her escorts coward
ice, but the lumberman failed to take that
interest his daughter desired
Matters went on after the old fashion
Mark Farnham had been a frequent visito
at the Lyon house, but since the dance q
Maple Top he had held himself aloof. Tn
little bookkseper had been hurt ia a tcnde
spot, and he could not forget how Jane
looked when she uttered the word coward
The foreman came often to Uxbow an,
Janet and the handsome Apollo vera mucl
together. The loggers coupled the name
of the two. and intimatej that Dcl
would feather his nest before long
The little bookkeeper heard, but RENAME,
silent, He could not discuss q subject tina
was OF a most painful nature to him He be
lieved Janet cared something for him, unit
that affair at tho Maple Top dance FroI
that time she had cut him effsctually. II
had pride as well as the belle OF the Muske
gon, and from that fatal night they met a
strangers.