Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-11-23

i; is a little twig of willow, and Won
der where she got it.
"Why, yes" she answers. in very
surprised way. 'Of course you have.
But thought -"
And here she stopped because the
door opening admitted the slender, tall
and agrccably smiling gentleman ale
ready noted for having driven the
splendid bays. and cut the pigeon
wing" on the door-sill.
Hope l amt intruding," he says.
coming forward on his tip toes. and
beaming that very frank and winning
smile Of his. Il didn't git back in
time fur the first table. walked down
to the river to rest my legs after the
days drive. What purity willow
switches. And such a lot NV um."
His face was toward me, and his
black eyes were upon Polly AIMS
brown ones. Somehow / had had n
prejudice against him from the moment
he had pulled up in the river bottom
and asked me the way to Bogus Leath-
woods. NOW; 4 suddenly coupled his
smiling remark about the willow switch
cs with the movement of Polly Ann at
the door and the willow twig between
her white teeth and her red lips. and
my prejudice deepened and broadcned.
20. nor Polly Ann hastens to say.
and turning quite away from me TO
say it. "Wc're jist waitun h-yur fur
the second table" Then she looks as
if she were going to say something
more, smiles and flushcs n little under
his admiring gaze and looks down at
his unusually small and neat-fitting fine
boots, into which his doe-skin trousers
are jauntily fitted at the high tops as
if made expressly for that mode OF
wearing.
Then I'm in good time for my sup
per in agreeable company" he says,
in that easy familiar way that l never
could assume in the company of women.
and that l don't see low any right
minded man can assume. Confound
their impudence! That's what it is.
But then the women seem to pardon il
very readily.
Polly Ann is silently attentive and
appreciative while he launches out in
a stream of somewhat disconnected re-
marks. all Of them genuine Ton nOts OF
rare humor as l then firmly believed
could not remember them minute
And from this now know it was the
fellows manner. and not what he said
Whatever it was. / never saw the
charming Polly laugh SO much as she
did that evening. Three OF her cir
companions of the village coming in,
accidentally. of course. but undoubt'
eddy in time for supper, were intro.
duced to Mr.. Martin by the young
hostess. and there stood the man will
all four of them grouped in front o.
him and laughing noisily at every
word he said. Buck coming in. Op
portunely took me up from my Sc
) questered nook. and we all went out t.
supper. passing the court and the hal
and their foreign clientele in the entr,
, Just outside the east-room door.
Even at supper he boldly disregardet
the severe prophecies Of village lif'
which separated. in those days, TIN
} men from the women in all public
! places, even in the dining-room of al
old-fashioned tavern. On the right o
the head of the table he marshalled tn
, four laughing girls. and then seatc,
them first, and then seated himself
with her on his right hand. two of tn
others being on his left. Then l wen
through that meal listening to hi
funny sayings and the giggling Of tn
four girls in such an abstraction o
angry resentment that / failed to catcl
two words of what Buck was eagerl,
! telling me about the wonderful "oi
hosst'' of that wonderful bay team.
One incident Of the supper, however
! pleased me noticeably at the time; an,
, even more when in the retrospectiol
; of my first preparation for boys dee
. sleep went over it all in bed.
) Bogus Leathcrwood. walking ponder
ously along from the kitchen door an,
, upon our side Of the table, looke(
, steadily at the laughing group of girl
ON the other side of the table until b,
.. was directly back Of my chair. the,
! pausing for an instant, he evidently fixe.
the eyes Of his wife, although couldn'
see him. and therefore could Judge onl,
by the fact that the obedient and OBJ
servant Mrs. Leathcrwood dropped he
knite and fork and looked up as tn;
heavy growl of old Bogus Leatherwoot
overcame all other sounds.
"Marthy!"-he always paused for a
least five seconds after this warnin,
exclamation-which pause Mrs. Leath
srwood filed up with visible quaking
and shrinkings. 'Theys too blam
much noise go-un on h-yur. lemm!
tell yuhr'
And then. with the heavy breathin,
Of q fat man in anger. that added a
much force to the objurgation as coul'
have been given by any additions
words. he walked heavily, but strongly
and with certain surprising alertnes
In his movements, considering how
very fat he was. out Of the room in ,
sudden and progressive diminusndo O
the usual roar Of the supper-room.
Mrs. Leatherwood had cast fright
, ened. warning and appealing look a
her daughter; and Polly Ann hat
} turned her face significantly in the di
| rection Of her mothers chair, lookin!
} over the neatly-s.oping shoulder o
Mr.. Martin, in order to the exchang,
of warning and meaning chances.
by gum!" the ole mans MAJ
bout some-h'n urruther!" Bucl
. whispered to me as soon as the doc
! closed on the retiring figure of tn
huge landlord. Hell be back h-yu
| on about two minutes. You watcl
! mother nm Sis, un see how they ri
. | 0rf q h-vrr nj hnut ctop,,,,,, to sxuolIo,