The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-06-27

marks, as given above, came at the close of
lengthy discussion of the subject, and
having reached this Improbable finale,
there was a brief silence. Nahum Jones
whitfield a stick, Solomon Ripley drummed
on an empty box with his finger ends,
and Silas Nelson softly whistled I'm the
Sweet By and By"
1t was a hot loren Don in the village Of
Crammond, which lies somewhere east of
the Mississippi and north of the Ohio The
long, dusty street, shaded by patriarchal
elms from the glare of the sun, lay very
quiet and still. Few figures could be seen
along it's length except these three who stood
in front of Jones general country store"
Mr.. Ripley was a farmer who had just rid
den into town for the doing of divers er-
rands connected with practical agriculture,
and Mr.. Nelson was the teacher of the viii
lage SCHOOL, and had some leisure in this
time of summer vacation.
All three were alert, brisk looking young
men, who talked and acted as though they
had something to do in life, and were zeal
Ously trying to do it. Their meeting at this
place Oh this morning was q chance one,
and their discussion also came about in a
chance way; for as Ripley alighted from his
wagon TO enter the store, Jones stood Just
outside the door, and Nelson, happening
along after mutual good mornings" re-
marked that Fourth of July would be along
next week-whereupon sprang up debate
upon the practicability of having public
celebration in Crammond It soon ended,
as We have seen, with an unanimous vote
in the negative. But the subject being an
interesting one. the young men hated to
give it up so easily, and were about to make
regretful remarks about it, when
ioDf: ~
ent interest appeared and drew
all their attention. A young woman came
along the broad walk, presenting, with her
neat summer dress and ribbons, with hat
and sunshade to match, and her sweet face
under the hat a picture of the kind that
the world everywhere, in and out of Cram
mond, pronounces charming The young
men suspended their talk and looked re-
spectfully at the passing vision. Their hats
were lifted together; the vision gave them
little smile, and was Immediately lost to
sight around the corner
The young men were bachelors, even to
Ripley, who carried on the farm with no
other housewife than an elderly female
relative. The three were warm friends
who were in the habit of exchanging mu-
tual condolences; and the fact that each
had cast covetous but hopeless glances
upOH LuuOId UulIup was nO scCIcU IL Ludy
seenlstrange to some that there could be
such tripartite friendship as would admit
of the exhibition of unsatisfied heart
hunger of this kind; yet that was the fact
and as such we record It, No other person
was in hearing, so they continued to con-
verse; but with change of subject
THAT wasn't much of smile,'' said the
storekeeper, 'but what there was OF it is to
be divided among us, I suppose"
''Of course, p" said the teacher. Precious
little encouragement do any OF us get in
that quarter"
Either from father or daughter" added
the farmer.
A slight groan came from the teacher.
What is it, Silas?" the others asked "Out
with 1t; tell us your experience.
1T isn't much to tell; if am correctly in
formed, the same thing has happened to
each of you I called at the house, and the
old hunks came into the room, and said:
We'll, STRIP I told him would like to see
Eudora, and he bluntly told me that my
visits there would not be agreeable, and