West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-01-17

surnmerl" he ended, courageously. aBut
I'm in for a month here now.n
She looked at him breathlessly, her
/ heart beating hard.
Did he mean itl But she knew he
did. And he hadn't an idea OF Philo's
existence. She wished that she had not.
The doctors nephew rose impulsively.
Come, Miss Gilman, " said he; ''don't
let's sit here pokily. We never were
poky, you know. Let's have ramble
lsn there an ostensible purpose--an OBJ
Ject of interest, or somethingl''
She smiled, with an inward conflict
OF gladness and misgiving.
There's the willow srbor, down by
the marshi it's pretty there" she fall
| tered
Hank Lee had released Phifo; he was
turning this way, with his loose gait, his
hands in his pockets.
Il love willow arbors," cried the
| doctors nephew. ''Ii there's ANYTHING
I've always adored and yearned for it's
a willow arbor. You'll gofp
al don't know" said Cora, wistfully.
But Mr.. Hill knew. Philo Wilson, at
any rate, stood the next moment staring
after their disappearing figures.
1t was not quite eleven by Mr.. Hills
handsome time-piece when they started
but II was fully one when they got back.
They had forgotten the picnic, almost,
wandering among the willows in some-
thing moro than contentment, and il was
a dire necessity to have to come back to
"But they'll be having dinner. YOU
say said Mr.. Hill. "And they'll eat
at that long table, all togetherl Well.
l I'll get seat By you, by hook or crook"
But dinner was late. The fiddlers had
arrived, and been pressed into early ser
vice. The platform was filed with
waltzers--to get up their appetites, they
said, while their elders waited hungrily
for that process 10 be completed
"Ahp said the doctors nephew,
/ blithely. "Will you give me the first,
Miss Gilman, and as many more as your
card will permitl"
They were laughing at that as they
went toward the platform. But they
did not ascend it. Philo stood on the
lower stair, like a spider in wait for
/ fly.
"It's about time, seems to me-" he
observed, his dull face Lighted by a spark
OF anger. ''l've ben looking round for
\ you for two hours. l guess I'll have
the first dance, il you Just as lief"
There was sharp resentment in his
/ pale eyes.
Cora bit her red lips, her face afame.
But she spoke quietly.
MIR. Wilson was my escort, Mr..
! Hill,h she said II /"
She could not finish. She tried TO
4 smile, but her lips only trembled
4 The doctors nephew looked Mr.. Wilson
over from head TO foot, and bowed
silently, little paler than his wont, and
turned away.
Il didn't mean to make you mad
said Philo, better disposed now that he
! triumphed. "But / was kind o. put
out. Your folks didn't like it, neither;
! told 'em you was off with him. Wal,
let's have waltz" he concluded, con-
scious of extreme magnanimity.
81 shall not dance, said Cora.
Her pretty eyes blazed scornfully upon
him. He had told cher folks.b She
could have laughed il she had not been
so hotly miserable. What did he think?
"You will find me a seat, il you
! please" she said.
But Fhilo cid not hear her His eyes
were fixed on figure at little distance
| "a figure which walked unsteadily with
swinging arms.
'Jem Murrayl' he muttcred, amazed
ly.
The eyes of the entire picnic were
| focused on Jem Murray, and with equal
| bewilderment. Jem alone was uncon-
cerned. lie was the chief blot on the
towns respectability; a brainless fellow,
half shoemaker aud half yagabond, gen
eIally idle and never sober. How Jem
Murray had got to the picnic was
startling mystery; but he was there un-
4 questionably, and as unquestionably
drunk.
His progress was not barred there
was some hesitation about barring IL.
He staggered on, marking his course
with amiable comments.
''Nishe day, nishe plashe, nishe lot o.
I girls. Keep right 'long"-for the fiddlers
had irresolutely stopI ed-"keep right
long goin' to have danshe IN self. -
He was grinning with the pleasure Of
this vague notion. 1t took clearer form
in his muddled head.
"GOin' to have danshe, p" he repeated.
"Here-here'sh girl now"
llo was standing before Cora. his
blinking eyes on her blanched face and
his shaking arm extended.
She caught at her companion des-
peratedly; but Philo backed OF. his face
as pale as her own. lie had never
tackled" Jem Murray, and he did not
care to do it now.
''See here, now, he began, weakly.
But Jem was Oblivious.
oval, IN waltin'," he observed.
lie touched COra's sleeve; but he did
no moro. lie was laid on his back the
next minute by a sharp blow on the
face, and the doctors nephew stood
threateningly above him There were
half n dozen Others meditating the same
act, but the doctors nephew had dis.
tanced them.
PhiIo stood open.mouthed. Cora was
norvously crying, but Mr. Hills arm was
through hers protoctingly.
Jem Murray was got on his feet and
hurried away by n score Of hards, and
I the hero Of the occasion had an approx
ing group around him, and Cora's father
was Of the number.
fYou did that mighty neat, d" was the
general verdict
81 could not see a lady insulted, A" the
young man responded q little stiniy
with IN csc on Fhilo, and Philo grew
red under &c.
Cora's tremuIous fingers faiotly pressed
her companions arm