Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-07-10


the muddy road and left her standing
there; for, IN her hurt establishment she
stood stock still, with a candid stare.
Then she walked on briskly Mrs. Har-
ing efficient young manager was not the
girl to be wholly subdued even by a caIam-
ity such as this.
Pshaw. TWAS plain enough She WASH t
the only girl he sold meat to, and he had
seen somebody he liked better. That was
all aud he was thinking that 1t was time
she knew IT, Tum- tum-tetum.
She held her head up and hummed a
tune. 1t was beginning to sprinkle and
she was glad of it, 1t would give her
something to think about She raised her
umbrella and logged along with emphatic
step.
1t was more than sprinkling-it was
raining hard, Big drops cracked on her
umbrella and dripped from it
But her chief interest lay in the butch
er wagon. 1t had ratified into a yard
and hadn't come out, and she was anxious
to get ahead of it. Then she would march
ON stltfiy when he repassed her and not
even look at him again
1t was pouring now Her umbrella was
OF small use; she was getting wet from
head to foot, and the mud grew deeper with
every step.
And, oh dear! there was the bridge. and
1t was under-two good inches under she
wished she had waited under the tree,
dropped into a house anything because
now Jerry would see her splashing over
the submerged planks, as splash she would,
for she w0uldn't ride now if he should beg
er on his knees.
What a time! Her mother wasn't ex-
pecting her, either. She knew in her
wounded heart that size had come princiz
pally because Of certain expectations, and
she despised herself.
Was she going to cry? Not If she knew
II, Here was the bridge, and behind came
that dreadful rattle of wheels, and she
grasped her skirts, and almost shutting
her eyes in her shivering distaste, stepped
on the water-coyered bridge.
A plank in the middle was still visible,
and she made for il, splashlng along fast.
What was cracking? Mercy! was the
bridge giving way? Yes, or one board of
1t. Her cropping foot went suddenly
through and she FIJI forward.
She was so FAINT with fright that moth
ing was clear to her for q good thnee
minutes. and then she found herself
perched high, though not dry on the
seat OF Jerry wagon, safe IN the other
side Of the bridge with Jerry S handker-
chief hopping her white face. J cry s coat
around her wet form, and Jerry's arm
tight around the coat; and Jerry was talk
ing to her.
Don't think SOL You amt going Ia
die! hain't killed youl Oh Susy ! IN
sorry N awful sorry! don { care who
you like, or who likes you hadn I
ought to got mad enough to let you tramp
alone in the rain. Oh, want pounding
| IN going to get somt fellow to give me
one. Oh, Susy, DON'T You didn gel
hurt. did you? Oh Susy. how sweet you
look Lord, what wouldn | give to bt
him.
Mrs. Harring's capable manager sat NJ
straight against Jerry arm.
BE who2' she demanded sharply.
why, Gibbs. said Jerry, Its Glib.
you like, amt it?'
Its Gibbs like, is it?' said Susy in
dlguantly, and now she broke down il
earnest and fell to crying in Jerry's hand
kerchief Gibbs! Why, just hate him
He's going to marry Sally Porter up oul
way. and m sorry for her, that ! am
He overlook me the other night going
home, Mr. Gibbs did, and had to let hin
take me in; but, my goodness! thought
what with his perfumery and ,oud tongue
he d kill me- never
"That'll do. ~ said Jerry, but he whisper
ed: That's plenty, Susy. I'm COINS
to thrash Cooley though, cause he knew
better Ifyou don't like Gibbs, Susy, wht
do you like? Do you like me? Say YOU
do, even if you don't, Susy, cause
couldn' { stand it,
And Susy, with her damp head presse(
well against Jerry's bounding heart, die
say yes. And got kiss for it, too,
Cooley was forced to apologize. Anc
when Schultz took Jerry into partnersl ip
a year later, he and Susy got the parIol
set Emma A. Opper in Saturday Night