The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-10-17

to the dogs" He sighed. 80, well,
you'll get over that, just as did"
II hope l wont get over liking. to be
Clean" Ben said, little sourly. Il wont
be back to milk"
Didn't expect ye. That's the very
time O. day the girls are purtiest--just
about shutdown. Better take Rock, l
may want the old team myself" ,,
Ben hitched up and drove off in the
warm, bright morning, feeling won
derful elation. He was clean and self
shaven face felt cool, and his new suit
fitted him WELL His heart took on
a great resolution, which was to call
upon Grace.
1t made his brown hands shake to
think of it. He remembered how many
times he had sworn to do that and mad
never had the courage, though it seemed
she allured him at times.
He overlook Milton Jennings on his
way along the poplar lined lane:
"Hello Milt, where you bound!'
Milton looked up with a curious look
in his laughing eyes. From the peck
cts of his long linen buster he drew Il
handful of beautiful scarlet and yellow
Siberian crab-apples.
"See them crabs?
ayes, | see 'em."
Milton drew similar handful out OF
his left pocket. ''See thoseF
what v goin' to do with EN-"
"Take m home again"
Ben noticed something in Milton
voice which led him to ask:
what did you intend doing with
emf"
present em to Miss Cole" .
Ben laughed "Well, why didn't Y
do it,"
Milton showed his white teeth i'll a
smile that was frankly derlsive or NM
self.
"Well, when l got over there I found
young Conley's horse hitched to one
post and Walt Browns gray hitched to
the other. | went in, but | didn't stay
long, in fact didn't sit down. | was
afraid those internal apples would roll
out O. my pockets | was afraid they'd
find out | brought 'em over there for
Miss Cole, like the darn fool was"
They both laughed heartily. Milton
was always as severe upon himself as
upon any one else.
"That's tough" said Ben, but climb
in and let's go to Sunday school,"
Milton got in and they ate the apples
as they rode along.
The Grove school house was the ,larg-
est in the township, and was the only
one with touch of redeeming grace. 1T
was in lovely place. Great oaks stood
all about and back of it, the woods grew
thick, and clear creek gurgled over its
limestone bed not far away.
TO Ben and Milton there was q
strange charm about the Grove school
house. 1t was the one place where they
met the boys and girls in garments dis
associated from toll. Sundays in sum-
mer, and on winter nights at lyceums
or prOtracted meetings, they came to
see the girls in their bright dresses, with
their clear $50 it seemed) scornful, bright
eyes.
All through the service Ben sat where
he could see Grace by turning his
head, but he had not the courage to do so.
Once or twice he saw the curve of her
cheek and the delicate lines of her ear,
and a suffOcating throb came into his
throat.
He wanted to ask her to go with him
down to Rock river to the Methodist
camp meeting, but he knew it was i'm
possible. He could not say good day"
to her when she took pains to pass near
him after church and speak to him. He
nodded like a great idiot all ease and
dignity lost, his throat too dry and hot
to speak.
He cursed his shyncss as he went out
after his horse He saw her picking
her dainty way up the road with Con-
rad Sieger walking with her. What
made it worse was a dim feeling that
she liked him, and would go with him
if he had the courage to ask her.
well, Ben" said Milton. It's set
tied we go to Rock river tonight to the
camp meeting. Did you ask Grace?
No. she's, going with Con. It's just
my blasted luck"
- That's too bad. Well, come with us.
Take Maud"
As they drove away they passed