Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-05
'topsnon. 1896. " rne AuY,,OH.

1nl3 year Ee wanted to 60 fishing over
in Beaver pond. He had heard that
there were some fine pickerel and pout
over there, and he meant to have a try
at tho pickerel in the morning and at
the pout in the evening. Jerry .aid
nothing whatever about his plans, but
Alec was privately informed by Daily
that Jerry was going over Ito take his
girl to the Baptist picnic" It seemed
that, though the BENEFITS were ortho-
dox, Nelly Seaton's folks were Baptists.
Bat naturally that made no difference
to devoted lover like Jerry, who was
quite willing to become a Baptist fer
Melly's sake. Alec could not help LAUGH
ing at the idea of the tall, rngainIy,
droll fellow in the role Of lover But he
had no doubt that Jerry and Nelly may
aged.it perfectly.
Maud complained that she was al
ways left out and never could go any,
where. for the boys woul3n't take her.
Her mother said she had plenty to do at
nome, and there was no need of her CO.
ing off to the circus CT anywhere else.
Milo said he would have taken her to
the circus himself if he didn't have to
go over to see Plimpton Jones colt,
which he was thinking Of buying to
pair with Jerry, namesake of his step-
son. He said they must have an extra
team for haying, since the old white
horse John had died.
Mrs. Bennett seemed to have 10 idea
Of doing anything but stay at home and
work, as she was always working. A
holiday would have appeared to her o
sheer waste of so much time.
Alec wondered at first what he would
do himself, but finally took pity on
Maud and decided to ask her if size
wouldn't go to the circus with him. He
hardly knew whether Milo would let
him have horse and buggy; but, con-
sidering the old gentleman S tender feel
ing toward Maud he presumed he would.
1t was also question whether Mrs.
Bennett would permit her daughter to
so off for the whole day with stranger
like himself, and this was his most
doubtful point of all. He decided to
speak to Milo first
He followed the boss, as the boys fa-
miliarly called their stepfather, when
he went to the barn with big milk
pail in each hand, and as the sturdy old
gentleman sat down on his three legged
stool, and, leaning his forehead against
the side Of the COW, began sending long,
steady streams of milk rattliUg against
the sides Of the tin, Alec ventured to
| say:
1t has occurred to me, Mr. Bennett,
that if you were willing to let me take
your third horse and the open buggy
Miss Maud might so over to Pavonia
with me tomorrow.
! Mr.. Bennett seemed to be meditating,
for he did not reply Immediately. Alec
thought perhaps the noise of the milk
had prevented him from hearing, but
that was not SO.
"Have you spoken to the girl?" he
inquired at last.
II thought I'd better ask you about
the horse first. replied Alec. feeling
thai there was something III tine other 8
mind which he had not anticipated.
There was another pause, varied only
by the steady swish of the long streams
Of milk, but at last Mr.. Bennett said
somewhat slowly:
well, I guess you can hev the horse.
But ! wouldn't mention nCthin about
goin to tee circus to the women folks.
I'll speak to the girl about it when git
done milking. You III hev to start pretty
early III the morning. but if it S q pleas
ant day, as 1t looks like tonight, guess
You'll get along all right. l can tell
mother after You git started
Alec appreciated the situation imme-
diately and judiciously walked away.
He felt as if he ought to chat with
Maud little, but he didn't feel like
sitting III the kitchen again after Mrs.
BENEFITS dismissal of the first evening.
So he lay down on a long wagon seat
and decided to let Mr.. Bennett manage
the whole thing and said nothing to any
one until Milo had preached the subject
again himself.
Just before he went to bed that night
Milo said to him in confidential tone
that they had better start about z
O'Clock, and he would see that the horse
and buggy were ready. That was all
that was said until he drove away with
Maud the next morning. 1t was plain
that Milo had managed the whole affair.
spurred on by the desire to give his
daughter pleasant holiday.
When they got fairly started, Alec
had an opportunity TO observe his fair
companion. As for himself, he had bor-
rowed better suit of clothes than his
tramp suit (the only one he had) from
Daily. 1t was very i'll fitting and cheap,
but it was of sensible brown. and he
fiatterej himself it made him look like
a genuine country boy. Maud was dress.
ed very demurely and simply in gray
: calico dress, with red and green ivy
leaves dotted over it. The skirt was a
full, round one, with belt Of the same
material. and at her neck and in her
sleeves the girl wore simple white ruch.
: ing. She had on broad 1e2hoTn hat
trimmed with white lawn il the sim.
plest style. Her rosy cheeks. steady gray
eyes and brown, healthy hands complet.
: ed the picture. Alec felt awkward and
D roueh beside her and wished he hao
been better dressed BIT MAID was ap.
, parently not displeased with him, fol
she talked siInpIy and chee-frllv ~ 4