Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1896-02-05

4N
Marie, do yO1L E1l0l0 lDhGt has brought
me heTeP'
The dog crept toward him, shifted
at him and did not growl suspiciously,
as was his wont at strangers, then
dashed at him with boisterous welcome
Down, Michellel What are you do
ing?" Marie cried to the dog as if it
were relief to her to say something.
But it was moment or two before she
could find her voice to talk to the stran-
| ger. There was wistful, hungry look
in his eyes all the while. He looked
like one who was only controlling him
self by strong effort. Then she turned
in the most matter of fact way in the
world:
''How do you do, Mr.. Yorke? This
is indeed surprise. Who would have
thought of seeing you in this part of the
World?"
She was wonderfully self possessed
now, this girl. SO much so, indeed, that
perhaps it was hardly natural A stran-
ger would have been puzzled just then
to have guessed in what relationship
these two stood to each other.
Even the old crow looked puzzled for
second or two. He knew that all men
were liars in a more or less polished or
brutal way, but that this pretty slip of
girl should have reduced it to a fine
art fairly staggered him. No wonder he
was cynical old crow. l.
II have just been wondering for some
months back if you would be surprised
to see me again. he answered slowly
and somewhat irrelevantly, watching
the girls face intently as if he would
have liked to have drawn some infer
ence from it. II hope you are glad tc
see me?" he added.
'sOh, of course, she rejoined quick
" as if she thought that perhaps she
had not been quite SO civil to him as she
might have been, land my father will
be glad to see an old friend, for you
know you were one to him.
The hound made another circular
bound into the roadway and scattered
the little birds right and left. AS for
the old crow, he leaned back on his
perch until he was in imminent danger
Of falling off backward and chuckled
hoarsely and grimly to himself, as if he
were immensely tickled over something.
He looked as if he thanked-g goodness
knows what-that he was crow and
not stupid human being. He was sa-
tirical old crow and looked as if he had
indeed seen life An apoplectic seizure
after hearing some spicier piece of scan
dal than usual shall one day be his ulti
mate fate. Pessimists and cynics and
such minded creatures as this crow, by
the way, are generally those who have
not only-if the truth could only be
brought home to them-run the gamut
of earthly pleasures, but by violating
natures laws have destroyed their ca
pacity for further enjoyment. 1t is
worse than dog in the manager spirit
But perhaps this particular old crow
was not quite SO bad as some of his kind.
Marie the girl looked up and ]
started slightly as she heard him pro- I
nounce her name-''is this all you have
to say to me? Is this all the welcome
you have for me?"
The old crow became impatient and
scratched his head vigorously with one
foot.
1--WE might shake hands, she sug-
gested calmly, but with her breath com
ing quickly and with heightened color
in her cheeks. eif7S
She held out one hand to him timid-
", but he caught both of hers-and
held them.
'tHa-a, ha-a!" cawed the old repro
bate up on the dead limb Then he
broke into hoarse laugh, but pulled
himself up short and tried to look as
if he had only been clearing his throat.
He wanted to see the whole of the COM
edy.
Harry Yorke looked steadily into her
eyes, and she in turn looked shyly into
his as he held her in front Of him.
Marie, he said again, after an awk-
ward pause, do you know what has
brought me here?'
"Why-why do you ask me this?"
she asked evasiyely, but she was shak
ing like leaf, and her eyes were fixed
on the ground before her.
Because wanted to tell you that
you have, = was the answer ST want
you to tell me that have not done
wrong in coming and that you are glad
to see me- =
Don It you think you are asking me
to undertake a rather heavy contract"
she rejoined, the perverse and inscruta-
BILE promptings Of old Mother Eve and
the instincts of her better self each hav-