Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-04-23

ness Of death was everywhere cit wSs
too dark in the cellar to see what WAS
in II.
Light that lantern. Jack, and see ii
she's there. We must set her out OF
this before the eountry's reused. oh.
poor child She told me she'd be druv
to it,"
With shaking hands, Jack took down
stable lantern from nail lighted It
and held il over the cellar stair
Are YOU afraid to so down" she
asked, Well dent blame ye give
me the lantern"
Jack made no protest; he was shak-
tnS in every one OF his long, lanky
limbs, he could not set over the shock
he had had; every other moment he
turned and glanced toward the shanty,
where lay the dread thing which only
two hours ago was the boss.
Nan explored every hole aud cor
ner OF the cellar; there was not much
in ii, only some apples, potatoes and
other Vegetables,
There amt no Loo here; hut what's
this She said, STOPPING and picking
UP cap, mans cloth cap, which she
found at the foot of the cellar steps
This cap cont belong to nobody"
She suddenly stopped, struck Ivy ~.
mtmhcring what Mrs, Myers had said
about Loo meeting man down by the
wood and thinking she had better
keep silence
She brought the cap up in her hand
and closed the hatch,
Now, Jack some Of us must run
over to Mycrscs and tell EN- to come
stay maybe he amt dead come and
help me to turn him over nm see" said
Nan appropchtng the shanty, tear
fully hut Jack laid hold OF her with a
wild clutch.
what are YOU going to do, You gol-
darned fool" Don't YOU soc eff YOU so
near that there body youll get your
clothes all over In a mess and then
they'll say it's You did it,"
Nan stared at him, but was struck
with the truth of what he said
You bet | didn't touch him" he
said, though | guess didn't much
know what | was dom when | saw
him first Let's both 30 to the village
an tell Hello! here's some one com
ing up here now I'm hlcst il it amt
Mr.. and Mrs Myers. Oh, Lord, oh,
Lord, Sich sight to como an sec'"
It was really Joshua Myers and his
wife come over, ostensibly for ShanE-
hal eggs, but in reality to, If possible
get a friendly talk with Loo.
When the purport Of Nau's visit had
been conlidcd to Joshua few hours
before he leaned over the table ana
said to his wife contidCutially.
Look a here, neither, all these aerc
goingS on amt tor nothing, \ girl
who has never been inclined TO this
fly around kind o life before don't all
Of a sudden break out in spots without
no reason. The trouble is that old
man llilns daughter is a hundred times
too good for the like Of him, IN how
such a sI>lnflint as that man ever cum
to have a gal like Loo is one of the
most mysterious things | over seen.
Looks as If natur' had made mistake
there I'm glad Won said YOU would
70 over.
"Yos" responded Mrs. Myers
mcckly II said ! would 30 over next
week"
Next week Gcchosophdt Next
week, Next week we may all be in
eternity. NO. mother, not next week,
nor tomorrow. but this very eyenin',
soon's We kin get your bonnet on. /
don't b'licVc in no representation
where the good of II human ben' Is In
II. Fact is, we've percrastinated too
long already over Loo; an YOU oughtor
spoken to her as one woman kin do to
another long ago fust when this here
philandcrin' nd began. But. course
she amt ours. an p'r'haps after all
II wasn't our place TO Interfere
Il don't mind anything except that
story about talking with that man an
givin' him money, said Mrs Myers
oh, well, p'r'haps she kin explain
all that when YOU 20 up, Look here,
guess ri 20 over with YOU an when
Loo and YOU arc round by the hay
NOW after them eggs III keep the old
man in talk How'd that scheme
work? Sounds most like thieyin'.
don't it,"
Well | sposc, since you say it,
must 70 over, though did want TO
finish that quilt for the exhibition"
Oh well ye know, mother" re-
torted Joshua, rising and looking at
her with sarcastic Difference. "ef you
mink the quilts o more importance
cave in That's all TO be said Of the
gals bound 10 70 10 the devil it's none
OF our funeral"
Now, now. now Joshua, now can
you talk so? You 20 get on your other
coat an I'll get my bonnet and walk
over with you right away"
Thus IT was that they happened TO
be coming mp through old man Hill's
orchard when Nm looked out and,
haIfcrazy with grief and terror, ran
ont 10 meet them
'Whatever's up With the old
~