Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-11

emotion that attested his absolute sim
certify.
Miss Dely's mood changed. She be-
gan to cry heartbrokenly.
whats the use er tellin' on it now!"
she sobbed.
Big Alec Penland grew as weak as n
baby.
"Dely, If you won't come out hyar
I'm er comm in thar" he cried, and in
another minute he had her in his strong
arms.
1t was only for a second, however.
Dely's sobs stopped suddenly. She
struggled to get free.
"Ain't yer slammed, Alec Penlan', an
me most cz good ez married ter Bob
Wilson,
Alec released her instantly and stood
looking at her, his face drawn and
pale.
You act like a plumb fool, Alec
whimpcred DEFY.
Il reckon mabby l do" said Alec,
humbly.
He looked at her. his heart sinking,
all her harsh words.
The insurgent love dared to snatch at
n newborn hope.
''Dely." he began.
"Dely. DEFY, DEFY" called a sharp,
menacing voice.
That's ma" exclaimed DEFY, wildly.
ooh, Alec. don't let her see We. She'll
bang yer head agin the wall wus N
ever she banged hit when Bob aXed
fer me an she banged hit ergin when
Susan Harris brung home my weddin
gown
If she meant to cut him to the heart
by this alusion to her nuptial tinery,
size failed. He only looked at her. in
curious way. and then asked in the
quietest of voices:
What did Bob do:"
'Nothin', only jest larfed. Oh, Alec,
why won't yer go? She's er comm"
Alec went. seeing that the danger
was imminent.
Mrs. Townshend called again. I'm
comm, ma" and Miss DEFY fastened
What air you er foolin' away youl
time for down thar, an here's Jim Will
son been ter tell yer that BOb's took
powerful bad an the doctor amt no
hopes on him hardly. Err pretty piece
or work thet is. an you'll git talked
about fine An We got her weddin'
dress an ALL" sneered the old woman.
Miss DEFY grew sick all over. Was
there then no escape from this life:
"Jim wanted yer ter go over thar, but
| telled him | wouldn't hey no sich
work as tEet-my da'ter running after
n man tibet away"
They had reached the house now and
there in the living room was the we'd
ding gown DEFY had been so proud of.
She began to weep.
You shet up, DEFY Townshend.
cried her mother. EFF yer don't I'll
bang my. head all to pieces ergin the
wallr and she gave it hard thump.
'.Oh. ma, don't DON'T shriekcd DEFY.
/ Il won't cry / won't do nOthin'."
The old woman sat down in her splint
rocker
'Yer'd better not, then"
The menace in her black eyes meant
business, and DEFY, choking down her
sobs, went about getting dinner. Poor
Bob Wilson never recovered from his
sudden illness. He begged to see Miss
| DEFY, and once in the dead midnight
she stole out trembling and went and
stayed an hour by his sick bed.
Il hate ter leave ye," said Bob, kind
ly. But thars Alec thinks heap on
ye Twas mighty squar' thing his
givin' We up ter me like he did. Well,
we'll. It's all right, l suppose" said
Bob, weakly.
| He was so nearly done with this life
that its loves and hopes did not matter
much. Dely's wedding gown was pres
| emily put away in the old family chest
and DEFY went about her duties with a
sadder face.
"A wilder 'thout ever bein' married. "
sncered her mother, and the kind neigh
bors added that it "'pearcd like DEFY
Townshend was pintedly meant fer an
old maid"
In the few weeks that followed Boil
Wilson's death Alec Penland did n deal
of thinking and day-ireaming. Pleas
ant thoughts and pleasant dreams they
were, too, one would guess by the Sc
rene expression of his strong, kind
face. He worked some ut ''fixin
things" around home. Alec had lived
alone, keeping house for himself ten
years or more, and it is putting it mild
ly to say that the appearance Of the
house, both inside and out, indicated
that such had been the case. But this
did not trouble Alec. He was apt to
sit after supper, smoking his pipe, on
the front stoOp, without Il thought OF
the unwashed dishes, and watch the
smoke curling up from the Widow
Townshend's chimney.
'Shes n good gal II : neat s pin, ;
he unused one night. Bob was Il bet
ter man then me, some ways He'd a
done it an I'll do It, an l won't wait
no longer, blessed ef do
He knocked the ashes out of his pipe
put out the cat and went to bed and
slept soundly all night. The next day