The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-17

did and chivalrous all at once. II ac-
knowledged defeat and guilt and en-
bodied a certain pride in the victor.
We'll, that settles that" said Arthur.
lone thing more. l don't want you to
say what made the row between us.
IAN right, pard, only you'd better
see Tim
In spite of his care the matter came
to the ears of Richards. who laughed
over il and told his wife who stared
blankly.
Good land. when did It happen?"
"A couple of days ago.
"WaI, there, | thought there was n
nigger in the fence. Dan had head
on him like a bushel basket. What
was it about?"
something Tim said about Edith"
Il wanto know Wal. wal! An here
they've been going about as peaceful
as two kittens ever Sence.
"Of course, They pitched i'm and
settled it man fashion: they amt
couple of women who go around sniff
fin and sDittin' at each other, said
Richards with brutal sarcasm: "as
| near as ! can learn, Tim and Dan came
at him at once"
They're Il nice pair of tramps!
said Mrs. Richards. Indignantly. II
told you when they came they'd make
trouble"
Il told you the cows eat up the
srindstone" said Richards, walking
away.
The more Mrs. Richards thought of 1t.
the finer 1t all appeared to her. She was
deeply engaged now ON Arthur's side
and was very eager to do something to
help on in his sparkling" as she called
It, She seized the first opportunity to
tell Edith.
Don't s'pose you heard of the little
fracas we had t'other day she began
in what she intended to be u delicately
Indirect way.
Edith was sitting in the cart and
Mrs. Richards stood at the wheel, with
her apron shading her head
why, no. what was it,"
MIR. Ramsey come mighty near get
tim killed" She enjoyed deeply the
dramatic pallor and distortion Of the
girls face.
"Why-why-what do you mean?'
well. if he hadn't damned one fel-
Ter with "a bucket he'd Il been laid out
| sure, SO Richards says; as it Is. it's the
other f"ller that has tn" head. She
laughed to see the girls face change.
"Then-Mr Ramsey isn't hurt?'
Not a scratch. The funny part of 1t
is. they've been going around here for
! u week. quiet as you please; | wouldn't
have known anything about it only for
richards"
oh. isn't 1t dreadful?' said the giri.
Yes. 'tis!" the elder woman readily
agreed, but why don't you ask what it
was all about?'
"Oh. don't want to know anything
| more about it, it's too terrible"
Mrs. Richards was approaching the
climax. 1T was all about you"
The girl could not realize what part
she should have with a disgraceful row
i'm the barnyard.
Yes, these men-they're regular
| tranps. told Richards so the first time
] set eyes on 'em--they made little
free with your name, and Art he over
heard them and he went for 'em, and
| they both came at him, two to one, and
he damned both in minute-sO Rich
ards says. Now call that splendid; (;
don't YOU: A young feller that'll stand
up for his girl agin two big tramps--'
me major had been motioning for
Edith to drive on down toward the gate,
and she seized the chance for escape.
Her lips quivered with shame and
anger. 1t seemed as if she had been
splashed with mire.
"Oh the vulgar creatures" she said
IN her throat. her teeth shut tight.
There. isn't that fine field:" asked
the major as he pointed to the cab
bages. There is a chance for an Amer
ican imitator of Monet, those purple
| brown deeps. and those gray-blue-
piih pedTI tlntS-N w nat the matter,
| my DEAR? he broke off to ask, ARE you
| ill?"
NO, no. only let's go home" she
said. the tears coming into her eyes
He got in hastily. MY dear. you are
really ill. what's the matter? Has your
old enemy the headache" He put his
arm about her tenderly.
| The major whistled: "Oh no, that's
| got around to you, has 1t? / didn't
know it until yesterday, ] was hoping
1T wouldn't reach you at all. wouldn't
| mind it. my dear. It's the shadow
every lovely woman throws no matter
where she walks-it's only your shadow
that has passed over the ..muck"
But j can't even bear that it seems
like u part of me-what do you suppose
they said of me?" she asked in morbid
curiosity.
Now. now. dearest! To know that
! would be stepping into the muck after