Fair play., 1897-01-09

| would not refuse him. Besides, It was
not far from Chicago and many Chicago
men went up Saturday nights to spend
Sunday with their families who were
stopping there. Anyhow, he would go
for the rest of the week-possibiy he
| might see her or hear of her and the
change would do him good even if he
didn't.
The next morning, Wednesday, he
started. He could only be spared for
the rest of the week, but what might
not happen in four whole days? When
he arrived at the depot of the pretty lit
tie Wisconsin town he found himself
nnxiously looking around, though he
condemned himself for his foolishncss
in doing so-why should she be around
the depot if she was in the town?
After he had registered at Il hotel he
wandered aimlessly about the town,
admiring the handsome houses and the
beautiful twin lakes. and watching the
launches, filled with happy campers.
darting to and fro. In the afternoon
he hired 4 boat and tried to fish. but
after couple of hours effort. when
only a couple of sicklylooking dogfish
rewarded his efforts, he gave it up i'll
disgust and returned to the hotel.
At dinner that evening he was made
aware of the fact that a circus was in
town by a couple sitting across the
table from him, who had come in from
the surrounding country and were go.
ing. In the barber shop also there was
nothing talked of but the circus. It
made him feel quite at home to see the
enthusiasm created by the mere fact OF
Il circus being in town. How different
from Chicago, where nothing seemed to
be able to command but passing in.
tereSt
Then he remembered that at home
everybody went to the circus-whv
shouldn't they do it here?-and per.
haps she might be there He would &C
TO the circus.
1t was little late when Joe reached
the tent. He had not calculated on
how many would be ahead of him for
the single BARRIERS chair nor how long
il would take the hotel bootblack to
put satisfactory gloss on his shoes.
AS he entered the tent he went down
the open space to the ropes and starting
at one end glanced as critically at each
face as the Pickering of the gasoline
stopped, rubbed his eyes and looked
again. Yes. surely that was Margaret,
looking fairer and more wnsome than
e"er, appearing quite out of place among
the rustics who surrounded her-and
wonder of wonders, there was an empty
seat beside her. In n matter of ten
minutes Joe had forced his way to
where she sat and found himself at her
side. She appeared glad TO see him and
Joe felt supremely happy as eXpiana-
tionS on both sides were being made
though he thought il strange that She
assigned no reason for her sudden d..
parture from Chicago.
All things must have an end and the
entertainment came to Il close. ,Joc's
request 10 'scc her home" had been az.
cepted and he seemed to be trcading on
air rs he left the tent with the little
hand resting lightly on his arm As they
were nearing crossing and Joe WAS
opening up the subject of carrying on
a correspondence a woman's form came
under the light across the way. Mar
garet half turned around to 90 baci:
with "Gracious. there's ma" Joe
looked more closely and saw a middle
aged woman with Il dctcrmiucd-luok-
ing face hurrying toward them. She
took Margaret sharply by the arm and
drew her to one side as she said:
I've been hunting for you every.
made you change your
seat? We won't trouble this youn;
man for his company any further
with scathing look at Joe-"I'rn
ashamed of you, out with Il young man
and your wedding only three days or. .
I'll be glad when Frank has you to looi; .
after instead of me-
And as Margaret was being hurried |
away from him across the street, Joe /
caught the CLEAN of the ring on the lit !
tie hand that was surreptitiously waved
to him.-Chicago News.