The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-05
ROB NJ GREGOR.
By MARTHA MCULL0OH WILLIAMS.
copyright, 1896, by the Author.l
CONTINUED

talbot entrance, out Wnen the tap thI
of cane heralded her father she stepped
lightly down the aisle, met him at the
door, to which Jack Talbot had led him,
and took him TO his accustomed place
in the pew next the pulpit. She sat
down by him there, regardless of Mr..
Topmark's imploring looks, his beckon-
ings and wildly significant grimaces.
She did not even shake her head, but
sat holding her fathers hand and now
and then patting it softly until the SER
mon began.
She had said to her father that morn
ing, in the face of her gallant: Daddy,
don't think l care particularly to go
with Mr.. Topmark. On tho contrary,
I'm afraid the ride will turn out cost
ly luxury when he comes to set "a price
on the tobacco this fall, but do want
dreadfully 10 make lot of other women
uncomfortable. Widows and maids Of
all ages will be setting caps at him to-
day, and l intend he shall not so much
as look at one Of them
''Now, amt she jest the beat Of all
brighter heap n new money!" Mr..
Topmark had said in the fathers ear.
''No, Miss Rob, honor bright, the trip
shan't be with no mo- ter me n jest the
pleasyer of it, that l CANT valyer in
dollars an cents. But eff you'll help me
git the wife l want when / come ter
want her-why, give you my word the
ole gentleman here shall git twict the
price fer what grows in the place that
anybody else'll give"
"Now, just listenp" Rob had retorted
Daddy, think Mr.. Topmark is afraid
of the big, grown up young ladies and
is practicing his pretty speeches on me- "
mo doubt, no doubt, 4" her father had
answered, laughing mildly. Yet he was
troubled. He did not like his daughter
to be seen in such company, but to for
bid it outright was piece Of rudeness
he would not venture upon now that
the matter had got so far. OF course
there could be no moro to 1t than
piece of the ebullient folly normal to
the estate of new widowerhood. Rob
was so young, so whimsically full Of
pranks, it had no doubt seemed to her
an excellent jest to go along with him.
said, pull caps for him now that he was
said to be rich and growing yearly rich
CT, but Rob-the thought was absurd.
Only he must caution her against re-
peating her freak, though all her world
must see that it was only freak.
As the preacher rose to give ont the
opening hymn Mr.. Topmark got ND and
moved across to his proper masculine
sphere. He was the moral Of grinning
though sheepish delight Jack Talbot,
coming in with the other men, felt
raging desire to knock him down as they
two met in the aisle. Teddy Barton,
walking just behind Jack, gave out
stifled smoker aud dropped into near
seat, whispering loudly TO his next neigh
Dor: "Geel Circus amt a patchin ter
this fun. Wouldn't take $3.50 cash
money fer the sight er Jack Talbot look
in cross eyed at ole Top an ole Top his
self actin the lovyer. Richest thing in
seben counties. He's got it awful bad
Why, Miss Rob McGregor can make him
mind jest like he was her little flee
dawg. Nice girl, she is Always did
like her. Tween you an me an the gate
post could cut ole Top out
"You better hush Eff you lie that
away whar Jack kin hear or ole Topknot
either, it won't be good fer you, Ted
dy's gossip answered in his own sibilant
key. "Er fool an blind'd know, Ted,
Miss Rob never seen the day she'd eben
step on you, not eff you got down in the
path fer her ter walk ON. -
Such retorts merely made Teddy
smile. He was so much the artist in his
lying the bare exercise Of his capacity
was joy enough, and he had not really
the least i'll mind toward Rob. He
thought indeed she looked distinctly
charming there, holding the old mans
hand and watching him solicitously
throughout the sermon. But Mrs. Win
fold, who had come late and fustered
to church, confided to her seat mate be-
fore the minister had come to "second.
ly:" "That girl is doin all that fer jest
nothin but effect, maxim out like she
keers so much fer her pore blind old ia
ther As for my part, don't see how
er man as well behaved as Mr.. McGreg-
or can bring hisself ter profane the
house Of God by settin that way on the
women's side. "
The seat mate was devout, but hui
man, and she owed Mrs. Winfield day
in the social harvest of disagreeable
speeches Behind her fan she Whispered
loudly in that lady's astounded ear:
"Why, little while back il looked
like your brother would be sittin there,
too, an fer just the same reason-to be
by that vixen Of Rob McGregor.
The basket meeting with which tho
''protracted effort" of Bethel church al
ways began was easily the leading social
event Of Walnut Greek summer. Still
Mrs. Winfield had not meant to be there,
certainly not after she knew that Alice
would DO safe for tho day in the bosom
of the Talbot family. A dinner credit
able to her housewifery and her daugh-
tiers meant the spending Of time and sub-