The McCook tribune., 1897-01-29

Oconomowoc one day in connection
with her family. He would ask for
few days respite from work and &c
up there. He had never asked for
vacation and they surely would not re.
fuse him. Besides, 1t was not far from
Chicago and many Chicago men went
up Saturday nights to spend Sunday
i, with their families who were stopping
there. Anyhow, he would go for the
rest OF the week-possibly he might
sec her or learn 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
for the rest of the week, but what
might not happen in four whole days!
When he arrived at the depot of the
pretty little Wisconsin town he found
himself anXiously looking around,
though he condemned himself for his
foolishness in doing so-why should
she be around the depot If she was in
| the town?
| After he had registered at 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 boat and tried to fish, but
after couple of hours effort, when
| only a couple of sickly looking dog
| fish rewarded his efforts, he gave it
| up in disgust and returned to the ho-
| tel.
| At dinner that evening he was made
aware OF the fact that circus was in
| town by couple sitting across the
table from him, who had come in from
i the surrounding country and were go
ing. In the barber-shop also there was
! nothing talked of but the circus 1t
made him feel quite at home to see the
| enthusiasm created by the mere fact
of circus being in town. How differ
ent from Chicago, where nothing
seemed to be able to command but
| passing interest.
Then ne remembered that at home
everybody went to the circus-why
shouldn't they do it here?-and per-
haps she might be there He would
go 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
it 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 start
ing at one end glanced as critically at
each face as the Pickering of the gas
oline lamps would allow. Of a sudden
he stopped, rubbed his eyes and looked
again. Yes, surely that was Margaret,
looking fairer and more winsome than
ever, appearing quite out of place
among the rustics who surrounded her
and, wonder of wonders, there was
an empty seat beside her. In a 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
explanations On both sides were being
made-thoueh he thought it strange
that she assigned no reason for her
All things must have an end and the
entertainment came to a close Joe's
request to "see her home" had been
accepted and he seemed to be treading
on air as he left the tent with the lit
tie hand resting lightly On his arm.
AS they were nearing a crossing and
Joe was opening up a subject Of car
rying on a correspondence a woman's
form came under the light across the
way. Margaret half turned around
to go back with Gracious, there's
mar Joe looked more closely and
saw middle-aged woman with de-
terminedlooking 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
| where-what made you change your
seat? We won't trouble this young
man Tor his company any further
with a scathing look at Jee-'Tm
ashamed of yo1, out with young man
ard your wedding only three days off.
I'll be glad when Frank has you to
look after instead of me-"
And as Margaret was being hurried
away from across the street joe caught
the CLEAN of ring on the little hand
that was surreDtitiously waved to him.