The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-17

II the rest had not. Mr.. Trohm came
riding up in his buggy, and somewhat
later in the day Deacon Spear came
boldly upon the field, though none too
near the gate, at which Saracen SAT
growing. The talk I had with Mr.
irohm was of a delicate nature. not
bearing repetition. but the few curt
words l exchanged with Deacon Spear
may amuSe the reader or at least sat
ls1y some of my good friends that I
am not given over to vanity as to be
mlsled by every passing compliment
q man may pay me.
He was, as was saying, drawn up
on the opposite side Of the road. but
when he saw me he made very low
pow and sided a step forward. This
made me draw myself up bit, though
L had no Idea what was coming. He
seemed to take that for an invitation.
TOR, pointing toward Saracen, he asked
II the dog was quiet, and when I in a
superior way answered that he was as
quiet as lamb he edged up to where
was standing and sheepishly held out
his hand
- have been thinking" he drawled.
that it was only neighborly for me to
call upon you, Miss Butterworth. But
this business which has occupied the
lane these last few days has put us all
into such mood of unpleasantness
mat there was no use of trying socia-
o1l1ty on any one
His hair was so sleek. his ewes so
small and so twinlxling, that I began to
have respect for Williams opinion of
him, but I said nothing, possibly be-
cause I only half heard what he had
just said himself
I'm no lady's man"-these were the
next words I heard-"but, then, I
1'ro ,nt f,,P a
that kind of thing yourself So now
I've got the chance, I'll just say the
thing I've got on my tongue to say.
Miss Butterworth, I'm SO and have
been widower two years. I'm not
fitted for solitary life, and I am fitted
for comfortable life with an affec-
tomato wife to keep my hearth swept
clean and my affections in good
working order. Will you be that wife?
l have neat cottage
Yes" said /, Sin Lost Mans lane -
Oh" he exclaimed, you do not like
this place? Well, we could go else
where. am not set against the city
myself
Nor against the comfortable little
income somebody has told you I pos
! sessed,' cried I. IT see your disinterest-
edness, but I should be sorry to profit
by it. Why, man, never spoke to you
before in my life and do you think''-
oh" said he, IT see you are not
above fattery and those things. Well,
madam, I know a tremendous fine
woman when l see her without talking
away dozen evenings on politics, re-
l1glon and what not. I don't need to
know any more about you than I can
take In with my two eyes, but If you
would like little more acquaintance
with me, why. I can wait couple of
weeks till we've rubbed the edges a
little off of our strangeness, when'-
When you think will be so charm
ed with Deacon Spear that 1 will be
| ready to settle down with him In Lost
Mans lane, or if that will not do carry
him off to Gramercy park, where he
Will be the admiration Of all New York
and Brooklyn to boot. Why, man, il I
was so easily satisfied as that I would
not be In position today for you to
honor me with this proposal. I am NOT
| easy to suit. so I advise you to turn
| your attention to some one much more
anxious to be married than I am, but
not before this mystery Is settled in
Lost Mans lane. If you were an honest
man, you would ask no one to share
your fortunes while any cloud rests
upon your honor"
My honor! Madam, be careful. I
admire you, but
mo offense,' said 7. For a stran-
ger ] have perhaps INDUCED In little
freedom. only mean that any one who
lives in this lane must feel that the
shadow which envelopes 1t rests also a
little upon him. When that is lifted,
each one will feel himself man again.
From indications yonder, that day may
not be far away. Mother Jane is a like
ly source for such a mystery. She
knows just little enough to have no
proper idea of the value Of a human
life"
Madam" said Deacon Spear, ri
have not that much interest in what Is
going on over there" Here he snapped
his fingers. If men have been killed
In this lane-which do not believe
! she never had no hand In it. What