Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-06-30

chen had just struck nine.
Farmer Halliday had long been in
bed and asleep. He rose at four
o'clock every morning to gst the
farm work started bright and early,
and his old wife was Just rolling
I'M her knitting-work to ascend the
stairs-a mild-face woman with a
white-frilled cap and a brown calico
gkown. While out in the dewy star
light by the gate Leah Linton stood,
leaning her elbows on the fence and
talking with showily-dressed
Young woman of about her own age.
Never seen the city," exclaimed
Flora Plimpton, echoing Leahs last
words. "Never-seen -the-city?
Well, l declare l don't believe
there's another girl in Tauhasset that
could say that! You're too delicious
" green for anything, Leah LiEton!
In the soft, metallic starshine Leah
felt herself crimson to her very tenn
ples. with a sense of being somehow
put in the wrong
NO." she admitted; Il
Leah! Leah" called Mrs. HALL
days gentle old voice from the WIN
dow Time to go to bed!"
"I'll be there in a minutes! Lean
called back.
And then they could hear the sash
softly close again.
"Such a stuffy old place. said
Flora, elevating her eyebrows. And
yet you tell me they've got money.
mine hundred dollars in gold
eagles" said Leah, with a certain
pride in her accents. Il saw Mr..
Halliday counting it out yesterday.
He drew it from the bank to buy the
mountain lot, and the lawyers are
delaying the title longer than he ex-
pected."
Il should think he'd be afraid Of
it's being stolen, tentatively OBJ
served Flora.
ooh, it's locked up in the old
Dutch cabinet, safe and sound! Be-
sides, nobody knows but what it is
still in the bank. But really, Flora,
| cant go on this excursion with
you Fourth of July she added re-
gretfully.
You can't go? And why not? Oh,
Leah, you must go! Mr.. Ferguson
will be so disappointed if you aren't
there. can tell you, Leah, he's
fairly raved about you ever since he
saw you at the station, day he came
down TO see me. | should be quite
Jealous if | hadn't another fellow in
my eye. He says he won't go II
you don't and you'd hate to spoil the
excursion. wouldn't you? Why
can't you go.
Mr. and Mrs. Halliday have ar
ranged to spend the day with their
married daughter up in Beverly"
said Leah, deiectedly. ''They always
go every Fourth of July
"Oh, the selfishness of old people!
said Flora, Indignantly. And leave
YOU poked up here alone, when there S
an excursion boat stopping at Tau
hasset Dock, with a band and avn
ings and all, and you never were on
an excursion in your life! on,
don't wonder-its enough to make
anybody cry!,' as a big tear-drop or
SO coursed down Leahs cheek and
splashed on the sweet brier leaves
below. Look here, Leah! It's
shame you never should go any
where or see anything
They're not s-sefish!" sobbed
Leah, an instructive sense Of justice
rising up in heart. They are just
as good to me as they can be, and
I love them dearly. But they don't
like me to mix much with the young
folks hereabouts They're mostly
trilng and no account, you know, In
the factory and down at the rubber
works
'Fiddlesticks! said Flora Plimp-
ton Whats that but sheer selfish
ness? Leah. you shall go! Now
listen to me! Once get EN- fairly
started off with that old rattle-trap
of theirs, with the one-eyed horse =
she laughed jeeringly-"a then
you come down to the dock and
wait for us. LII see that va boat
don't go off without you
Leah drew a quick breath.
81 never was on steamer IN my
life" said she But, Flora, hate TO
deceive them"
Where's the odds?' airily demand
ed Miss Plmpton. You've got TO
deceive people sometimes II you
want to get your rights"
Which ethical fact Leah was not
sufficiently posted to dispute.
When do they start off-at seven
in the morning." pursued Flora
Good, We're not due at the dock
until nine. Therell be lots Of time
for YOU to fix yourself up and come
down: and mind, you wear that
same pink muslin you had on at the
station. Ferguson's fairly gone on
that pink gown
Leahs cheeks, for an instant, were
roster than any pink gown could be.