Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-11-23

mics u the SURE. HAVING TedcHSt
this place she and her spaniel walked
IN, and. as she expected, at this time
IN the day, the store was deserted save
for the presence of the proprietor, who
came forward swapping his fingers in
a conversational manner at the dog,
who paid not the slightest attention to
him.
What it is today, Miss Avery?
Sugar and spice n everything nice for
Thanksgivin', eh?" facetiously.
No. said Ruth, promptly, "a didn't
come for groceries. came to ask what
old Paul Dill n Adoniram Winsor
were bettfn' about here; s'pose you
know, don't you, Mr.. Scott?"
Mr.. SCOTS ingratiating expression
instantly left his face: his Jaw dropped.
He did not answer.
Il s'pose you know, don't you?" in
sisted Ruth.
Yes, at last, Il guess most of us
Know. But, law, you needn't mind
what mess of men says"
Mr.. Scott began to laugh. He plain
~ made violent effort to smother this
laugh, choking to the extent of a pur-
pie face in the attempt. While he was
thus engaged there entered a small
man very much enveloped about the
neck and chin in a red comforter. Ruth
| turned upon him with flashing eyes.
Mr.. Benner," she said, you see Mr..
! Scott is in kind of fit. Now, I'll ask
| you the same question I asked him.
What were old Paul Dill n Adoniram
Winsor bettin' about here?"
Mr.. Benner did not laugh He grew
pale and glanced nervously at the
door.
DO you know?" relentlessly from
Ruth.
twa'n't nothin'-iest nothin' at all,
n that's fact"
Having spoken thus Mr.. Benner left
the store with the remark that he had
forgotten to bring his pail for mo-
lasses.
Ruth also left. She drove directly
home. She was conscious OF a burning
at her heart and eyes. She told herself
that she guessed she could live if she
never knew what that bet was and
have a good Thanksgiving too
The next afternoon. in the early
dusk of November, Mr.. Winsor's
horses head appeared at the top of the
hill and few moments later Adoni-
ram entered Ruth's kitchen. He was
freshly shaved and he wore his Sun
day suit under the army coat. He
bore an immense turkey by the legs.
He slapped the fowl down on the table
with the remark that it weighed eight
cen and three-quarters and that no old
maid in the world could ever eat it
without help, a mans help too.
My dog n cat are all the help /
want" was the response
Mr. Winsor drew out the wings from
his pocket and presented them. Then
he took off his coat and hung it up.
He said he had thrown a blanket on
his horse, and if Ruth didn't mind he'd
stop awhile. The two partook of hot
biscuit and cold corned mutton and
tea. Ruth explained that she didn't
always keep pies on hand just before
Thanksgiving, as she herself could get
along we'll enough if she never saw a
pie.
At the second cup of tea Adoniram
spoke of the fact that he had often
thought he had missed it not marry
ing. There was no reply whatever to
this, and he changed the conversation
to the subject of rutabagas, upon
which Ruth grew fluent, having made
b., I.
It was o'clock before Mr. Winsor
took the blanket from his horse When
he had risen from his chair he had
said
"Now, Ruth, want to tell you once
more, n | want you to understand it
i hope it'll snow Thanksgiving"
When he was unhitching his horse
he called loudly and cheerily:
ct does look n feel like snow, n
the winds dead east. Whether it SHOWS
or not I'm goin' to drive over"
Ruth was under degree of excite
ment when she went to bed. Twice in
the night she rose and looked out of
the window. She could see no stars
and the wind dashed against the east
side of the house. She slept later in
the morning at last, and when she rose
the ground was white and fine snow
was sitting down the wind, the whole
sky looking as if it might storm for
weeks There was a chickadee calling
on the butternut tree in the yard
Ruth was rather tired with herself,
because her excitement continued.
She looked very calm, however, save
that her eyes were brighter than COM
mon. When she combed her hair,
which had always tried to curl, she al
lowed the locks on her forehead to lie
more loosely, but this was all the con-
cession she made to her excitement.
Mr.. Winsor came at $50 in the
morning. Instead of covering his horse
he put him in the barn. When the man
entered the kitchen his elderly face
was glowing. The doors of baking
turkey were in the room.
you've lost your bet," exclaimed
Ruth.
Il know it; I'm glad of it," Adoniram
walked quickly to the sink, where his
hostess was pairing turnips. Il was
mean skunk to make such a bet, but
old Dill made me so mad l didn't care.
Ruth Avery, will you marry me?"
Ruth stopped her work and leaned
her hands On the edge of the sink Her
cheeks were red.
81 sh1l have to think about that"
she said.
yes, know you will. I've got to tell
Won what We bet-fhat iS what fha