Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1900-02-08

y
succeeded, but Mrs Richie said it be-
gan to look as if he would have to give
in and make the best of 1t, or else be
at outs with the girl for the rest of his
days.
Mrs. Richie came to this conclusion
when she saw Mary walking down the
street on Sunday morning accompanied
by the ineligible Peter Rutter, known
i'm the foundry as Little Pete"
Mary was looking tenderly down at
him and he was looking up ut her as
tenderly. Moreover, there was triumph
In his walk and n carnation in his but
tOnhOle. There are circumstances I'M
der which "A man may walk on Arbor
street with carnation I'm his button
hole and yet not be classed with the
dudes that perish.
Murphy was foreman of the foundry.
Little Peter was not even molder,
but dubbed around" carrying cast
ings and TASKS, baking cores, stacking
for his superiors-a mere helper. Not
only that, but he was weak-eyed, meek
and somewhat bandy-legged. Murphy
could not for the life of him see what
there was about the little rat to take
the fancy of girl, but that is some
thing that has been puZzling brothers,
fathers and rivals since the world be-
gan.
Perhaps Mary fancied Little Pete
because he was so distinctly different
from Brother Daniel. Brother Daniel
was masterful and subject TO fits of hot
anger that found sOlace in crockery-
smashing mt home and lurid talk in the
foundry. Mary had been dominated by
him all her life, and although she had
never been anything but outwardly
submissive there were times when re-
bellion was strong i'm her bosom. If
Peter was bandy-legged and small he
was at least amiable. Mary was a
large girl with washed-out eyes, com
plexion and hair, slow of speech and
deliberate Of movement.
1t was at picnic ut Sharpshooters'
park that Little Pete first met Mary.
All the boys from the foundry were
there and Dan introduced the helper"
to his sister with u good-natured con
descensiOn of manner that Peter took
as perfectly natural and proper. Mary
smiled kindly and blushed a little
when Peter took heart of grace to pro-
pose walking over 10 where the foot
races were to take place. She went,
however. and rs Brother Dan went
away with Myra Hanson it came to
pass that Peter was with her most of
the day. Myra being the kind of girl
that demanded n mans entire atten-
ton, Dan did not notice the unmistak-
able way Peter was buying red pop
and ice cream for his sister. but Fritz
Schiller did, and so did Charley Stokes
and Nels Engstrom, and they all men
toned it the netX day as they sat in
the narrow strip of shade against the
foundry wall with their dinner buckets
open before them Not all the coating
of foundry CRIME on Peters face could
conceal his bushes when they did So
AS for Mary, it is quite likely that
she thought this was the most delight
full picnic that ever was. 1t is certain
glad to get TO her room. where she sat
for very long time smiling ut the
wallpaper garlands when she ought to
have been In bed.
Peter had given her his badge-a red
ribbon with the emblem of the Anal.
gamated Gravel Roofers blazoned
thereon i'm letters of gold. Before she
did go to bed she opened locked
drawer and took from il box which
contained Il little gold baby chain. n
coral necklace. a tiny turquoise ring. n
china doll with q fractured nose and n
cheerful expression and tintype por-
trait of Mrs. Murphy, deceased. Among
these treasures she deposited the fam
boyant badge and then locked the box
N up again.
When Murphy came home from work
the next day he noticed that his sister
wore more ribbons than usual and that
her color became heightened when he
looked as il he noticed it.
"Expectin' company he asked.
There was no question about her col
or now.
"Mr. Rutter said he might call this
evenin'," she admitted.
mister who? You don't mean Lit
tie Pete'?"
as that what you call him? Yes:
that's who | mean
WELL" said Murphy. with fine scorn.
II like his gall. How'd that come?
Why didn't you tell him you was goin'
to jump the town this mornin' an
wouldn't be back for eleven yeasrY"
Because | wanted him to COME
said Mary. truthfully.
Brother Dan laughed. lie thought II
impossible that she could be i'm earnest.
The next day Dan heard something
mt the foundry that made him change
his mind about Mary's not being I'm
earnest. Still lie had the good judg-
ment to say nothing to Mary until n
few days later. when the ribbons an
peared again-cherry- colored forecasts
of Peter in black diagonal cutawny
coat too long In tn sleeves and too
high in the collar, but sufficiently i'm
pressive and declare tory.
Then Dan lost temper and Judgment
together and told Mary he was
ashamed of her
"why should you be. Danny, deary'
asked Mary.