Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-03-19
CHAPTER TX.


Hetty greets Goldie with cold con-
straint, and the formality with which he
and John bow to each other is positively
icy; but Mrs. Mulvei's welcome is cor
dial. She knows very we'll that he would
not be Il desirable match for Hetty, but
there is time enough to think about that
Her present mood is one of qualification
that his coming has put the Cameron
nose out of joint" SO she retires for a
few minutes to the kitchen; gives Hetty
a meaning little smile and nod when she
returns; says: Good night" and goes off
to bed. just as the tall clocks hands point
to TX" and its mendacious voice pro-
claims ''rIP'-after the fashion of its
erratic kind.
The young men sit upon opposite sides
of the fireplace, with Hetty equidistant
between them, and strive to be at once
courtly toward her and naughty toward
each other. But a naughty demeanor is
a weak and inadequate expression for the
passion of jealousy, and sometimes they
find momentary relief in glaring. Rufus
glare is simple, being the flower of per-
sonal hate; but Johns is compound, hav-
ing in it a spicy blend of disgust. Con-
versatiOn lauguishes, though Hetty does
her best to keep it going. They talk of
the townships prospect for winning an
other photographed victory; of the open
ing of the singing school next week; of
Reuben Jackson running away with Mat
tie Forsyth, and of Sam Latimer running
away from his wife. And for none Of
these things do they care button. 1t is
all threshing chaff; tanning the east wind.
The young men would much rather fight,
and Hetty is rather afraid they will.
John, unable to stand it any longer,
rises and affects an interest in the books
on the tall chest of drawers. Hetty fol-
lows and stands beside him, to show him
the first prize she won at school. The
Young Lady's Keepsake" He seizes the
opportunity TO whisper to her, through his
clenched teeth:
III sit him out until breakfast time,
if you say the word"
Il would" she replied hurriedly, in Il
like suppressed tone, only it would make
mother so mad. You had better leave
him to me. I'll take care he doesn't stop
long-or come again. If you come next
Sunday night you will not find him here"
His face lights up. What young man
would not be Happy when the girl of his
heart so plainly gives him to understand
her preference for him?
Placid. cOntented and fully acQuiescent,
he resumes his seat by the fire. Rufus,
already made uneasy by the whispering,
fancies an expression of triumph on his
rivals face. and imagines that an under
standing has been arrived at between
John and Hetty exactly the reverse of
| that which really exists. He is conse-
Quently much surprised when, after few
/ minutes, John makes movement TO rise,
| saying:
We'll, it's getting a sort o late, aud
guess had better be going"
Why, it's early yet, Mr.. Cameron"
exclaims Hetty. with affected protest, but
| a merry twinkle in her eyes.
Early is the right time for me to go"
responds John, "aS l am going into Pitts
J burg with 4 load of fax in the morning
and even on an early start it is a long
drive. with the roads as bad as they are
now"
That is so. Well. If you must so. |
/ will not detain you. Let me show you
/ out through the kitchen. Its a shorter
way 10 the barn than by the path around
I the house.
/ With this excuse she rises to accom-
pany him. The amazement Of Rufus
4 when he realizes that his hated rival is
/ actually going. leaving the tield clear to
him, is beyond expression. That whis-
pering had fully prepared him for sit
4 ting-out match" and suspicion begins
/ growing in his mind that in some way his
position has been adroitly thanked, though
he cannot yet see exactly how.
/ Good night, Mr.. Goldie," says John,
with understanding courtesy, and Rufus
/ Stitfiy replies: Good night"
The departing lover and the girl pass
into the kitchen. closing the door behind
| them. Johns quick eye takes cognizance
/ OF 4 bountiful collation. set out upon the
kitchen table-the subject OF Mrs. Null
wells knowing smile and nod TO her
daughter just before retiring-aRd he
looks inQuiringly, but silently. from il 70
Hetty. Fully understanding him. she re-
plies, in 4 low but emphatic tone:
It's TO be hoped he win get something
TO eat before he touches 4 bite that's
theve-or he'll starve."
The spirited girl resents her mothers
action in making such preparation for the
unwelcome visitor after denying it, as she
had, for the entertainment OF the lover