Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-06-05
SOLEMN stiffness pervaded the

A SOLEMN stiffness pervaded the
n sanctum of the Sorghumville
Scorcher. The Exchange Fiend was
hid behind q newspaper; Old Sub
scriber sat on the coal-box, smoking;
Vox Popuii was writing protest
against the prevalence of pigs on the
streets; and Taxpayer, who had just
come in, was backed up to the stove.
The editor sat at his table with his
chair tilted back and his legs
doubled and twisted under him. 1t
was posture of great mental en-
deavor with him. There had been
a spelling bee at the schoolhouse for
the benefit of the Methodist church,
and the editor wanted to make a
feature of it.
"Gittin' ready to jump on the adj
ministration or sumpthin' like that?"
inquired the taxpayer, observing the
editors couchant attitude.
No." smiled the editor, "I'm try
ing to do something extra nice for
the Methodist spelling match the
other evening""
II hear they tuck in $7.15," said the
taxpayer.
'Seven dollars and II CENTS" COR
rected Old Subscriber. "Somebody
dropped in postage stamp that
stuck to the side of the box and
wasn't counted till after the report
was made.''
"Speakin' of spellin' BEES" said the
taxpayer, addressing the editor, ''do
YOU recollect that time you got
foored?"
Everybody became attentive, for
the editor had a countrywide reputa-
ton as a speller.
Don't -" laughed the editor. IT
guess I'd be bachelor if it hadn't
been for that"
1--WE clean forgot" reflected the
old subscriber. ''How was it, any
how?"
The editor undoubled and swung
half around in his chair to face his
auditors.
"Um-um," he said, getting his start
slowly, ut was thirty-odd years ago
and was scant "a. I was young
printer and it was my business to
know how to spell. had the knack
besides, and nobody in the whole
community could stand up with me
except long-legged chap who had
been in the town a year or so. He
was book agent, and a nice enough
fellow, only he was stuck on himself
and thought all the girls were, too.
AS for me, I couldn't do anything
much but stick type and spell, and
I was so laundering bashful that the
girls had no use for me except to
have fun with me, and make me wish
they had all been born boys or birds,
or anything but girls. All but one
that was Alice Smith, who was so,
good, and so nice to. everybody that
she couldn't have been otherwise
to me if she had wanted to be. And
returned her kindness by thinking
of her all day and dreaming of her
at night, and blushing clear back to
my collar button every time I saw
her. Of course everybody knew
about it, and everybody, except
Alice, leased me about it,
The old subscriber grinned in re-
membrance.
II went to Sunday school in those
days." continued the editor. sswhere
Alice taught, and she often cornered
me and talked to me in spite of my
self, just because she was sorry for
me. Sometimes she would make me
walk home with her from the church,
and although I stumbled along like
a blind mule and got as red as a
beet whenever we met anybody, I
would rather have been with her.
than anywhere on earth. All I could
say to her. was yes and no. but
she laughed and 'chatted with me as
it were really worth her while and
she intended to make a man of me
or die in the attempt. But was:
mighty near hopeless, and after I
left her at the gate I slipped back
into town down an alley, for fear of
meeting people. But I appreciated
what she was doing, as poorly as I
was showing it, and though with
small opportunities I was a fool. I
think, with great ones, I could have
been a hero for her sake. At the
same time, long-legged Nat Landers,
with his smooth tongue and his cour-
age, had me nearly crazy, because he
had taken fancy to Alice and was
hanging around her whenever he got,
the chance, which wassa good many
times, for Alice liked him and was
quite proud that he paid more atten-
ton to her than he did to any,tof the
other girls" h. ...s.5s. 5sss
b. IF you got any of that excelsior to
spare I'd like bite" said the tax
payer to the old subscriber who had
opened a package of ine-cut chewing
tobacco. b
II should think it was like dessert
to you after eatin' that long green,
grunted the old subscriber, kindly
handing the package over to him. S
swell" resumed the editor, ...thinps
stood that way when the great spell
ing bee came off and everybody in
{ the town was there. OF course. r
couldn't escape, and I guess / didn't
want to, because as bashful as was
\ I was proud to be pointed out as the
best speller in the county, Nat Ian
& ders to the contrary notwithsta nd-
4 ing. The bee consisted Of various
tests, individual, and choosing sides
and that sort, but the feature of the
d assA,a!on vas = prize oil painting il