Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-12-12

my LIE, swear m not going 10 be
Dested. Ii she stays in there six
months, I'll stay in here six months.
I'll never bulge to give her the laugh.
Mark, you Mrs. Sparkes, shall most
likely have TO rob church to pay
you, but you shall have your money"
Mrs. Sparkes closed the door some
what sharply behind her. Next time
she entered She was singing HYMN.
John. irreverent brute, noticed moth.
ingi
Hang work. Mrs. Sparkes." was
all he said. I'm show her if she can
drive me away in a hurry.
He put his precious play under lock
and key, and settled down TO enjoy
the tussle. He ate well, slept well
lazied well and grew as fat as a hog.
He lost his over-wrought. lantern.
jawed appearance completely, turning
out to be quite decent looking chan.
He led the cats and dogs an awful
life of il. When he fancied all was
saS>, he even SHE'D things at the
parrot as he hung On his nail in the
latticed window. How that parrot
talked!
One evening there was a note from
Miss Norman asking him why he still
persisted in behaving like bad,
wicked schoolboy. John laughed
heartily, and wrote back 10 know if he
might have the extreme felicity Of
taking her on the river.
Heavens! She took him seriously.
Yes. She would be most pleased TO
go with her bold, bad neighbor.
Would Mr.. Mercer please let her
know what time?
To his surprise he found his con-.
panion rather fascinating than other
wise. She had only brought one of
her pugs. This told greatly in her
favor.
Il fear you do not like my pussie.
Mr.. Mercer" she said, as she watched
him lazily sculling.
John had put his foot in it nicely.
Il fear | do not, madam" he all
swered truthfully. you see, came
here to be quiet and to work"
DCdls QSdI. Suc SlSntu. Anu
have l prevented your working?"
INC, madam, your menagerie has.
But pray don't let it distress you.
Doesn't matter in the least, | can as
sure you. The holiday has done me a
world of good; though, of course, it
means that | shall have to starve for
time later on to make up"
''Starve,"
Miss Norman's voice literally
thrilled with horror and concern.
Evidently she was ignorant of the
woes of struggling young geniuses.
''Starvel" she repeated. "But food
is so frightfully cheap, Mr. Mercer!"
Doubtless it was, madam. Every
thing has gone up now, you know"
She was pensive for the rest of the
excursion, merely signing in answer
when he addressed her. She was SO
struck with the idea of his starving,
perhaps she'd move out next day
Not so, however On the contrary.
she ceased to make excuses for re-
naming on
John never knew how it happened,
but another boating trip was arrang-
ed. This time he asked her why she
always wore such a thick black veil
He thought he would like to see her
face.
"Ah, young man." she answered,
sadly, 'thc lines about my poor
withered old countenAnce would make
you wish you had never brought me
here. And it is so pleasant-so. 60
pleasant"
"Your voice is not old" he sug-
gested.
20, isn't it," she replied, queerly.
"It ought to be-"
mo, it's rather young. That is
why l thought should like to see
your face more plainly"
Next evening they went again, and
she led him on to talk of Dollie. This
suited John perfectly. He had grown
tired of breathing her name and her
sweetness to the roses.
What a nice motherly interest You
seem to take in her." he remarked.
do ~" she said, quizzically. Are
you much in love-"
ssMadlviv