Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-07-10
UnC' S6uckS and
.: tie Witches.
nv E. f.. Garnet.
5. 10 10 "''' 'o''' .
!s.*S.i...!e 2l

each othcr,' Mae insisted. 'Let us
ask Mrs. Brelle to suggest some
thing"
The pretty widow was in ham
mock, with Barnes in chatting dis
lance on the piazza steps, and she
did not welcome interruption.
will you:" called Joe, upon her 81
lence.
''Will I what?" pouting.
"Help us to help Unc' Shuclzs?"
"And who," only half hiding a
yawn, lis hep
''He is old and poor and blind" ex-
planned Mae, making her climax with
most sweet compassion.
"And black" added practical Louise
':as the ace of spades"
The pretty widow looked bewitch-
ingly reproachful. mo country poor
house?" she murmured.
A rather chilled silence fell upon
the piazza group. Macs sensitive face
flushed. Barnes went up the steps to
her side.
1--WE cannot spare old ShuclSs to go
therein said, and enviously watched
feck of moonlight bending to the
ripples of her hair.
''Thank you"-shy, sweet eyes
raised for an instant to his-"and will
you help?"
He wanted to tell her that he would
beg, dig, burn-do any outlandish
dangerous deed she willed; but the
words halted. He only got bit red
and nodded.
"Oh, if he's pet" said Mrs. Brelle,
>sullily, "we'd best take up a collec-
tion-that is the shortest way out of
such annoyances."
Hes in the turn of the road, 60
ing ont to the golf Inks" Louise put
in, rehectively; she was housekeeper
and found provisions an easier meth
of charity than cash. when we 60
by for the big game next Tuesday we
might give him a donation party
There was murmur of applause,
to which Mrs. Brelle added a soft
hand-clapping. The act displayed
both hands and rings, and she smiled
with pleasure over them.
Every WE'LL" she assented, gracious
~; "Ill send barrel of flour"
Mae threw grateful kiss from her
finger tips, but the widow was look
ing to Barnes and missed it.
Good nights were beginning. Get
ting from her hammock, the pretty
widow gave little start of alarm
such shrill, weird call had rung out
of the grove: "Who-who!"
"Screech OWL" announced Joe. And
Barnes added, in appropriately sepul-
chral tones, the old saw: 'When a
screech owl calls, witches answer"
81 hope he isn't calling his witches
said Mae, 'to Unc' Shucks' donation"
"They're worse than Witches"
laughed Joe, "who have that business
in hand. Just don't let them forget
tobacco, and Unc' Shucks' luck is Sc
cure"
''I-he has tobacco"
$50 like Mae," said Louise, ITO take
tobacco first"
"Well, pipe" Joe protested, grave
~, "puts heart into man."
"And next in value" suggested
Barnes, "shall we sprinkle him with a
little silver?"
''Don't tell me any MORE" cried
Mae; "I'm too happy"
The pretty widow was coming up
the steps and noted the girls face,
and how Barnes sought the light of
it. She followed to Macs door.
"Can I come in, dear, for a min
ute?"
Mae drew up coy chair and witt
ed absently beside it. Her eyes were
still radiant, a dreamy look in them,
happy and shy. The tone of Barnes
voice fingered with her and the look
that said "good night" Hard to strike
such face frightened and white, but
Che pretty widow smiled and COM
passed it.
"You must forgive me, love, for
limiting that your impulsive ways are
liable to be misinterpreted.''
Il beg pardon" growing attentive
with start. "What did you say?"
"Mr. Barnes is a man of the world ~
gently, ''accus toned to a Irritation as
to his wine at dinner. He-V IT..
"Wait!" with unexpected dignity
81 do not care to hear you speak >ot
Mr.. Barnes. But of me-you were
saying something of me?"
"Well," rising with an angry flush
"you are refusing kindness. Z One
would think that you mean-the way
you look" - = |2~s''|% ~
"The way look?" mi
my dear child" over shoulder as
she went to the door, "you look up al
him as if you were kneeling before a
shrine" H..
In those next days Barnes could
DOT guess what the trouble was-how
should he?-but he was quick to real;
ize that Mae Stunned him and, when
she could not, was nervous and dumb
Snd pale. Meeting her one morning
In the shady lane that>led toward the
links, the look on her face grew sud
denly unenlurable to him. i
HI Mae" he cried, what: have done,
Are you offended with me?"
mo-" cried Mae, startled ard miser
able. mo, of course not
. "Then why Do you treat me lil'
this?" .i5 .Ssss I. h ss..
''This q sfaltered Mae then LOOKING
. at BIN she ssudd denly flushed and witt
tears apringing hurried away.