The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1901-01-12
A PAIR OF PLOTTERS.

ly bright boy, but he was affectlonate
in a dumb and clumsy way. He had
never known the joy of self-expression
but he and grandma had had some Sc
crets Of their own. These secrets, in
volving as they frequently did her con-
nivance and her silence, were neces-
sary to his. humanity and protection.
Now he wished-he hardly knew what
he wished ..=.. H. ss
''Say, grandma, I kinder think you'd
like to go to the circus yourself!'
MEL" she shrilled. so, dear, no!
Whatever put such an idea in your
head Me-I'm that old! And besides
gracious, if amt gone and scorched
that shirt! I hope your ma won't no.
tice it, but I got that fustered-to
think of such thing!" ~
= Billie looked puzzled. ''Well, some
how. he persisted, stubbornly, Il do
think so, gramma. And,' he added
boldly, II don't see why you shouldn't,
either, if you got a mind to-there!"
+. why, Billet" she cried, weakly,
but there was a yielding tremor in her
voice. She put down the iron, glanc-
ing furtively at the door as she did so.
She went over to the table, and stood
next the audacious young fellow
''Your ma would never hear to such a
thing. Besides, we amt got the
money
20, we couldn't get a cent from
her!" Involuntarily he lowered his
voice, as was his habit when fish
ing-trip was projected, and the ques-
tion. of secretly securing provender
therefor, confidently discussed. I can
work enough to pay for myself sure.
You've got that Is cents Mis- Murray
give you for maxim her check-row
sunbunnit. I can sell Tom Cass my
pigeon-hOuse. He'll let me have a
dime for it. The only trouble is the
gettin' there. It's good four-mile to
town. Ma wouldn't hear to us takin'
the horse out after sundown, and you
never could" g. *~.
Il could-O, I could, Billie!" she
broke in excitedly. Her wrinkled old
face was radiant-her knotty old hands
were trembling. "''Twouldn't. be emmy
harder, than bein' on my feet from 5
in the mornln ill after supper like T
am. I could walk every step Of it,
but the enthusiasm began to fade
out Of her face. She drew a long sigh
"a sigh of bitter remuneration, BE
linda"
"Gramma!" He leaned forward,
whispering as he did when he was ask
ing her to leave the back buttery win
dow open when he was to be out after
hours. ma don't need-to know-a
single-thing about it,"
He unlimbered himself from the
table. "I'll manage it," he avowed
confidently.
The week that followed was one of
the most intense, the most absorbing
anticipation Martha Stebbins had
known in many year. She went about
the drudgery OF her daily tasks on
winged feet. She laughed at the jokes
of the hired man. She brushed and
cleaned Billie's best clothes until they
did not look within a year of their
age. She put new band on his hat.
She fixed over her own ancient black
bonnet during the temporary absence
of her daughter. She smiled to her
self when she was alone. Once. in
deed, they even heard her singing.
That don't sound like a hymn tune,
mother!" remarked Mrs. Malone, sus-
piciously. I'D
Its The Banks and Braes o. Bon
ME Doon," said the old lady softly.
o, the myriad fluttering moments
and apprehensive instants which led
up to that night! The temerity of un-
dertaking flight So unwonted, the
danger of discovery, of srecapture-
these but enhanced the ecstacy Of it
all! IL. y. .--'.
They made their escape while the
youngest scion of the house of Malone
was being put to bed upstairs. Down
through the dusk, between the rows of
straggling gooseberry bushes that
caught at her gown, out into the path
OIL ouAAo W1CdL leu SklElluS &LuG
corn, grandma skurried like a little
gray rabbit, And there. on the high
road was Billie waiting for her-Billie,
kindly, encouraging, swelling with the
Importance of the adventure. How he
did strive to restrain her impetuosity.
How he did explain that they had lots
of time. that the seats were already
secured, that she would be tired out
before she got there. But neither
speech nor movement was to be regard:
ed in the exhilaration Of that delicious
experience. How sweet the green things
smelled with the dew on them!
All, never would the memory Of that
night fade that Witching, wonderful
night! The entrance into the lively
town, the sight Of the don1ed canvas
tent, the hurrying crowds Of pleasure
seekers, the lighted shops, the smell Of
the saWdust, the glimpse Of tired faces,
the torches, the music--best Of all, O.
incomparably best Of al 1.-THE circus it
self! Never did soSstately a ringmas-
ter stride into the arena Never did
so witty a clown break his bones. on
collapsable barrels, and set the benches