Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-04-10

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you done Louccsy a great aDrong."
the shadow of tree and stood leaning
over fence near him. 1t was Mrs.
Mann, and, looking up into his face,
she smiled sweetly.
"Sim.". she said, with pretty air Of
penitence, IL am sorry that said any
thing today to make you mad at me, an
l hope you'll forgive me. Won't you,
pleaseY
Sim hesitated for moment, then
said:
you done Loueesy a great wrong,
Mrs. Mann
Don't call me that, Sim," she inter-
rupted. Don't you know l despise
that name?"
"Do you? WhyT'
"If you was q woman an had to bear
the name of somebody you didn't love,
you'd know why"
Didn't you love your husband?'
"You know didn't"
allow should know thatY'
"You ought to know that woman
never loves but one man."
IAN in your case Dick Mann wasn't
that oneY'
mo"
"who was itY'
Mrs. Mann blushed and acted con-
fused and finally stole a sly glance at
Sims face that ought to have told him
the whole story. But he was thinking
Of something else and looking in an
other direction, so the effect of that
smile and that glance was to great
extent lost
"You ought to know that without
askin," she said demurely.
Maybe 1 ought, but don't, an I
reckon 1t don't.make no difference no
how"
mo. reckon It don't. not to you any.
way" with sad sigh. "But you'll call
me Mary. won't you; Sim7"
why, guess so. II you're very par
ticular about 1t. It don't make any DIFF
ference to me-"
ut does to me. It makes all the DIFF
ference in the world what you call me.
It don't matter about anybody else.
though"
well. I'll call you Mary, then"
THANK you. An now, Sim. you amt
goin to be mad at me any more. are
you?"
mo. guess won't be mad at you.
but you done Loueesy wrong. You had
no right to say that about that stran-
ger"
mo, hadn't, Sim. know that now.
But can't bear to hear you talked
about the way you was. an I felt ! jest
had to take .Loueesy down peg or
two. oughtn't to have said 1t. but
since have said It ! pint goin to take
no backwater. LoueeSy don't love you,
an she never will love you. but as GER
tain as my names Mary Mann she'll
fall In love with that Melvin II she ever
gifts to know him."
II don't believe 1t. While ago she got
as mad as wet hen cause I said
somethin bout her thinkin him great
shakes"
"Humphl You don't know much
about women folks or you wouldn't
set no store by that. I know what
I'm talkin about, Sim Banks. an. as
said before. IL you live you'll see do.
Loueesy don't love you. know she
don't. But let her go. Sim. She amt
the only woman. an there's one know
that does love you with her whole
soul"
'One! WhoY'
"Great Lord! Are You bllnd-plumb
blind and dumb"
Sim did not reply at once, but stood
uneaslly twirling his hat about In his
hands, first looking down ut his feet,
then casting furtive glance At his
companion. When at last he did speak.
1t was In cold. unimpassioned tones.
~ reckon amt SO blind an dumb as
] might be-" he said, "but you Amt
called no names, an amt maxim no
guesses."
"If you wasn't as blind as bat an
dumb as an OWL" Mrs. Mann said soft
ly. you wouldn't need for me to cali
no names. an you wouldn't need to
make no guesses either"
"Alebby that's So" Sim replied slow
ly. "an II am blind don't know that
I'm sorry. There's times In a body's
life. Mrs. Mann. when It's best to be
that away"
Without a word Mrs. Mann turned
away and. entering the house, SLAM
med the door shut behind her. Sim
walked o.. down the street, chuckling
softly To himself. But could he have
seen the expression on Mrs. Mann's
face ut that moment and the steeiy
glitter In her eyes he might have had q
premonition OF some things that were
to follow.
When he had passed out OF sight, q
figure crept out Of the shadow Of the
fence and stole quietly away In the op-
I posite direction.
CHAPTER v.
YOUR UNCLE JONATHAN TURNER.
Melvin was more fortunate than he
had dared hope, for he had gone but q
short distance when he came into q
road and after following that little
! way ran on to q house.
It is true 1t was not much Of q house
being merely small log cabin, and its