The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-01
xlV.-Continued.

And, indeed, In this estimate the speaker
seemed guilty of no great exaggeraton.
A never intermittent procession Of pedes-
TRANS and vehicles made it's way to the
station; and every wagon, blackboard, bug
gy and cut under had it's flags and bunt-
ing or streamer Of ribbons tied to the
whip. The excitement increased as the
time grew shorter: those on foot strug-
gled for better positions, and the people
In wagons and carriages stood upon seats,
while the pedestrians besieged them,
climbing on the wheels, or balancing
reckleSsly, with feet on the hubs of OPP
posite wagons. Everybody was bound to
see him. When the whistle announced the
coming Of the train, the band began to
play, the cannon fired, horns blew and the
cheering echoed and re-echOed till heav-
ems vault resounded with the noise the
people Of Carlow were making.
There was one neart which almost
stopped beating. Helen was standing on
the front seat of the Briscoe blackboard,
with Minnie beside her, and at the COM
motion, the horses pranCed and backed
so that Lige Willets ran to hold them;
but she did not notice the frightened
roans. nor did she know that Minnie
clutched her round the waist to keep her
from falling. Her eyes We're fixed ntently
on the smoke from the PARKWAY engine.
and her hand, lifted to her face in an I'M
certain tremulous fashion, as 1t was on.
deepest blush that ever mantled a girls
cheek. When the train reached the plat
form she saw Briscoe and the others rush
into the car. and there ensued what was
to her an almost intolerable pause of ex-
pectaton, while the crowd beseged the
windows Of the smoker, leaping up and
climbing on each others shoulders to
catch the first glimpse of him. Briscoe
ana red-faced young man, stranger to
Plattvtlle, came down the steps laugh
Ing like boys. and then Heating and
Bence. and then Warren Smith. AS the
lawyer reached the platform he turned
toward the door Of the car and waved his
hand as in welcome.
Here he is boys' he shouted. wei
come home" At that it was as If all the
noise that had gone before had been mere
leakage Of pent-up enthusiasm. A thou
sand horns blared deafeningly, the whs-
ties Of the engine and of Hibbard's mill
We're added to the din, the courthouse bell
was pealing out a welcome, and the church
bells were ringing, the cannon Numbered.
and then cheer on cheer shook the air
as John HAIRLESS came out under the
flags and passed down the steps Of the car.
When Helen saw him, over the heads of
the people and through flying tumult of
flags and hats and handkerchiefs she gave
one frightened glance about her and
Jumped down from her high perch and
sank into the back seat of the blackboard
with her burning face turned from the
station and her eyes fixed on the ground
she wanted to run away. she had run
from MIN the first time she had ever seen
him. Then, as now, he came In triumph
nailed by the plaudits of his fellows; and
now, as on that long departed day Of her
young g1rlhood, he was borne high over
the heads Of the people. for Minnie cried
TO her to look; they were carrying him
on their shoulders to his carriage. She
had had On1V that brio pJi,
before he was lost In the crowd that was
30 glad to get him back again and sc
proud OF him; but she had seen that he
looked very white and solemn.
Br1scoe and Tom Meredith made their
way through the crowd, and climbed into
the blackboard. "All right, Lige," called
the judge to Willetts, who was at the
horses heads. "Yo3t go get into line with
the boys; they wall. you. Well go down
on Main street to see the parade" he ex-
planned to the ladies, gathering the reins
in his hands.
He clucked to the roans. and by dint Of
packing and twisting and turning and E
hundred intricate maneuvers, accompanied
by entreat1es and remonstrances and OBJ
)urgat1ons, addressed to the occupants
OF surrounding vehicles, he managed t,
extr1cate the blackboard from the press
and once free, the team went down tn,
road toward Main street at a. liyely gait
The judges call to the colts rang ou
cheerlly; his handsome face was one broat
smile. This Is big day for Carlow.
ne said; I don't remember better day'
work in twenty years.
Did you tell him about Mr.. Holloway :?
asked Helen, leaning forward anxiousIv
Warren told him before we left tn
car" answered Briscoe. He'd have de
clined on the spot. I expect, If we hadn'
made him sure it was all right wit
HEDGE"
IF understood what Mr.. Smith wa
saying, Holloway must have behaved YER
WE'LL said Meredith.
The judge laughed HE saw It was tn
only way to beat McCune, and he'd hay
given his life and [Harkless', too, rattle
than let McCune havt it,"
why didn't you stay with him, Tom
asked Helen.
with Holloway? I don't know him.
"One forg1ves generous hilarity any
thing. even such quips as that" she re
torted why did you not stay with MI
Harkless?"
That's very hospitable OF YOU" laughe
the young man. You forget that hay
the felicity to sit at your side. Juds
Briscoe has been kind enough to ask m
to review the procession from his buck
board and to sup at his house with othe
distinguished visitors, and I have &C
copied"
But didn't he wish you to remain wit
him?"
But this second had the honor to ir
form you that am here distinctly by h
invitation"
"Ii1s?"
Precisely, his. Judge Briscoe, Mis-
Sherwood will not believe that you desil
my presence. If intrude, pray let me-
He made as If to spring from the bucl
board, and the girl seized his arm In
patiently.
'Ydu are a pitiful nonsense-monge
she cried; and for some reason this speeC
made him turn his glasses upon her gray,
ly. Her lashes fell before his gaze, ar
at that he took her hand and kissed
quickly.
mo, no." she faltered. You must n
think it. 1t isn't-you see, I-there
nothing!"
You shall not dull the edge of my hila
1ty." he answered, especially since
much may be forgiven it,
"Why did you leave Mr.. Earkless?" 81
asked, without raising her eyes.
my dear girl" he replied. "because f
some inexplicable reason. my lady cous
has not nominated me for congress, b
instead has chosen to bestow that distin
ton upon another, and, 1 may say,
unworther and untitter man than I. An
oddly enough, the non discriminating mt
titude were not cheering for me; the art
lery was not in action to celebrate m
the band was not playing to do me hone
therefore why should ride in the mid
should enthrone me in an open barouc
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