Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-05-01

OOOSe far below the 0epOC ana pro"
ceeding ''cross lots" toward large and
comfortable looking group of farm
buildings framed in dusky setting of
willows. Evening had fallen too dark
ly for Guy to see very much of this
rival town, but assuredly there was
nothing in Concord to compare with
Wilbur Vlandingham's palatial home.
Willowview was manor comprising,
in it's entirety, almost thousand
broad acres AUDITING upon the town
site. The house was large and neat
ness personified without and within.
Dinner was v, diting, and after Guy
had removed the cinders and dust
with which the short journey by freight
train had literally covered him, he
joined Miss Betty and her father In
the dining-room. There was only the
three of them and Guy was not long in
learning that Mrs. Vlandingham had
been dead for several years. The
daughter had taken the mothers place
in the household, and was filling it,
if Guy might judge, with eminent
credit to herself and supreme salts
faction to her father.
The dinner was charming, Miss Betty
made herself most agreeable, and
there was no talk of lots, or townsite
matters, or anything else that breathed
remotely of business or discord. Guy
forgot for the time the mission he
had undertaken at the Colonies behest.
He was brought to himself, however,
with something like a shock, directly
after dinner, while he and Mr.. Wand
sngham were in the parlor listening to
Miss Betty's piano playing.
There came a sharp ring at the door
bell, followed by a colloquy between the
maid and some person or persons with
out The next moment there was
tread of feet and four gentlemen
marched into the parlor single file,
their hats in there hands.
The gentleman in the lead was
very small person, and from the way
his left eye focused itself unswerving-
1y on given point while its fellow
roved at will there was small doubt
that the left eye was glass. Behind
the leader came a gentleman of tow
ering height-he was taller even than
Guy or Mr.. Vlandingham-and his
framework was so loosely put togeth-
er he could not seem to talk without
Earring himself; the third of the quar-
tet had wooden leg and the sleeve of
the fourth was folded over and tucked
in the front of his coat.
''Nfiss Vlandingham," exclaimed the
man with the glass eye, ''your most
obedient!" He bowed and his three
companions bowed with him. The
spokesman executed an "about face
and directed his attention at Miss
Vlandingham's father, the rest of the
squad participating in the movement.
Evening, squire" he said, starting a
mod that tilted every head in the row.
Good evening, gentlemen" returned
Vlandingham, courteously.
Its eight o'clock. Have you for
gotten?"
mot at all" Mr.. Vlandingham con-
suited hisawatch cit is close to eight,
that's fact. Betty and / came down
on a freight from Jimtown, Colonel,
so that I'd be here in time to connect
with the town meeting" Vlandingham
turned to Guy. "Mr. Herbert allow me
to present to you Col. Dingle"-the
man with the glass eye bowed-"Maj.
Harp acknowledgment from the
giant-"Capt. Blue"-ditto from the
gentleman with the wooden leg-"and
Mr.. Boomer" The man with the empty
sleeve ducked annually. "The Colonel"
continued Mr.. Vlandingham, conducts
our paper, the Harmony Norther"-
Guy wondered if all the colonies in
Dakota conducted papers-"the Major,
by the grace of the republican admin
lstration, hands rs our mail; the Cap
tain is proprietor of the Bee Hive
store, and Mr.. Misunderstanding
the nation do you do, Boomer, any
how?"
Just hang around, squire" smiled
Mr.. Boomer.
That's it" said Vlandingham. "Mr.
Herbert, gentlemen, will probably in
vest in some Harmony lots" Guy
raised his hand in protest. ''After the
election" supplemented Mr.. Vlanding-
ham. eve have town meeting to-
night, Mr.. Herbert, and you Il Is 80 go
along Will us dHIl uO up dIUoU SOIIC
of our best citizens.
Squirrel" exclaimed the man with
the glass eye, crooking his finger.
ylandingham bent down, and Col.
Dingle whispered to him earnestly.
"Nonsense!" said Vlandingham, in
low tone, which nevertheless reached
Guys ears. ''I'll vouch for him."
IL 4 L q
for the meeting, Guys conscience was
sadly troubling him. He would rather
a thousand times have remained be-
hind and spent the evening with Miss
Betty.
GII pTEP TIT