The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-04
The Gentleman From Indiana
BY BOOTH TaRTlNGToN
Copyright by Doubleday & Mcclure Co., 1899

-s
domed city up in the air. He called 1t solid
comfort. He liked to sit out from under the
porch roof. he satd he wanted to see more
Of the sky. The others moved their chairs
down to join him in the celestial vision
There had blown across the heaven feath-
cry, thin cloud two, but save for these,
there was nothing but glorious and tender,
brilliant blue. 1t seemed SO. clear ana close
one marvelled the little church spire In the
distance did not pierce it; yet, at the same
time, the eye assembled miles and miles into
warm shimmmering ether. Far away two
buzzards swung slowly at anchor halfway to
the sun. -s =
40 bright, translucent, cerulean hue,
Let my wide wings drift In on you, els
said Harkless. pointing them out to Helen,
You seem to get a good deal Of fun out
of this kind of weather. observed Lige. as
he wiped his brow and shifted his chair out
of the sun. .s~. ...- T.. L..~ ~
~ expect you don't get such skies as this
up in Rouen,'' ssaid the judge looking at the
girl from between half-closed eyelids. -. d
Its the same Indiana sky, think" she
answered. -. . .....
Il guess maybe in the city you don't see
as much of it, or think as much about 1t.
Yes, they're the Indiana skies.' the old man
went on.
"'* p" Skies as blue
AS the eyes OF children when they smile at
you
There aren't any others anywhere that ever
seemed much like them to me-. They've
been company for me all my life. ! don't
think there are any others half as beautiful,
and I know there aren't any as sociable.
They were always So He sighed gently,
and Miss Sherwood fancied his wife must
have found the Indiana skies as lovely as he
had, in the days of long ago. Seems to
me they are the softest and bluest and kind
est in the world"
II think they are" said Helen, land they
are more beautiful than the Italian skies,
though doubt II many of us Hoosiers real
ize 1t; and-certainly no one else does"
The old man leaned over and patted her
hand. Harkless gasped. us Hoosiers!
chuckled the judge. You're great Hoosier,
young lady! How much of your life have
you spent in the state? us Hoosiers'
But I'm going to be good one,' she an
swered, gaily land If I'm good enough,
when grow up maybe I'll be a great one."
The blackboard had been brought around,
and the four young people climbed in, Hark-
less driving. Before they started. the judge,
standing on the horse-block in front OF the
gate, leaned over and patted Miss Sher-
woods hand again. Harkless gathered up the
| rens. -. ? &
you'll make great Hoosier, all right, ;"
said the old man, beaming upon the girl
| You needn't worry about that, ! guess,
| my dear =.
When he said my DEAR" Harkless spoke
| to the horses.
"Wait,". said the judge, still holding the
girls hand. you'll make great Hoosier,
| some day; don't fret You're already very
beautiful one" Then he bent his white head
and kissed her, gallantly. John said: GOOD
| afternoon, judge" the whip cracked like
pistol shot, and the blackboard dashed off
in cloud of dust.
Every once in a while, Harkless,' the
| old fellow called after them, you must
remember to look at the team ....:.
The enormous white tent was >A4led with
hazy yellow light the warm, dusty, mel low
light that thrills the rejoicing heart because
| 1t is found nowhere in the world except In
| the tents of a circus-the canvas-hltered sun
| shine and sawdust atmosphere OF show day.
| Through the entrance the crowd poured stead
| lily, coming from the absorptions of the wild
( animal tent to feast upon greater won
ders passing around the rsawdust ellipse that
contained two 'soul-cloying rings, to find seats
| whence they might behold the splendors SO
| soon to be unfolded.. Every one who was not
buying the eternal lemonade was eating some
ing; and the faces Of children shone with
gourmand rapture; indeed, very often 1he
eyes of them were all you saw, hatf-closee
in palate gloating over a huge apple; or s
bulky oblong of popcorn, partly mwfappet
from it's blue tissue paper cover; Or else
might be a luscious pink crescent OF wafer
melon, that left Its rAvisher stained and drip
ping to the brow. .
Here. as in the morning, the hawkers raiset
their cries in uniptermittent shrillness, o1er
ing to the musically inclined the Happy Even
ings Song Book, alleged to contain thos
treasures, all the latest songs Of the day
or presented for the consideration OF tn
humorous the Lawrence Lapearl Joke BOOK
setting forth in full the art OF comical en-
tertainment and repartee. .tSchofelds' Herr
fought two Of these-no doubt on the principi
that two were twice as instructive as one
intending to bury himself In study and q
battle with Tom Martin on his own ground.)
Here swayed the myriad palm-leaf fans
; here paraded blushtng youth and rosy maiden
more relentlessly ar1n-in-arm than ever; her
crept the octogenarian, Mr.. Bodefer, shakin
. on cane and the shoulder of poster1ty; her
; wadd1ed Mr.. Snoddy, who had. hurrlc
through the animal tent for fear OF meetln
the elephant; here marched sturdy yeome
and stout wives; here came William Iodd an
his Anna Belle, the good William hushed wit
the embarrassments of love-. but looking ou
. warily with the white Of his eye for MI
Martin, and determined not to sit within
hundred yards of him here rolled in the ORD
,, Of habit the bacchanal, Mr.. Wllkerson, Wh
=. . no,ite1v answered in kind all the uncout
. roarings and gutteral CALCULATIONS OF 1ungl
= and fen that came from the animal tent;
. hrief. here came with lightest hearts IN
- nonulation of Carlow and part OF Amo.
ITO be continued to-morrow.y