Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-10-16

your'n, Carrots, I'll cram this dish
cloth into it" she cried, holly. plug
an me never spoke one word to each
other, an you all know it, Not that
it's sayin' word agin Plug, though.
He's better man nor you be any day.
Carrots; so there!"
Plug had stopped with one foot
shutting the air, his hand on the door
latch. Now he set the foot down soft
ly and slipped outside, his heart beat
ing wildly. He better man than
Carrots, who had alternately jeered at
and patronized and ordered him about
Why, he had never felt that he was
equal to anybody, much less better.
But the second dish girl, Bet, had said
1t, and what Bet said was more to the
purpose that the opinion of the master
himself What if he had never spoken
to her? He had loved her from the
very first day-the very first hour
of entering upon his duties as wood
br1nger and kitchen chore boy. Had
she not looked at him and smiled?
That smile had been titillating his
heart and keeping his face flushed
and his eyes upon the ground ever
since. He had been in that delightful
state for one whole month, and it
might have continued on forever but
for his recklessness in lifting his gaze
toward the sink this very morning. 1t
had been his first open glance in that
direction; but the whole kitchen had
seen it and now the whole kitchen was
jeering him.
Well, he didn't care, for had she
not said he was better man than
Carrots-Carrots the bold, the jeering.
the masterful? He had not intended
to carry in any more wood tonight,
had not even intended to go in after
his supper. 1t would be easier to go
hungry than to face the kitchen jeer-
ing. That had been his thought as
his hand touched the door latch. New
everything was changed. He would
take in another armful and look
straight across at the sink; and not
only that, he would make a face at
Carrots.
OdTTOJS
as the door closed, "aint it funny?
Plug in love! Jest think! Plug-the
wood boy-in love, an with one O. my
own gals, too; the best one. Haw.
haw. an amt jealous bit. It's the
doggondest fool thing ever did heer.
But say, Bet" Strengthening suddenly
as new idea seemed to strike him,
Tets put up game on the loony He
never goes anywheer cause he's so
bashful, an that apple-parin' frolic
comes off tomorrow night. S'pose we
bait Plug to think you'll go long o.
him, an when he gifts rugged up you
an nell walk off an leave him stand
nj with his mouth open Haw, Raw,
hawi yon't he feel cheap an shuttle
off to his roost in the barn. Hey.
Bet?'
"Ho, no. hoi" .sHaw, haw. haw,"
roared Ben the horse boy ana the rest
of the kitchen. Good nough, Hey,
Bet?''
1 But before Ben could answer the
door opend and Plug shufied in with
another armful of wood, and to the
amazement of the kitchen his gaze
rose squarely and swept them with an
odd challenging glance of triumph.
| finally circling round to the second
dish girl at the sink, where II
softened. But only for a moment:
then it came back TO Carrots. and
the peculiar. grotesque face twisted
itself into the most horrible contortion
of which it was capable.
Carrots mouth had been open for
another jeering remark. but the words
froze before they issued. He stared.
/ gasped, and then threw his head back