The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-20
CLARKSON'S INTERFERENCE
By JOHN WINTHROP

AS he folded up the letter his scowl deep
| cred.
| Shes little fool he declared savage
ly, but I'll win her yet, just to spite HarveI
Clarkson. She will have to give in to me
| in the end, and then you bet will make her
pay for all she has made me stand for"
| When she arrived the following week, IL
| was Lem Tudor who met her at the station
and escorted her to the hotel There was
| broad grin on his face as he rudely TESTED
with her. When he winked solemnly and
| fiagrantly at the group Of loungers on the cor.
ner by Sweeney's saloon, the girl BRUSHED
rosy red, but she knew that remonstrances
were of no avail. -
"I'll call with the buggy this afternoon mad
take you over to the schoolhouse," he said
as he handed her suit case over to the man at
all work at the tiny hotel. See that you are
ready at g. I've had the building painted and
| bought you a new chair and had the black
| boards fixed up
No was about three miles from town Al
they sped over the quiet country road that
afternoon she found herself wondering why
| the drive appeared SO long.
| IN taking the long way round, - he ex-
plained in answer to her comments. II want
You to see what good horse this is. 1t got
| him from Bascom last month. thought you
would come back. and I wanted to have an
enima: that would pass all the rest when
took you out to drive
| am AFRAID lnat can go out very nLlIS
! this fall she said coldly II want to study
and fit myself for city school next year"
| He laughed harshly. You had better keep
on the soft side of the chairman he said
| warningly. Il let you come back because I
| like to see you, but if you don't behave Mil
lie Stephens will have No. 4 for the winter
! term.
Now, see here, Bell he went on, you
and me might as we'll understand each other.
| let you come back because I want you, but
| # you are going to stand on that confounded
| dignity Of yours there's going to be trouble.
| You be nice to me, and in the spring we'll
| be married, and you'll have the finest house
! in Casparville. If you keep on being silly,
you'll be sorry. Why, you haven't even
kissed me yet" And he made motion az
though to take the caress.
| She gave cry and sought to ward him of,
but his powerful arms were around her, and
she could not tear herself loose. His heavy,
| brutal lips had almost touched hers when
the sound of wheel caused him to desist,
! and light buggy drove up.
! Il think, Miss Archer" said the newcomer
| that you had better change to my buggv.
Here at least you are free from insult
Tudor swung around and faced Clarkson.
You'd better be careful, Harvey" he
Warned This amt no affair of yours
Clarkson's eyes sparkled. Miss Archer has
in her power to make it so,' he said. lisa
tel, this isn't exactly the place for proposal.
but If you will give me the right to make
, your affairs mine
One glance at her face convinced Tudos
that he had lost. Sullenly he cramped the
| wheel that she might descend.
A moment later Clarkson's buggy was
speeding up the road. Il won't hold you to
your promise" he said, with a return to his
. usual difidence, "unless you are willing. When
saw Tudor call for you, I was afraid that
he was up to some mischief, and so l hurried
| Oft T ret
presumptuous l know, but couldn't see you
at the mercy of that beast, and you don I
have to keep your promise to marry me-"
Isabel looked up shyly. "Butsif do want
to? she whispered.
That evening 1t was announced at the post
, office that Millie Stephens would have No.
. for the winter term. Miss Isabel was to mar
ry Harvey Clarkson.
Neither of these announcements was made
by Tudor. He at home nursing the in
juries resultant on the interview Clarkson hat
| held with him on his return to town.