The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-05
The Gentleman From Indiana
BY BOOTH TaRkIJvGT0Nt
Copyright BY Doubleday & Mcclure Co., 1899.
Chapter vIII.-Continued.

So 81 ~
Helen had foundea true word: it was a big
family. Jim Bardlock, broadly smiling and
rejuvenated, shorn of depression, paused In
front of the reserve seats, with Mrs. Bard
lock on his arm, and called loudly to a, gen.
tleman on a tier about the level OF Jim 3
head: How are ye? reckon we We're
leetle too smart fer 'em this morning. huh?",
Five six hundred people-every~ one. within
hearing-turned to look at Jim; but the gen.
tleman addressed was engaged in conversa-
tion with lady and did not notice. f. t :,
'Hi Hi, there! Say! Mr. Harkless!' bel
| lowed Jim, informally. The people turned
to- look at Harkless. His attention was ar
rested and his cheek grew red. ..> ! - r.
What is it?' he asked, little confused
and good deal annoyed. s-tasa~. r..
II don't hear what ye say shouted Jim,
putting his hand to his ear. -
What is it," repeated the young man.
''I'll kill that fellow tonight . he added to
it long ago." EZ" ~"
"What?" .-. .-.
II say, what Is it?' H.
Il only wanted to say me and you certainly
| did fool these here Hoosiers this morning
huh? Hustled them two fellers through the
courthouse and nobody never thought to slip
round to the other door and head us off,
| Ha, ha! We were jest leetle too many. fer
EN- huh?" .:,.,,
From an upper tier of seats the rusty,
| length of Mr.. Martin erected itself joint by
| joint, like an extension ladder, and he peered
| down over the gaping faces at. the town mar
| shall Excuse me-" he said sadly to those
behind him, but his dry voice penetrated
everywhere, Il got up to hear Jim say We
| again. >: ":E,:.s.. ~
Mr.. Bardlock Joined in the laugh against
himself, and proceeded with his wife to some
seats, forty or fifty feet distant. When he
| had settled himself comfortably, he shouted
| ohoarfyJ11y IN he nh obi tor.
| shellmen got it in fer you, Mr.. Harkless." :" ).
''Hain't that fool shet up yit?" snarled the
aged Mr.. Rodeffer, Indignantly. He was sit
ting near the young couple and the express
sion Of his sympathy was distinctly audible
| to them and many others. "Got no more
regards than brazing calf-disturbin' fell
| Ter with his sweetheart!' = = "'.
"The both of 'em says they're goin' to do
| fer you,' 'bleated Mr. Bardlock., ''Swear
| they'll git their eyens with, ye." - ..-'>
Mr. Martin rose again. Don't git scared
and leave town, Mr.. Harkless,'' he called
| out; 'Jim'n protect you.'
| Vastly to the young mans relief the band
began to play, and the equestrians and eques-
| triennes capered out from the dressing tent
for the Grand Entrance and the perform
ance commenced Through the. long sum-
mer afternoon it went on: wonders of horse-
manship and horsewomanship; hair-raising
exploits on wires tight land slack; giddy
tricks on the high trapeze; feats of leap
ing and tumbling In the rings; while the tire
less musicians blatted inspiringly through 1t
ALL only pausing long enough to allow that
uproarious jester, the clown, to ask the ring
| master what he would do If young lady
came up and kissed him on the street. and to
exploit his hilarities during the short inter
| walls of rest for the athletes.
| When it was over, John and Helen found
themselves in the midst of densely packed
crowd, and separated from Miss Briscoe and
Lige. People were pushing and showing, and
| he saw her face grow pale. He realized with
a pang of sympathy how helpless he would
| feel if he were small she, and at his
utmost height could only see big, suffocating
backs and huge shoulders pressing down
from above. He keeping them from
| crowding heavily upon. her, with all his
strength, and "a royal feeling Of protective
ness came over him. She was so little. And
yet, without the remotest hint of hardness,
she gave him such a distinct impression of
poise and equilibrium, she seemed SO able to
meet anything that might come to understand
it-even to laugh at it-so Americanly capa-
Bile and sure Of the event. that, in spite OF
her pale cheek, he could not feel quite SO
! protective as he wished to feel ::
He managed to get her to one. of the tent
poles, and placed her with her back to It,
Then he set one of his own hands against
, it over her head, braced himself and stood
, keeping little space about her, ruggedlJ
letting the crowd surge against him as II
would; no one should touch her in rough
carelessness.
THANK you. 1t was rather trying IL
there she said, and looked up into his eyes
with a divine gratitude.
please don't do that" he answered in
low voice.
3 do what?" .,
''Look like that
I She not only looked that way, but NOR,
t so. Young man, young man. she said
II fear you're wishful of turning girl
e head s..
n The throng was thick around them, gar
C rulous, and noisy, but they two were NOR
a Iichly alone together, to his appreciation
than If they stood on some far satellite o
Mars. He was not to forget that moment
(, and he kept the picture Of her, as she leane
8 against the big blue tent-pole, there, in hi
heart; the clear gray eyes lifted to his, tn
delicate face with the color stealing back t
her cheeks and the brave little figure the
had run so straight to him out of the nigh
: shadows. There was something about hel
e and in the moment, that suddenly touche
e. him with saddening sweetness too keen t
= be borne; tho forget-ne-not finger Of the fly
II ing hour that could not come again was la1
on his SOUL and he felt the tears start fror
a his heart on their journey to his eyes. H
n knew that he should always remember tha
IS moment She knew 1t, too. She put her han
"a to her cheek and turned away from him
ltLle LremulOuSly. BOLl were silent.
l. They had been together since early morn
o ing. Plattvllle was proud Of him. Many
IS friendly glance from the folk who jostle
is about them favored his suit and wished thel
10 both we'll, and many lips, opening to speak t
g Harkless in passing, closed when their owr
IS ers, (more tactfu1 than Mr.. Bardlock) locke
) a second time.
II Old Tom Martin. still perched alone on b
high seat, them standing by the ten
q pole and watched them from under his rust
hat brin. ''I reckon it's ben three or. for
t.. thousand years sinth q whs founA' b
es' sighed to himself; then, pushing his" b,
IS still further down over his eyes: II don
s.. believe I'd ort to rightly look on at that.
He sighed again as he rose and gently spoil
the name of his dead wife, "Marjie-its be
O lonesome, sometimes. I reckon you're might
ri tired watin' for me, ever since sixty -four
is vet maybe not; Ulysses S. Grants over {
ct your side now,s and perhaps you've got a.
r squainted with him; you always thought
I'd good deal more of him than you did of me
ae do you see that tall old man up there:
is said Helen, nodding her head toward Ma
is tin. Il think should like to know hir
I'm sure like him. =
g. :.