The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-02

Of looking in the basket for the lady s
name.
Palestine Harper was the weaIthiest
girl in the valley, and was counted the
handsomest, her tall, plump figure ana
rosy face being more to the popular
taste than Eliza's slender, delicate
beauty. Her only response to Sans IN
vitation was a disdainful glance. ms arm
dropped awkwardly and he looked at her
appealingly.
"Wy, Pal. amt this your basket?' ne
asked
Hit air not" answered Pal, laconically.
The room grew very still The crowd
waited curiously and the auctioneer ma
liciously. In a remote corner of the room
boyish voice piped family, did We
ever git Ieft?' and a feeble smoker rip
pied through the audience. Sans head
buzzed with shame and rage. AS he
glanced wildly around his eyes fell on
Elizas shrinking FORM and look Of
angry enlightenment lit his crimson
face.
"Thar's yer basket" he cried, thrust
ing it roughly into her arms. I'VE lied
to me- Then he hid himself in the
crowd, which parted swiftly and silently
before his wrathful eyes.
The girl would have followed his ex-
ample, but her limbs seemed to have
lost the power of locomotion. suffer
against the rough wall, holding the bas-
ket in her limp arms The crowd drew
away from her a little, with whispers
and curious glances. For open or noisy
grief there would have been ready Of
fers of sympathy but there was a mys-
terry here, and the girls shyness ana re-
serve had often given offense to her
more demonstrative neighbors.
The auctioneer, enliVened by the down
Eon h; MI in, haGr
and the game went merrily on, While
poor SAM who was usually the life of
such occasions as this, sat glOwering In
a corner. AS the crowd shifted, he
caught a glimpse of Eliza's stricken face,
and it's deathly pallor startled him. Pres
entity it dawned on him that a girl who
had merely meant to trick him and make
him a laughing stock would not be so
crushed by his reputation. Rising, he
made his way around the room until he
stood by her side, looking piHfully at her
downcast lids, from which slow tears
were dropping a mimic rain on the roof
of the little house.
Lily" ne said, gently, what for did
We want that 1 should git your bas-
ket?''
The girl started and her face con
tracted.
Lily, eff we cry I'll throw We our lie
Winder- Shet up!'
His harshness had the desired effect,
for, with an effort, the girl regain her
composure.
II hain't mad with we no more Lily,
said the young fellow, 'but 1 didn't
want that we should make a fool of YER
self by crying afore this crowd. What
for did We tell me that was Pals bas-
ket?"
II low hit ware Satan put it inter my
head" answered the girl, family. II
didn't. low ye'd b1eve it nohow; an
then 1 tried to git Pal to own it, but
she wouldn't
sKetch her." snorted Sam. But what
for did we want that L sh'd sit your
basket, Lizy?'' he persisted.
Lifting her dark eyes for the nrst
time the girl gave him a single speak
ing look
Sam threw back his mead and laughed
a low laugh of satisfaction. Then he
stopped and took the basket from her
unreluctant hands.
''Thars an empty seat back yer in the
corner" he said tenderly.
How soon We goin' ter set up house
keepin', Sam?' shouted grinning youtE
as they made their way through the
crowd
Whenever Lily names the day." re
torted the unabashed Sam.
AS he set the basket down on the
rough desk he turned to the girl on his
arm with an eloquent glance. I'm
meanin that, Lily. Hit amt no joke"
For moment her face was luminous
with joy. Then it grew pale and troubled
again.
What's the matter, Lizy?" asked Sam,
anxiously Don't We like it that I yell
ed it out hathaway. I hadn't orter a
done it. Or don't We want
Hits jest to spite Pal an cause yer
sorry fer me- she said, with shaking
lips.
Sam stood looking at her troubled COM
rrehension He was sure of his own