Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1903-01-29

P1ug-the name had usurped and
smothered any other which might
have been more rightfully his In the
forgotten days-was filling the wood.
box. slouching over 1t and dropping
down the sticks one by one. He was
In no hurry, for that was not his way;
and moreover, he was Just now afraid
to face the kitchen jeers, which some
way he felt were blunted and rem
dered Intellectual by striking his back.
But when the last stick had been
dropped into the box. and he had
stood gazing at it for fully three min
utes, there seemed nothing for him
but to re-cross the wide kitchen to the
asylum OF the outside door, which now
seemed long way off. This he did
with burning, downcast face and a
more diffident shuttle than usual.
Say, Plug; not that way" called
Ben, the horse boy; she's over yon
by the sink. Wheer's your eyes. boy?
She's been blushin' ever sence we
coined in"
Plugs head dropped little lower
and his shuttle became little faster.
Why couldn't they leave the girls
name out Of the talk, he thought.
clinching his fists in impotent wrath.
1t was indecent of them to drag her
name into such foolishness.
Jaw, come now, Plug" drawled
Carrots. the gardeners boy, don't
wobble roun' so. 1t makes folks eyes
tired Jest let your legs have their
own way for oncet, an see If they
don't side roun' to wheer Bets a
washin' dishes. Then you an she can
sot down on the woodbox an be So
cial like the rest of u.s. 'Tain't Chris
tian for six foot man to live tween
the door an woodbox like you does,
specially when a gals cryin' her eyes
out cause he won't even look her
way"
There was a sudden crash at the
sink, and a Cirl with round, red face
and square figure swung toward the
groom with flashing eyes. In one
hand was the remnant of the plate
just broken, in the other a dripping
dishcloth.
IF you don't shut that big mouth o.
your'n, Carrots, I'll cram this dish
cloth into it," she cried, holly. plug
an me never spoke one word 70 each
other, an you all know it. Not that
it's sayin' a word ag'in Plug, though.
He's a better man than 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
softly and slipped outside. his heart
beating 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 it, and what Bet said was
more to the purpose than 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 bringer and kitchen chore
boy. Had she not looked at him and
smiled? That smile had been titillat-
ing his heart and keeping his face
flushed and his eyes upon the ground
ever since. He had been in that de
lightful state for one whole month.
and it might have continued on for
ever but for his recklessness in lift
Ing 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 a better man than Car
rots-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 so
hungry than to face the kitchen jeer-
Ing. That had been his thought as his
hand touched the door latch. Now
everything wcs changed. He would
take in another armful and look