Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-10-16

vas oSdih W tuS poIHl. i
Il shOdc your picthoor to Miss Laura |
end she liked It. She made me mad |
tho when she said you was better look |
Ing than me. N. b. ! told her II flat-
cred you, Can't you come up Satur.
day."
Brother Jim scowled again n
laughed again. Really, this scallawag
of a youngstcr wasn't to be trusted
with anything. Still. If Miss Garman
had any sense of humor she must flnd
him amusing. Then he looked up
suddenly at Miss Garman's portrait,
ant. 1t seemed as II a smile was hover.
ing about the pretty mouth.
And then came another disquietine
letter from Brother Tom.
There's a fellow hanging round
here that | don't like" Tom wrote.
1T seems Miss Laura met him some
whore II he came to see her cos
he fOund out her father was away.
That's the way II seems to me. He's
rot snaly eyes and a little black mus
fash and he laffs "A crate deal. |
don't RELY think that Miss Laura
likes MIN much. But he's got such a
way of smilin' and sayin' soft things.
I'll bet he Is no good. He called me a
cub the other day and Miss Laura
didcnt like il. I'm going to look after
her the best | kno how, but I wisht I
VAS a little older"
Two days later another disqnieting
letter reached Brother Jim.
THAT fellow Is comm more than
ever" Tom informed him. Il think
there must be sumthing fascinating
about him, cause Miss Laura don't
seem able to tell him he amt wanted
here. lie is in a awful hurry, too. !
guess he Is afradc her father will come
home Unexpected. lie bet my life he
iS no good. | wish | could talk TO
sumbOddy. But there's no use speek-
ing to Miss Laura's aunt. All She
thinks about Is ~housckccpin and hired
girls. n. b.. he called me n cub twice
crane"
The very next day brought the third
disquieting letter.
I'VE were ont riding to-day" Brother
Tom explained. "and | was Rettin' In
the little seat behind and | guess he
didn't kno how sharp my ear Is. ItR
like that with measles sumtimes I
spose. Anyway | heard a lot that he said
and what do you think? He wants Miss
Laura to run away and marry him.
You ought to have heard him beg her.
Amt it a shaim? Sutch n nice girl
and nobody TO sho her what "A mis-
stake she Is making. Anyway ! know
the fellow Is afrade of her father, %
he said as ~muich-and somebody
ought to find out about him rite away
cos its Friday mite he wants her to
go"
Brother Jim looked at the letter
long and earnestly and the frown on
his handsome face dcepencd. Then he
pulled a pad of blank telegraph mes.
sages from a drawer.
lage station, Miss Laura in the pony
phaeton and Brother Tom on the plat
form.
And Brother Tom grabbed him and
drew him to the phaetOn.
This Is my big brother, Miss
Laura" he cried with "A trcmor of
Lridc, and Brother Jim found himself
bundled in bcsid" the pretty girl,
while Brother Tom sat up on the lit
tie seat behind.
we have been expecting you so
long and SO anxiOusly-at least one
of MS has" said the pretty girl with
n quick blush, that 1t seems quite i'm
doesn't 1t. Tommy"
"He looks real to me" replied the
smiling Brother Tom AZ he landed q
heavy thump on Brother Jim's broad
shoulder.
And how delightfully."- pleased this
pretty girl seemed. Was it an assumed
delight? He looked around at Tommy
and caught him grinning.
And what u charming little feast
they had. and what "A delightful little
mistress Of the household the fair girl
made.
And after dinner Brother Tom drew
brother Jim away from the lovely
presence and tool him for a stroll to
the little lake.
"Wcll?' said Brother Tom az they
trudged down the shadowy pathway
between the Trees.
"Well?" echoed Brother Jim.
Nice. isn't she?'
VERY nice"
did | make II too strong abou,
herr"
rs this Il confidential cOnyersa.
tion?" inquired Brother Jim with a
short laugh.