Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-08-12

gently; a laundering bumblebee
! % tumbled upon the broad face OF
q burdock leaf, too overladeu with pol
Zen to fly; interlocked branches traced
q lacework pattern on the ground, and
the September sunlight shimmering up
on the bank and water was like bene-
diction.
Ringold lay at length beside the foot
path, fiat upon his back, one leg over
the other, thus thrusting very trim
and well shod foot into the air, and
with his hands clasped behind his head
pillowed on a hammock.
He watched a spider busily spinning
q thread so fine that as 1t was carried
further and further out over the water
ON the bosom of the breeze it's end was
finally lost to sight. Such busy little
creature as that spider was, tool It
positively made Ringold feel desire
to be doing something himself, just to
see the spinner at work. So he Lit an
other cigarette and pulled steadily. A
man can always find something to do
when he's in the country on vaca-
ton.
BY and by the spider, evidently be-
ueving his aerial ship, or kite, or what
ever he was making, of sufficient
strength, cut himself loose and went
flying away at the end Of his thread.
Up and up the spider scared, and
away over the river; and having seen
the ascension Ringold was able to fol
,low the track Of the cunning insect at
the end of his floating thread for some
yards.
"That's a fine way to cross river"
he said to himself. ''Wish l could do it
es easily"
Simon Sholes, the storekeeper, came
trotting along the path. Eli, Bobby!
What are you doing there?" he asked.
casting rather suspicious glance at
the recumbent figure
Saving wood, Mr.. Sholes," respond
ed the lazy one.
Sholes chuckled rather doubtfully,
and went on. Ringold knew he would
go down to his store and report that
Bob was just as lazy as ever. Three
years in the city hadn't changed him
q mitel
DR.. Newell hove in sight moment
later. Really, the river path seemed
3avorite way to the village today!
'That you Ringold? Taking it easy"
ooh, no, sir! I'm blowing for oats"
Il reckon you would plow for oats
this time O. year, Ringold. 1t would be
Just like you," said the old physician
aryly, as he went on his coattails flap
ping over his locked hands
makes these folks jealous to see a
man resting" declared Ringold to him
eelf
"Humph! Working just about as
you useter, hey?" was old Peleg Mar
nays sharp remark as he passed a
minute later. And he scowled down at
the man Of ease. He remembered
when Ringold4s had stolen his golden
russets.
Harder" was the reply. 'I'm max
ing hay while the sun shines. I'll sell
you ton at a discount, Peleg," said
Ringold. He knew the old mans fail
ing.
By and by there was another step on
the path, Ringold had been waiting
for 1t, but he did not raise his head.
II thought 1 would find you here"
said voice scornfully. "You are, Rob
cart, the very LATEST man In the world!'
"Think SOP"
II know sov' The girl tapped the
patent leather toe Of her shoe with the
tip Of her parasoL "And you mean to
say that they pay you $1,000 year in
New York.
That's the figure"
what for?'
"For thinking"
"And I suppose you have been think
ing all this livelong afternoon that you
have lain here?"
EMO; I've been doing better.''
"What, pray?"
watching spidersv' exclaimed Ring
old, laughing and getting lazily upon
his feet. Then he walked along by the
girls side. But she kept her face turn
ed loftily from him, and that evening
she went to the church sociable with
young Sholes. the storekeeper's son.
II like q man who does things" she
told Ringold when he complained.
o
The last week Of his months vaca-
tion coincided with Ringold's hopes.
TO say the least, the weather was un-
certain. Most of the time it rained
When it did not rain 1t poured. The
silver rose enormously. The water had
not been SO high (these be the words
OF the oldest InhabitanD since the
great storm In 80. The meadows were
afiood Where Ringold had lain and
dreamed away the sunny afternoon the
water was two feet deep. II he had
not made up his mind to abandon
part Of his ill-gotten gains the humble
bee must have been drowned, and the
spider had shown his good sense In
changing his quarters.
Thurday night the foot and carriage
bridge went. The next morning the