Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-10-15
CourageOusness of Abelard.
By PAUL DODGE.

dropped into the barrel or the box and
came forth holding an apple or !,
cracker. These were transferred to
his mouth.
Mr.. Watkins, the grocery man.
watched the proceedings grimly. glanc
ing over the rim of his spectacles.
WAS there anything else you was a,
wanting, Abelard?'' he inquired, with a
half concealed reference to the dried
apples and the crackers.
Nothing TO speak Of" said Abel
ard quickly.
Thought possibly you might have
forgotten some dried apples or soda
crackers" said Mr. Watkins pointedlv
Abelard blushed and moved with
great suddenness from the vicinity of
the apple box and the cracker barrel.
Mr. Watkins grunted aLi turned TO
draw a gallon of gasoline. At that
Abelard quietly tore a square of wrap
ping paper from the roll on the count
er and left the store.
With his sheet of brown paper he
Went up the alley by the side of the
store and seated himsen ON a box.
Looking about him, he espied a piece
OF beard, which he secured. laying it
across his knees, he spread his paper
on IT and produced a pencil. With
these ne busted himself Presently lie
betrayed symptoms of distress and
had periods of misery in which he THE
TO twist his legs about one another AMI
tore at his hair with the hand which
was not engaged in holding the pencil.
His occupation consumed much
time and the periods of distress be,
came frequent. Finally he concluded
mis- labors, and, pulling handker-
chief from his pocket, mopped his
forehead. That done, he arose and
came lack to the street He glanced
Up and Gown and across. A little to
the right was small cigar store. To-
wards this he started to go, but stop
ped after few steps and came back.
Then with more speed he walked
Gown the street, turned a corner,
walked another block, turned another
corner, and so on until he was back in
front OF the cigar store. For a mo-
ment he hesitated, but directly was
away again, lacking at the corners.
Four times he passed the cigar store.
hesitating a little longer each time.
The last time ne continued straight
ahead and was lost to sight up the
street.
1t was an hour before he was OBJ
nd
walked more slowly. At the cigal
store he turned suddenly, as if not to
give himself time to change his mind,
and opened the door.
Afternoon, Abelard," said the store
keeper, arising and taking a box of
cigars from the case.
Afternoon, widow" said Abelard
The choice of two cigars required
much effort this afternoon. Abelard
fumbled in the box, hesitated. compar-
ed one with another, and took several
to the window. When he came back
with them he said, nervously, as if I'M
der strong emotion:
These here two will make it just a
dollar l owe you, won't it?'
Eyes, but there amt no hurry, Abel
ard" said the widow
I'll just pays you now" said Abel
ard He went to the door and opened
it, kicking a box against it to hold it
so. Then he came back to the counter
and handed the storekeeper a dollar
bill in which his note was folded.
'I'll give you receipt said the wild
CIV, but Abelard had gone through the
door with great suddenness. Unfolding
the bill, the widow discovered the
square OF paper This she read and
then sat down behind her counter.
For the lands sake" she exclaim-
ed. Then she looked at the paper
For the lands sake" she exclaimed
again, and continued repeating it as if
it contained some solution to the mys-
terry.
CHANGING up through the window,
she espied Atelard on the opposite
side of the street, but he was in pass
age and soon lost to sight.
The appearance of portly form in
the doorway stopped the stream of ex-
NnlCu was II yin
the Widows mouth.
Afternoon, Mrs. Villa MS said the
visitor.
Afternoon, Mrs. Tilden' said the
widow.
Jeremiah S supply of fine cut is just
about gone said Mrs Tilden.
Thought I'd get him some more be
fore he can say I'm stinting him.
Have a chair urged the widow
ooh, | can't stay but minute. I'm
that busy with preserving" said the
visitor, but she sat down and took off
her bonnet As she did so the form of
Abelard, still in passage, was seen 60
ing by the window.
wasn't that Abelard Higgins?" in
quired Mrs. Illden. i thought recog-
nized him. Amt doing anything now
is he, hut living or the money that was
left him? Suppose not. He gave up
his shoe shop the minute he got those
$500. Said he didn't have to work any
more now that he was wealthy. Was
going 10 get married"
Mrs. TIlden laughed noisily and the
widow nervously. Just then Abelard
roc oae-, AGAIN coming from another