Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1903-02-19

few minutes, I'll tell ye why cfter
! wards | won't hurt lido loan ii to
| e-please-please.
1t was not only the agony Of the cry
her eyes were burning into the eyes
opposite hers She had lad hold upon
! the cloak--before Mrs Van Hover
could speak she had it on, and was
! clasping the fastenings.
Ii was a handsome cloak, long and
! silk-lned, and with high fur collar.
! K had been one OF the brides lrst to-
kens OF wealth. and she had been very
! proud of IT, Now she discovered to her
| ama2oment that the face above the fur
/ collar was softened and refined by 1t
| until it was no longer commonplace.
| The battered hat was hastily snatched
OH and hidden under the cloak. She
lay back in the fine cloak, as one to
the manor born and awaited the COM
ing of the man that was hurryng In.
We'll ii that amt you. Lyddy, shore
enough" he drawled. holding out
large hand; and she looked up, as
though she had just seen him, and
| cried:
why, now are we. Benz
II thought | knowed ye." he e1-
claimed, with bovine amazement But
| YET WaSh ShoiC iiil NpihN AA'-
How's SAM Or Is he along with ye?"
he asked, looking around the car.
"Oh, Sans all right" she answered.
easily. NO, he isn't with me He's
been in Chicago sevral weeks now
lookin' after some important business
| though | wort min tellin you. Ben
like as not ws'll move TO Chicago, or
some other big city. Sans maxim too
much money to stay in little country
place
by Ned Lyddy, you an Sam must
be flying high exclaimed the country
man, in awestrrck tone. "Jes' look at
all that forgery -
oh ths?' SHE said. glancing indif-
ferently down a, the cloak. We'll, ye
know, just anythingll do to wear when
folks is travelin'. 1t amt worth while
to put on real good clothes Jest to
knock out on the cars"
The owner of the cloak gasped and
Ben's jaw dropped but Lyddy went on
without fnching
I'm so glad ye come aboard. Ben,
she said, leaning her cheek against the
soft fur of the collar and smiling up
at him. I've always felt a interest in
this place for tho sake of oil times, but
I'd hate to live here Sam says he
don't see how ever stood 1t. It's
mighty dif'rent Twin where ye can see
comp'ny all the time-an hayin plen-
ty o. money to spen-an always goin
somewhere"
Every moment Ben had been feeling
larger, more awkward, worse dressed.
He stumbled to his feet and held out
his hand with sheepish grin.
We'll, the trains fiXin' to start, he
said. Il reckn I'd be rter make myself
skeerce. Well, good-by, Lyddy. I'll
tell the folks seen ye.
He went out of the car. and presently
the train started. leaving Ben and the
, struggling town behind and getting out
to the brown and yellow prairies again.
Slowly, tremblngly. Lyddy's fingers
! were fumbling with the fastenngs or
the cloak, but he. eyes were still dry
when at last they met the eyes of the
: woman who knew like In the cities.
THAT was the town where grew
= up, Lyddy said In the monotonous
voice which had come back TO her.
, Everybody hated Sam there-they was
= all mad when | married him-they a
1 a been glad to hear-anything-
, thing bad"
t Were any OF those things you told
him true?" asked Nell, who was be-
ginning 10 iehTn nlany Things. Lyuuy
I drew the fur collar about her face for
A the last time. and held 1t there mo-
9 ment
{ Sam went off an lef' me six months
= ago" she said In dry voice. Il amt
= heard from him since. I'm washin'
d. dishes in the hotel at Baird"
, The newspaper woman gave a little
9 cry and caught one Of the hard. rough
hands.
, "Oh. sou poor. poor girl" she cried
J from full heart. Let me help you
! n little--I can save you from that, at
Y least"
: Lyddy took the cloak from around
; her shoulders and laid II over the arm
, OF the seat. where IL had been at first
5 There wasn't but one thing | want
7 ed" she said. AN since cant have
+ that the rest don't matter Thank ye
. for the cloak II makes a great diff
renee In a bodys feelin's, don't itg'
= Mrs Nell Van Hover sal still, gaz-
ing with moist eyes at pale worn
J woman IN n shabby dress and bat
5 tered hat The pale woman stared out
Q of tho window, counting the miles to
Baird. and the hotel, and the dish
= washing
And called her commonplace" the
7 woman with the moist eyes was saying
| TO herself