Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-11-17

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ty, well born, rich, idle and reckoned
the greatest firt in the countryside.
Fate in the shape of a thunderstorm
had driven him to shelter In the Day
homestead and thus thrown him in
Rowena's path. Her wholesome, girl
ish beauty had taken him unawares
and stirred depths within him which
no woman of his own sort had ever
| troubled.
Come" he repeated, holding out his
hand. Rowe smiled an enchanting
smile. I'VE were just goin' to the
spring-Teeny an me-" she said You
come with us. Three always makes a
jolly crowd"
PITY, but Teeny's done idled erway
the day O. grace" Joe interposed. "Thar
comes Miss Rachel Sue out O. the end
door"
I'm sorry, Teeny," Morton said, hold
ing out his hand. after this let no
body say the age of chivalry is past.
You're better man than l am"
Miss Sarah and Jim Polk III agree
with you thar" Joe said dryly. But
| can't stand here a-jowerin' with no
body. School has took up again, an
my lessons begin at Kansas Nebraska"
"Now, what air you sayin' about
meY Kansas-Nebraska called anguish
ingly, though she was ten yards off.
Joe dropped his head and answered
meekly, 81 wus jest tellin' this passed.
o. folks 1t wus sech hard work tryin'
ter keep frum courtin' you"
"Oh, go off with your Kansas Ne
braska said, giving him a coquettish
push. "Whyn't you behave nice like
Teeny?'
Joe put his hand beside his mouth.
"I'll tell you eff you're right shore you
can keep or secret" he said. "Teeny
is so plagued his own self he don't have
none ter spare ter nobody else.'
Martyrs ut the stake have possibly
suffered worse torment than Teeny en-
dured that June meeting day, but none
of them ever faced their torments with
a finer spirit. Patient, logged, cheer
full, he stuck by Rachel Susan, stayed
her with gourdfuls of cool spring wa
ter, comforted her with apples, pro-
vided her at dinner with crisp barbe-
cue and plenteous pie and after it let
her lead him to q sequestered seat as a
lamb Is led to slaughter. He was GER
tain she meant him to propose to her
there, yet, though he did not see how
he could well get around doing it, he
did not finch.
He was almost grateful to Rachel
Susan she kept his surface conscious
ness so occupied he was only dumbly
alive to the deep misery underneath.
In spite of Miss Sarah, Cleye Morton
continued TO monopolize Rowena,
standing, walking, sitting beside her,
going with her in and out of church,
evidently anxious to parade his in
thrallment in the face of all the world.
What girl seventeen years old could
withstand a man who was not only
rich and gentleman, but had a way
with him that won all women's hearts?
Teeny asked himself the question over
and over. The unvarying answer
wrought compassion for the buxom girl
beside him.
Suppose she loved even as he loved!
Not himself, of course, but somebody
namelesS who passed her idly by!
What could she say or do?
Teeny was very young for his years.
He did not know that when woman
disposes man usually proposes whether
or no. Rachel SusaE's chosen ambush
was low outcropping ledge some lit
Tie way down the spring branch. The
spring itself broke out from beneath
sharp ramp perhaps fifteen feet high,
from whose top the earth stretched
away in long undulating reaches of vir-
gin woodland. The whole top of it was
free to the church crowds. Sweetheart
ing couples, though, seldom went into
it. 1t was the thing for them to keep
in sight and out of hearing.
The rise was so sheer Teeny and
Rachel Susan leaned comfortably
against it, she for the time being OBJ
livious OF ants, bugs and the soiling of
her white jaconets fIuted ruiiles.
Air you shore 'nough goin' ter Tex
as, Teeny?" she asked after they We're
well settled. Teeny looked at the whis-
pering leaves overhead and answered,
signing family, II d'know yit, but
sorter reckon So"
you oughter not go less'n you take
an get married." Rachel Susan said
euergetically. Certain as you go sin
gle it'll be norated up an down you
couldn't stay here cause Roweny Day
had give We the sack"
well. all | got ter say Is she amt.
Nobody amt, cause l amt never been
bold enough ter court nobody. Who
would have sech or poor stick as meY
Teeny returned. edging little away.
Rachel Susan held up both hands. THE
idear, How you do talk!' she said.
mo longer'n this mornin at breakfast
par told everybody. preachers an all,
thar wusn't girl In the neighborhood
but wus ready ter marry you at the
drap of err hat"
"Wisht only thought so! You
wouldn't ketch me goin' ter Texas, ner
nowhars, or lone bachelor" Teeny