The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-03-04

armed With MS SnOtgun- W nen tne
young people got up from their bench.
the two men rose hastily. then saunter-
ed slowly toward them. When they
met. Harkless shook each OF them cor
daily by the hand without seeming to
know Ii.
1--WE were coming TO look for you,"
explained the judge. William was
afraid to 90 home alone-thought some
one might take him for Mr.. Harkless
and shoot him before he got into town.
Can you come out with Willetts i'm the
morning. Harkless." he went ON, "and
go with the young ladies to see the
parade? And Minnie wants you to stay
TO dinner and 90 to the show with them
IN the afternoon"
Harkiess seized his hand and shook it
and then laughed heartily as he accept
ed the Invitation.
At the gate Miss Sherwood extended
her hand TO him and said politely,
while mockery shone from her eyes:
Good night, Mr.. Harkless. ! do not
leave tomorrow. am very glad TO have
met you,'
1--WE are going to keep her all sum-
mer. If we can" said Minnie, weaving
her arm about her friends waist
You'll come I'm the morning.
Good night. Miss Sherwood" he re-
turned hilariously. 1T has been such
a pleasure to meet you. Thank you so
much for saving my life. II was very
good of you. indeed. Yes; In the morn
ing. Good night. good night" He
shook hands with all of them. includ-
ing Mr., Todd. who was going with him.
He laughed all the way home. and Will
liam walked at his side in amaZement.
The Herald building was 4 decrepit
frame structure on Main street. II
had once been a small warehouse and
was now sadly In need of paint. Close
ly adjoining IL. I'm n large. blank looking
yard, stood low brick cottage. over
which the second story of the cd ware
house leaned in an effect of dpsy af-
lection that had reminded Harkless,
when he first saw it, OF an old Sunday
school book woodeut OF an inebriated
parent under convoy of a devoted child.
The title to these two buildings and
the blank yard had been included in
the purchase of the Herald, and the
cottage was the editors home
There was light burning upstairs
in the Herald office. From the street
a broad, tumbledown stairway ran VI
on the outside of the building TO the
second floor. and at the stairway rail
ing John turned and shook his com
panion warmly by the hand.
Good night. William" he said. "It
was plucky of you TO join in that mus:
tonight. ] shan't forget It."
81 jest happened to come along" re
piled the other awkwardly- Then
with a portentous yawn. he asked
"Ain't ye goiG' to bed?''
"No; Parker wouldn't allow It,"
SWELL" observed William. with an
other yawn, which threatened to ex
pose the verItable soul OF him, 81
d'know how We stand ii. It's closte oil
IL o'clock. Good night"
John went up the steps, singing
aloud
"For tonight Wen merry. merry be.
For tonight well merry. merry be-
and stopped on the sagging platform
at the top Of the stairs and gave tn,
moon good night with wave or th'
hand and friendly laughter. At this
suddenly struck him that he was TWEEN
ty-nine years of age and that he ha,
laughed n great deal that evening
laughed and laughed over things no
in the least humorous. like an excite,
schoolboy making a first formal call
that he had shaken hands with Mis-
! Briscoe when he left her as if he shoul'
never see her again; that he had takel
Miss Sherwood's hand twice in on
, very temporary parting; that he ha,
, shaken the judges hand FIVE times an
/ Williams four.
"Idiotr' he cried. what has haI
, pened to met" Then he shook his fis
; at the moon and went in to work,
thought.