The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-09-08

and leaving his breakfast untasted
: started to the shop. As he neared II
, he discovered that Marcia was al
} ready sweeping her portion OF tn,
} walk. evidently intent on getting /
: done before people were astir gener
} ally. She did not perceive his APP
proach until he stood beside her. ther
! looking up at him she said demurely
Good morning. William"
Good morning. You are out early
this morning"
$50 are you." she retorted. blushinx
q rosy red
At the point OF inquiring II her fire
burned properly. he checked himself
as he thought OF the embarrassment
IL would cause. He could think OF
nothing else TO say. and after staring
at her stupidity for a moment. unlock
ed his door and went inside. reappear-
ing broom In hand.
A milk wagon drove by. the occu-
pant Of which was known to them
both. With Good morning. friends"
he pulled up his horse.
''Celebratin'. l See" he observed. and
4 grin overspread his face N he point
ed up to the front OF the building.
Both looked In the direction indl-
| Gated
The change the night had brought
was marvellous indeed. EntwininE the
two little signs and joining them low
ingly together we're garlands of ever
greens and orange blossoms. while In
the center. suspended between them.
was what remained Of Ruth Martins
wedding bell. True. the flowers were
q bit faded and the evergreen showed
evidence Of hard usage. but the pur- |
pose for which they were intended
was still easily observable.
With a scream Marcia darted Into
her shop and closed the door. VIII
lam paused long enough to bestow q
scathing glance upon the milkmzn.
then stalked into his own establish
ment.
Among Williams early customers
was Judge Bradford. and as one Of
his Oldest friends. the judge felt privi
legged to speak.
I'm glad you've done II. william.
Nature never intended us to live with
out mates In this world You ought
to have done II years ago. but you
were always too modest She was
handsome girl. and by ginger. she's
a good-looking woman"
The previous days rush of busi-
ness. which bid fair to continue. was
checked when 1t began
raining heavily early In the day. and
customers were few and far between.
To William the day was intolerably
long. and altogether a miserable one.
The little shop next door had remain
I'd closed since the unfortunate episode
of the morning. and though a number
anne. they turned away again. unable
10 gain admittance. As the day wore
IN he found himself growing more and
more anxious. Perhaps she was LII.
Once or twice he surreptitiously
placed his ear to the partition. but be
ould hear nothing.
He looked out at the old hitchinsI
all. foriorn and deserted. and for the
lrst time the realization came to him
ow lonely his life had become.
He thought OF the big house on the -
Ill, Of which he was the only occu- "
ant. Then he fell to wondering II III
be was lonely. too. He recalled her II
s she stood before him that morning La
he judge was right: she was hand 70
pine yet She was good as she was 81
eautiful. too; and the village had no on
ght to poke fun ut her. They la
ouldn't do 1t II she had some one to sp
-otect her.
Next he did what for him was q MI
ost unusual thing. Going to the rear or
the shop he gazed long and soberIy sh
TO the mirror. He turned sadly sio
way. 1t was too late now; bis op- lar
'rtunity had gone. er.
Usually he kept the shop open until the
O'Clock, but at he decided to close OF
ID 60 home. As he closed the shut. vii
r he looked anxiously at the adjoin- It's
9 door. He looked up and, raising rea
3 umbrella started across the green. -
Nearly across. he hesitated. stopped. r
en- turned and marched resolutely
ok. Straight up to the little, old
shloned building he went. and on the
or over which hung the sign OF
farcia Goodwin. Mllliner." he gave
ponderous knock. There was no re- ~
:. and he knocked louder and more ~
Idly than before.
Who Is thereT came from the In
e. -
1T Is I. william Underwood. Open -
door"
rbe door opened slightly. what
you want. Williamr'
Her voice seemed to trembIe. Per
Ds she had been crying. He pushed
door open and stepped inside. GU.
I want you" he answered. with
assurance of a cavalier. "ie
II
When. as the result OF an Interview new
h his father, young Thomas Martin exte
led into Williams shop the next no
rning and stsmmered an apology nor'
the part he had taken in decorst uon
the block, he was nightly sur. Drea
sed to receive a generous handful MAJ,
candy. and to learn that 1t was OF VI
consequence whatever. wiz