Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-07-09
gently; otherwise shall have to make

gently; otherwise shall have to make
you"
ooh, please" the voice was almost
wall, ''let me alone. / haven't done
you any harm. Go away"
go away" repeated Robinson, fair
~ stunned go away. And my
boots
"Your boots! l don't know anything
about your boots; indeed l don't.
Pleasew
"Feet up now," interrupted Robinson
CURLY. Here, let me see you," slip
ping the lantern closer. A tall, slender
boy in ragged clothing was revealed,
gazing up with white face and implor-
ing eyes. No one else was in the car,
and for second Robinson hesitated.
'But you may be PAL" he decided.
"Put 'em up at once. Lord, what a
fuss about nothingv' as pair of small,
travel stained boots made reluctant
appearance. you needn't worry about
those They look more like womans
feet" with short laugh. The sound
of smothered sob reached his ear
and Robinson, starting, bent lower. "a
woman! Doggoned if it amt a wom-
AM" he uttered slowly. Say. what
are you doing here?" with a complete
change of tone. The sobs deepened.
'I--Im trying to get east" she wept.
"My people are there, and r.
"But how came you here this way?"
The girl after a quick glance at the
handsome, interested face felt her cour-
age returning.
II went out with my father" she be-
gan timidly. "Then he married again,
and his wife-she wasn't good to me.
But dad always looked after me until
he got killed in fight. She got worse
after that-she wanted mel couldn't
stand it," with wavering look. $50
took some of fathers clothes and got
away. | hadn't much money, so had
to steal rides, and nobody suspected
until you tonight. You see, / couldn't
wear fathers boots" The big eyes
filled again with tears, and Robinson
felt like condemned criminal.
"Oh, say, don't cry" he muttered
clumsily. In spite Of it's sheath of dirt
and CRIME he could detect the fair pref
tiness of the girls face, and growing
admiration for her pluck made him
grind his teeth at the idea Of what she
might have to meet. It was ridiculous
for a girl to think of such thing. Yet
he couldn't ask her to go back. Nor
could he keep her unless With a sud-
den Frightening of his countenance, he
set down the lantern and took both her
hands in his.
"Look here" said he difidently, "I'm
a poor lot perhaps. haven't got much
saved, and mine amt much of home.
But such as it is it's yours if you will
only take it."
The girl, her eyes widening in bewil-
derment, drew back
"You mean?'' she asked family.
II meant mean that want you for
my wife, little woman. OF course 1
amt near good enough" huskily. but
I'll treat you well, and-I've been lone
some, for fact, though l didn't know
it. so if you could only see your way
clear to favoring me-to giving me my
chance His tone sank to entreaty,
and the girl, who had listened incredu-
lousy, uttered a little cry and dropped
her forehead to the hands that still
held hers, firm, steady hands that any
woman could trust. Robinson's clasp
frightened.
''You mean that you will?" he said
excitedly as a shamed little nod an
swered him. "God bless you, little wo-
man. Say" struck by jubilant
thought, II just bet you the bishop will
come back and marry u.s."
And the bishop did,