Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-09
CHAPTER "

ES.Y " NUDGE BRISCOE smiled grim
ISL ly and leaned on his shotgun
Hsss.yssssss In the moonlight by the We
&SS1 randa. He and William Todd
| had been kicking down the elder bushes
and, returning to the house, found Min
ME alone on the porch. Safer! he
said to his daughter, who turned an
anxious face upon him. They'll be
safe enough now. and in our garden"
Maybe oughtn't to have let them
go"
Pooh! They're all right. That seal
awag's half way to Six Crossroads by
this time. isn't he. William?"
"He tuck up the fence like scared
rabbit Mr.. Todd responded, looking
into his hat to avoid meeting the eyes
of the lady, land I didn't have no call
to foller He knowed how to run,
reckon. Time Mr. Harkless come out
the yard again we see him take across
the road to the wedge woods, near half
mile up. Somebody else with him
then-looked like kid. Must "a cut
across the field to join him. They're
fur enough toward home by this"
did Miss Helen shake hands with
you four or FIVE timesy' asked Briscoe,
.huckli4lg.
mo. Why?" said Minnie.
Because Harkless did. My hand
aches, and l guess Williams does too.
He nearly shook our arms of when we
told him he'd been fool. Seemed to
do him good told him he ought to
hire somebody to take shot at him
every morning before breakfast-not
that it's any joking matter" the old
gentleman finished thoughtfully.
II should say not" said William.
with a deep frown and a jerk of his
head toward the rear of the house.
.'He Jokes about it enough. Wouldn't
even promise to carry gun after this.
Said he wouldn't know how to use it
never shot one off since he was a boy,
on tile Fourth of July. This is the
third time he's ben shot at this year,
but lie says the others was at a.
what ID he call it
"a merely complimentary range !"
Briscoe supplied. He handed William
q cigar and bit the end off another him.
self. Minnie, you better go in the
house and read, expect, unless you
want to go down to the creek and join
those folks"
.Mew she exclaimed. II know when
to stay away, guess. Do go and put
that terrible gun up"
NO" said Bris0e lighting his cigar
deliberately Its all safe; there's no
question of that; but maybe William
ard better go out and take smoke
In the orchard as long as they stay
down at the creek
In the garden shafts Of white light
pierced the bordering trees and fell
where June roses breathed the mild
night breeze, and here, through sum-
mer spells, the editor Of the Herald
and the lady who had run to him At
the pasture bars strolled down path
trembling with shadows to where the
creek tinkled over the pebbles They
walked slowly, with an air OF being
we'll accustomed friends and comrades.
and for some reason 1t did not strike
either Of them as unnatural or extraor-
binary They came to q bench on the
bank, and he made great fuss dust
ing the seat for her with his black
SLOUGH hat Then he regretted the hat
1T was shabby old hat of Carlow
county fashion.
1t was long bench, and he seated
himself rather remotely toward the
end opposite her, suddenly realizing
that he had walked very close to her
COMM, down the narrow garden path
Neither knew that neither had spoken
since they left the veranda, and it had
taken them long time to come
through the little orchard and the gar
den. She rested her chin on her hand,
leaning forward and looking steadily
at the creek. Her laughter had quite
gone; ler attitude seemed little visit
full AMI little sad He noted that her
hair cllrled over her brow in way he
had not pictured in the lady OF his
dreams. This was SO much prettier.
He did not care for tall girls. He had
not cared for them for almost half an
hour. 1t was so much more beautiful
to be dainty and small and piquant.
He had no notion that he was signing
In vray that would have put fur
mace to shame, but he turned his eyes
from Her because he feared that II he
looked longer he might blurt out some
speech about her loneliness. Ills