The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-03-25

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he asked no better than to just go OH
eating that cherry pie till a sweet
death overlook him; but railroad sand
witches and restaurant chops might
have been set before HAIRLESS for all
the difference it would have made to
him.
At no other time is a mans feeling of
companionship with a woman so strong
as when he sits at table with her, not
at decorated" and becatered and be-
waitered table, but at homely, appe-
tiZing, wholesome, home table like old
Judge Briscoe's. The very essence Of
the thing is domesticity, and the i'm
There are few greater dangers for
bachelor. An insinuating imp perches
on his shoulder and, softly tickling the
bachelors ear with the feathers Of an
arrow shaft, whispers: "Pretty gay,
isn't it, Ell? Rather pleasant to have
that girl sitting there, don't you think?
Enjoy having her notice your butter
plate was empty? Think it eXhilarat-
ing to hand her those rolls? Looks nice,
doesn't she? Says Thank you rather
prettily? Makes your lonely breakfast
seem mighty dull, doesn't it? How
would you like to have her pour your
coffee for you tomorrow, my boy? How
would it seem to have such pleasant
company all the rest of your life?
Pretty cheerful, Ell? It's my conviction
that your one need in life is to pick her
up in your arms and run away with
her, not anywhere in particular but
just run and run and run awayw
After dinner they went out to the
veranda, and the gentlemen smoked.
The judge set his chair down on the
ground, tilted back in it with his feet
on the steps and blew a wavery, dom
ed city up in the air. He called it
solid comfort. He liked to sit out from
under the porch roof, he said. He
wanted to see more of the sky. The
others moved their chairs down to
Join in the celestial vision. A feath-
cry thin cloud or two had been famed
across it, but save for these there was
nothing but glorious and tender bril-
liant blue. 1t seemed so clear and
close one marveIed the little church
spire in the distance did not pierce it.
Yet at the same time the eye assembled
miles and miles into warm, simmer
ing ether Far away two buZzards
swung slowly at anchor halfway to the
sun.
30 bright, translucent, cerulean hue,
Let my wide wings drift on in you,"
Harkless quoted, pointing them out to
Helen.
"You seem to get a good deal of fun
out of this kind of wea ther," observed
Lige as he wiped his brow and shifted
his chair into the shade.
81 expect you don't get such skies
as this up in Rouen," said the judge,
looking at the girl from between his
lazily half closed eyelids.
Its the same Indiana sky, I think"
she answered.
81 guess maybe in the city you don't
see as much Of 1T or think as much
about it, then Yes, they're the In
diana Skies the old man went on.
As the eyes Of children when they smile
at you.
"There aren't any others anywhere
that ever seemed much like them to
me. They've been company for me all
my life. 1 don't think there are any
others half ais beautiful, and 1 know
there aren't any as sociable. They
were always So" He sighed gently,
and Miss Sherwood fancied his wife
must have found the Indiana skies as
lovely as he had in the days Of long
ago. Seems to me they are the softest
and bluest and kindest in the world"
ST think they are" said Helen, "and
they are more beautiful than the Ital-
ian skies, though l doubt if many of
us HOLSTERS realize it, and certainly no
one else does"
The old man leaned over and patted
her hand. Harkless gasped. "'Us
Hoosiersv chuckled the judge. You're
great Hoosier, young lady! How
much of your life have you spent in the
state? us HOLSTERS!
But I'm going to be a good one" she
answered gayly, land if I'm good
enough when l grow up maybe I'll be
a great one"
The blackboard had been brought
around, and the four young people
climbed in, HAIRLESS driving. Before
they started the judge, standing on the
horse block in front of the gate, leaned
over and patted Miss Sherwood's hand
again. Harkless gathered up the reins
you'll make great Hoosier, all
right" said the old man, beaming upon
the girl. you needn't worry about
that, 1 guess, my dear"
When he said my DEAR" Harkless
spoke to the horses.
wait" said the judge, still holding
the little hand. You'll make a great
Hoosier some day; don't fret. You're
already a very beautiful one" Then
he bent his white head and kissed her
CALAMITY.
Good afternoon, judge" said John.
The whip cracked, and the blackboard
dashed off in cloud of dust.
Every once in awhile, Harkless," the
old fellow called after them, you must
remember to look at the team
The enormous white tent was filled
with hazy, yellow light, the warm,
dusty, mellow light that thrills the re-
joicing heart because it is found no.
where else in the world except in the
tents of a circus, the canvas filtered
sunshine and sawdust atmosphere of
show day.
Here swayed a myriad of palm leaf
fans; here paraded blushing youth and
rosy maiden more relentlessly arm in
arm than ever; here crept the octoge-
marian, Mr. Bodeffer, shaking on cane
and the shoulder of posterity; here
waddled Mr.. Snoddy, who had hurried
through the animal tent for fear of