Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1904-11-17

the name almost under breath. Hi
4 syes aeya e2gar, but bis, manner tn
perfection Of Difference. He was thir
ty, well born, rich, idle and reckonet
the greatest iirt in the countryside
Fats II the shape OF Thunderstorm
Lad driven him to shelter in the Da,
homestead and thus thrown him Ii
Rowena's path. Her wholesome, girl
ish beauty had taken him unaware.
and stirred depths within him which
no woman of his own sort had evel
troubled.
Come he repeated, holding out his
hand Rowe smiled an enchantine
smile. I'VE were just goin' to the
spring Teeny an me- she said. "You
come with us. Three always makes q
jolly crowd"
PITY, but Teeny's done idled erway
the day o grace Joe interposed THAR
comes Miss Rachel Sue out O. the end
door"
I'm sorry, Teeny," Morton said, hold.
ing out his hand. After this let no
body say the age of chivalry is past.
You're better man than l am
Miss Sarah and Jim Polk IL agree
with you thar" Joe said dryly But
can't stand here a-jowerin' with no
body. School has took up again, an
my lessons begin at Kansas Nebraska"
Now, what air you sayin' about
meY' Kansas-Nebraska called languish-
ingly, though she was ten yards off.
Joe dropped his head and answered
meekly, Il wus jest tellin' this passed.
O folks it wus sech hard work tryin'
ter keep frum courtin' you"
ooh. go off with you." Kansas Ne.
braska said, giving him a coquettish
push. 'Whyn't you behave nice like
Teeny?"
Joe put his hand beside his mouth.
"I'll tell you eff you're right shore you
can keep er secret" be said. "Teeny
Is so plagued his own self he don't have
none ter spare ter nobody else'
Martyrs at the stake have possibly
suffered worse torment than Teeny en-
dured that June meeting day, but none
of them ever faced their torments with
finer spirit. Patient, logged. cheer
full he stuck by Rachel Susan, stayed
her with gourdfuls of cool spring wa
ter, comforted her with apples, pro-
yided her at dinner with crisp barbe-
cue and plenteous pie and after it let
her lead him to sequestered seat as a
lamb is led to slaughter. He was GER
tain she meant him to propose to her
there, yet, though he did not see how
he could well get around doing it, he
did not finch.
He was almost grateful to Rachel
Susan. She kept his surface conscious
ness so occupied he was only dumbly
alive to the deep misery underneath.
In spite of Miss Sarah, Cleye Morton
continued to monopolze Rowena,
standing, walking, sitting beside her,
going with her In and out of church,
evidently anxious to parade his in
thrallment in the face of all the world.
What girl seventeen years old could
withstand n man who was not only
rich and gentleman, but had way
with him that won all women's hearts?
Teeny asked himself the question over
and over. The unvarying answer
wrought compassion for the buxom girl
beside him.
Suppose she loved even as he loved
Not himself, Of course, but somebody
nameiess who passed her idly by.
What could she say op do?
Teeny was very young for his years
He did not know that when woman
disposes man usually proposes whether
or no. Rachel SuSAn's chosen ambush
was low outcropping ledge some lit
tie way down the spring branch. The
spring itself broke out from beneath q
sharp ramp perhaps fifteen feet high,
from whose top the earth stretched
away in long undulating reaches of vir-
gin woodland. The whole top of it was
free to the church crowds Sweetheart
ing couples, though. seldom went into
it. 1t was the thing for them to keep
in sight and out of hearing.
The rise was SO sheer Teeny and
Rachel Susan leaned comfortably
against it, she for the time being OBJ
livious of ants. bugs and the soiling of
her white jaconet's fluted rufIles.
Air you shore 'nough goin' ter Tex
as. Teeny?" she asked after they were
well settled. Teeny looked ut the wills
pering leaves overhead and answered,
signing family, Il d'know yit, but |
sorter reckon so"
You oughter not go less'n you take
an get married." Rachel Susan said
energetically. Certain as you go sin
gle it'll be norated up an down you
couldn't stay here cause Roweny Day
had give We the sack"
'Well. all | got ter say Is she amt.
Nobody amt. cause | amt never been
bold ernoush ter court nobody. Who
would have sech er poor stick as meY'
Teeuy returned, odging n little away.
Rachel Susan held up both hands "The
idear. How you do talk" she said
"No longer'n this mornin at breakfast
par told everybody, preachers an ALL
thar wusn't girl in the neighborhood
but wus ready ter marry you at the
drap Of er hat"
"Wisht only thought sol You
Irceg!AA't kpteh sssr geifia49F Ee.sasq aeT
nowharS, er lone bacheler,' Teeny
said. but that's how III have ter 60"
"No-you can take-me. Only say
tIn word Want ,-D,t sn,. ~ 1aap, ~