New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1905-09-20
BETN ZEN
RAIN S
By FANNIE HEAsLlP LEA
Copyright, 1905, BIZ 1. D. Marshall

augnteQ. "A man, Tall, lean ana Ozark, /
left the third coach; a woman, small, /
plump and fair, descended from the
second. Midway in their listless course
to a somewhat ancient carryall they |
met.
"Oh-h! l might have known it!' she
cried furiously.
The man said nothing at ALL
81 suppose" said the woman, with |
ostentatious self control, you are 60
ing to the Ralstons?'
II am"
"And have I got to go up in that
trap with you?"
"You have not I shall walk" he
said calmly.
"You will do nothing Of the kind,
she stormed. "And have them won
dering and questioning? You will go
up in the trap with me-
He led the way to the aged vehicle
and she followed. When they were
seated and a series of noisy jerks
announced their triumphal progress,
he looked at her with quiet amusement
'They will think we have come to-
gether," he said. DO they know you
are coming?"
NO" she snapped. ''And suppose
you are surprising them too?"
"Quite surprise party he agreed.
She clinched her little hands furi-
ously.
''They will understand that it was an
accident that met you at the depot"
'"They will think you have at last
consented to be sensible" he unused,
''and will be delighted. You know how
long and ardently they have tried to
throw us together"
U.S." said the woman witheringly.
"You have been fairly thrown at my
head"
"Well, I never seemed to strike you,"
he drawled.
She flung him scorching glance, and
he subsidized into silence.
When the white pillars Of the Raj
stons, splendid old plantation house
came into view, she turned on him
f1ercely.
"For the next two days-I suppose
must stay so long-you will be given
any number of chances to talk to me-"
'I'm not going to propose again." he
said disinterestedly. Don't be so wor-
ried."
Don't talk to me,' she ordered.
Don't come near me unless you have
to- .. -.aal-
81 never do" he protested, climbing
out over the dusty wheel Of their char
lot.
Five minutes later he climbed in
again after frenzied recalling Of the
charioteer and seated himself beside a
we'll nigh speechless companion. The
carryall jolted an unhappy yard OF
two.
"Iou all gwine TEX de 7:3O trai1
backW inquired the ancient driver
"He-he-he-it sho' am too bad. Nobody
home, an you all dun cum all de way
up fun New Leans
"Whip up that beast of yours, uncle,
cut in the man sharply. "There's {
train at 7:3O, isn't there?"
Eyes, sah."
'"That's all right then. Now hurry
up" He turned to the tense little fig
ure beside him, swapping open hi
watch.
otis now ten minutes to T." he an
nounced. 1T won't be long to wait,
dare say" .-.....r- .. --... ..s-
She surveyed him intently and with
out favor. THAT train is never o.
time" she said.
He shrugged his shoulders in silence
and they jolted on till the ugly statio
came into view. . .
All around the southern twilight wa
deepening. A star or two winked on
in the purple dusk of the sky, an
down the long dusty road the katydid
disputed noisily. IL .
: No one was in sight on the static
platform, and only the sudden rattle G
telegraph instrument from tie sts
ton itself gave any sign of habftation
"You had better get out and wait o
the platform, Mrs. Leonard" said th
man.
'"Thank you, Mr.. Stanley" said tn
woman, and followed him stiff1y whe
| he had helped her from the carryall.
: Stanley sat down upon truck an
whistled softly to himself. Mrs. Leol
ard paced the farthest end Of the pla
form in superb silence. After a lit
be joined her with a laugh.
apparently" he said, "we're th
y only human beings in this solitude.
y see the station agent making off dow
: the road to get drink before trai
! time. There's a bit of store fe'
f hundred yards off. I suppose you NJ
" ticed it."
i Il did not" she said frigidly
Interesting things, these plantatic
: stores" he began again.
81 have never found them So" 81
J. smoothed an imaginary wrinkle fro
O. her glove.
. "Now, see here" said Stanle
: would you mind telling me just WI
= Pm being snubbed and cut and froze
. this way? I've said 1 wasn't going
i. propose to you again. What are yc
y afraid of?''
t. ''Afraidv' she Knocked. I'm n
O afraid. I'm tired, that's all, of bei1
4 prosecuted Every one thinks | Ougl