Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-07-20
NOW OR
NEVER
By.
Martha McCulloch-W Williams
Copyright, 1905,
by Martha McCuuoch-W Williams


these were omens of good luck. 1t
was the best sort of luck to have n
boarder In the big front room upstairs,
gentleman evidently craving quiet,
solitude and country fare. Mrs. Greer,
Joe's stepmother, had been set against
boarders. She would have none OF
them even yet but for that dreadful
doctors bill She had been at deaths
door last winter, her first real Illness.
Though the doctor was IN no hurry for
his fee, her independence chafed might
lily against having him wait.
Therefore Joe had had no new sum
mer frocks Therefore also she was
not going 10 picnics and parties and
things anywhere indeed, but 10
church where the wearing of old
clothes might be regarded as a sign
of piety rather than poverty. The
board money would change all that.
In fancy Joe saw herself brave In new
winter flnery holding up her head with
the best Her head had not really been
dropped, for she was by nature spirit
ed and full of fun. But the stepmoth-
Joe's lacks In fear, 1t might be said,
she neglected the girl, who, 1t was
well known, she did not love. Still
they had got on fairly together until
the epoch of Ransom Farley.
Ii was Mrs. Grecr'S nephew and
prospective heir; hence 1t seemed TO
him but right and natural that he
should marry Joe, who held mort
gage on the farm. Mrs. Greer had
fetched her husband and his daughter
home with her 10 live, and the Greer
estate had been turned into cash and
used TO free the homestead from sun
dry membranes. Thus common In
terest had kept the two women tOgeth-
er after Squire Greer died. Ransom
thought 1t Beautifully fit that they
should 20 on living together and letting
him take care of them. At least that
was his way of saying il. Joe snapped
that the caretaking would be all the
other way She had hated Ransom as
q pink and white curly haired model
child She did not hate him less now
that, although his curls were cropped
and his complexion was somewhat tan
ned, he still held himself to the model
standard.
Joe was slim and duSky-lithe as
Sapling with floss silk hair and eyes
outfiashing black diamonds. Wild roses
blushed In her olive checks, her lips
were cherry red and her voice full OF
nute notes Billy Wharton had weak
ness for pretty girls. He made love to
all fate threw in his way. Naturally
he made love to Joe. Naturally also
he made her love him. He was the
man OF her Dreams In every way the
opposite of Ransom and very unlike
any of the farmer lads or callOw city
youngsters with whom she had been
brought In contact. But because she
loved Billy with heart and soul and
strength she fouted him, laughed at
him, made a pretense Of quarreling
and 80 kept him puzzled as to her
frame of mind. PuZZling over q very
pretty girl is bad for the affections IL
the puzzler wishes TO escape free, but
Billy did not know that In time. He
tried all man might to read this
maiden riddle. He had been quite fair,
he thought-had told her in tho outset
, he couldn't afford TO marry until he
was gray and bald.
AFye nothing In the world now but
myself" he had said And, though
space rates give a decentish living for
one, It's little short of criminal under
taking 10 make them furnish rations
for two" Then straightway he had
made Joe guide him TO the deepest pool
Of the trout brook and stay with him
at the stream side all through a sum
mar morning. In course Of the talk
there she had somehow gathered that
long time ahead when certain lives and
leases lapsed Billy would have u snug
maintenance Possibly the information
had its weight Possibly also 1t went
over her head. Certainly, when In the
sixth week Of Billy's stay at the farm
house Ransom was pleased to grow
furiously Jealous Of him, Joe decided
something must be dOne-and did 1t.
Did you know there was a wedding
coming off SundayT' she asked Of
Billy Thursday at noon. Billy pulled
out pencil and notebook, putting on
his most professional air as he asked:
''Will you give me the names OF the
victims, please, Miss Greeri Also any
other particulars of interest,""
mo! Go ask the preacher" Joe said,
smiling mysteriously.
Billy went, but came back more than
ever mystified. The wedding Is a
fact" he said, but solitary fact.
Brother Jones knows no more than we
do-only that he has been asked TO hold
himself In readiness at the close of the
morning service. Furthermore, he
says you asked him. Confess, young
lady. You are getting up a fine hoax"
''See II | am Joe retorted, her head
higher than common. She ran off al
most instantly and was well nigh unap-
prOachable throughout the next two
days. But Saturday evening she walk
ed with Billy all up and down the yard
the moon shedding silver flecks upon
them, the roses In the garden filing
the air with perfume. As they walked
Billy held her hand, and lnscnsibly, 1t
seemed, she drooped toward him. Nei-
ther said very much. As the clock
struck 10 Joe drew away from him
with little shudder. saying very low.
Maybe this is our last wall, together
But Billy, quite beyond prudence,
flung his arms about her and kissed
her full on the mouth, saying thiclily
1t shall not be- want you always"
He slept little that night, but fell into
heavy dozc at daylight 1t lasted IN
Ill II was almost time for church The
sight OF her set his heart beating mad
ly. She was all In white, bridelike in
deed, with knot of pale roses nodding
on her breast. BY their rising and fall
ing he knew she was strangely stirred
yet when she motioned him TO follow
and sit beside her he obeycd, although
Ransom Farley, whom he cordially dis
liked, was at her other elbow. All
through the service she sat statue still
notwithstN ndiup he felt the tension Of