The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-04-29

W lIlAm arose calder Iuhn usual
next morning after restless night.
and leaving his breakfast Antasted.
started to the shop. AS he neared II.
be discovered that Marcia was al
ready sweeping her portion OF the
walk. evidently intent on getting II
done before people were astir gener-
ally. She did not perceive his APP
| preach until he stood beside her, then
looking up at him she said demurely:
Good morning. William"
Good morning You are out early
this morning"
so are you" she retOrted. blushins
| a rosy red.
| At the point Of inquiring II her fire
burned properly, he checked himself
as he thought OF the embarrassment
| 1t would cause. He could think OF
nothing else to say. and after staring
at her stupidity for a moment. unlock
ed his door and went inside. reappear-
ing broom in hand.
A milk wagon drove by. the occu-
pant OF which was known to them
both. With Good morning. friends. .
he pulled up his horse.
''Celebratin'. l see.r' he observed. and
a grin Overspread his face as he point
ed up TO the front OF the building.
Both looked in the direction indi.
Gated
The change the night had brought
was marvellous indeed. Entwining the
two little signs and Joining them low.
ingly together were gariands OF ever.
greens and orange blossoms. while In
the center. suspended between them.
was what remained OF Ruth Martins
wedding bell True. the flowers were
bit faded and the evergreen showed
evidence OF hard usage. but the puF,
pose for which they were intended
was still easily discernable.
With scream Marcia darted into
her shop and closed the door. VIII
lam paused long enough to bestow a
scathlng glance upon the milkman.
then staIked into his own establish
ment
Among Williams early customers
was Judge Bradford, and as one Of
his oldest friends. the judge felt privl
legged to speak.
I'm glad you've done It. William.
Nature never intended Us to live with
out mates in this world. You ought
to have done II years ago. but you
were always too modest She was 9
handsome girl. and by ginger. shea
a good-lOoking woman"
The previous days rush Of bust.
ness, which bid fair to continue. was
effectually checked when It began
raining heavily early In the day. and
customers were few and far between.
To william the day was fntolerably
long. and altogether miserable one.
The little shop next door had remain
ed closed since the unfortunate episode
Of the morning. and though a number
came. they turned away again. unable
to gain admlttance. As the day wore
on he found himself growing more and
more anxious. Perhaps she was Ilr
Once or twice he surreptitiously
placed his ear to the partition. but be
could hear nothing.
He looked out at the old hitchIng
rail-. tOrlorn and deserted. and for the
arst time the realization came to him
how lonely his life had become.
He thought OF the big house on the
hill, OF which he was the only occu-
pant Then he fell to wondering II
she was lonely. too. He recalled her
as she stood before him that morning.
The Judge was right. she was hand.
some yet She was good as she was
| beautiful. too: and the village had no
right to poke fun at her. They
wouldn't do 1t II she bad some one to
| protect her.
Next be did what for him was a
most unusual thing. Going to the rear
OF the shop be gazed long and soberly
into the mirror He turned sadly
away II was too late now: his op-
portunlty had gone.
Usually he kept the shop open until
s o'clock. but at 7 he decided to close
and go home. As be closed the shut
ter be looked anxiously at the adIoln.
ing door. He looked up and. raising
| his umbrella. started across the green.
Nearly across. he hesitatnd. stopped,
then turned and marched resolutely
back. Straight up to the little. old
fashioned building be went, and on the
door over which hung the sign OF
Marcia Goodwin, Milliner." he gave
a ponderous knock. There was no re.
ply. and he knocked louder and more
boldly than before.
who Is there2' came from the In
side.
1T 1. William Underwood. Open
the door
The door opened slightly. "whai
do you want. William"
Her voice seemed to tremble. Per.
haps she had been crying. He pushed
the door open and stepped inside.
Il want you" he answered. with
the assurance OF a cavalier.
|
When. as the result OF an interview
with his father. young Thomas Martin
sided into Williams shop the next