Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-13
NOW OR
N EVE
Bly,.
Martha NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Copyright. 1903,
by Martha Observation-Disclosures

ing TO happen ever Since odturuuy,
when she had seen the new moon
clear, had black cat follow her home
and then dreamed of getting safe
across Il clear running stream. All
these were omcns of good luck. 1t
was the best sort of luck to have a
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 leon ut deaths
Though tie doctor was in no hurry for
his fee, hel' Independence chafed might
lily against having him wait
Therefore Joe had had no new sum
mer frocks. Therefore also she was
not going to picnics and parties and
things = anywhere. indeed but to
church, where the wearing of old
clothes might he regarded as a sign
Of picty rather than poverty. The
board money would change all that.
In fancy Joe saw herself brave in new
winter finery. holding up her hc3d With
the hest Her head had not really been
dropped. for she was by nature spirit
cd and full of fun. But the stepmoth-
or was Il little morbid on the point OF
Joc's lacks. In fear. it might be said,
she neglected the girl, who. 1t was
we'll known. she did not love. Still
they had got on fairly together until
the epoch of RansoH, Farley.
1t was Mrs. Grccr's nephew and
prospective heir; hence ii seemed TO
him but right and natural that he
should marry Joe. who held mort
gage on tie fam. Mrs. Greer had
fetched her llusl and and his daughter
home with her to live. and the Greer
estate had been turned into cash a!l
used to free the homestead from sun
dry incumhranccs Thus common IN
terest had kept the two women toScth-
err after SQUIRE Greer died Ransom
thought it beautifully 1T that they
should so on living together and letting
him take care of them. At least that
was his way of saying II. Joe snapped
that the carctaking would be all the
other way SHE had hated Ransom as
n pink and white curly haired model
child. She did not hate him less now
that. although his curls We're crorocl
and his complexion WAS somewhat tan
ned, he still held himself to the model
standard.
Joe was slim and dusky--lithe rs Il
sapling, with floss silk hair and eyes
outfiashing black diamonds. Wild roses
blushed in her olive checks, her lips
were cherry rcd and her voice full of
flute 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 foutcd him, laughed at
him, made pretense of quarreling
and so kept him puzzled as to her
frame of mind. PuZzling over a very
pretty girl is bad for the affections If
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 the outset
he couldn't afford to marry until he
was gray and bald.
1--WE nothing in the world now but
myself" he had said. and. though
space rates give Il decentish living for
one it's little short of criminal under
taking to 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 Il sum
mer morning. IN course of the talk
there she had somehow gathered that a
long tine ahead Wien certain lives and
leases lapsed Billy would nave snug
maintenance. Possibly the information
had its weight, Possibly also it 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 IT.
did YOU know there was a wedding
coming off sunday" 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 Greer? Also any
other particulars of INTEREST,""
mo! Go ask the preacher" Joe said,
smiling mysteriously.
billy went, but came back more tasn
ever mystiiied 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 s,-~ice. Furthermore, he
says YOU ask ID him. Confess, young
lady. YOU arr getting up a fine hoax
See II am, Joe retorted her head
higher than common She ran off al
most instantly ana 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 hecks upon
them, the roses in the garden filing
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