The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-08-24

remembered distinctly now that she
had paused there ait certain crossing,
waiting for him to get by, sort of
shadow girl who had seemed part Of
his musings. Doubtless she had passed
close behind the buggy and the bobbing
poles with the dangling hooks had par
odied the tragedy Of Absalom. But
how should he find her and restore her
lost headgear?
The same problem was tormenting
the brain Of the owner Of the hat. and
as a result the postmistress received
two notices within the next hour with
the request that she put them up in the
postoffice.
IF the person whose carelessness"-
the word ''carelessness" was under
scored-'"led to the unlawful acquisi-
ton OF hat last evening will leave
sameswith the postmistress the owner
will feel In some measure placated,"
read the first one. And the second was
like)this: IF the owner Of a. hat that
evening will leave her name and ad-
dress with the postmistress 1t will be
returned Immediately"
Before noon Of the following day the
young man, now thoroughly alert and
no longer the dreamy, needless fellow
Of the night before, might have been
seen vending his way along one Of the
broad, shaded streets Of the village,
gingerly carrying parcel wrapped in
tissue paper. His anxious scrutiny of
the houses showed that he sought some
unfamiliar place, but at last, after
final vacillating moment, he opened a
gate and went in.
In the comfortable, old fashioned par
lor he waited for the owner of the hat;
waited-though he did not know that
until later-for the appearance Of the
lady of his life. 1t was not that she
was wondrously fair or in any way
distinguished, as the heroines of the
story books always are. He never Just
found out why it was, but from the mo-
ment that the slender, girlish figure ap-
peared in the doorway and turned quiz
zical eyes upon him his heart beat to
new, strong theme.
But didn't you hear me call?" she
asked when they had laughed, explain
ed and apologized, he for capturing the
hat and she for the UNDERSIGNED word
in her notice. Didn't you hear me
shout, oh, man. stopY"
He shook his head penitently, for
even so soon it seemed Incredible that
with her voice calling he should not
have heard Then the talk turned to
other things. and with glad sort of
shock he discovered that in town they
lived in the same square.
"And to think that have never seen
your he exclaimed with slow wonder,
as II the thing were scarcely credible.
and thereupon the girl laughed, for she
had seen him again and again, always
with warm approval of his swinging
gait and a certain air that said that he
could look out for himself and some
body else beside. Once, she remember
ed, she had wondered who the some
body would be-
Probably It's because you never fish
ed for me before" she ventured mis-
chievously, and then she caught her lip
between her teeth and wished she
hadn't spoken, for his face became
very earnest, and there was a conquer
Ing ring in his voice as he answered
slowly but determinedly:
Perhaps so. But from now on am
going to fish for years II need be-f1sh
until you yield from sheer WEAKNESS
Of seeing me sitting mOtionless on the
bank-until l can win you for my
own" -
And he kept his word so we'll that
now they not only live In the same
square. but in the same house.