Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-08-08
NOW OR
NEVER
Bly,.
Martha Meculloch-W Williams
Copyright, 100,
By Martha Mecuiloch-williams

and then dreamed Of getting SAT,
across a clear runni,sg stream. Al
these were omens OF good luck. I,
was the best sort OF luck 10 have d
boarSier 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 mi ght.
lily against having him wait.
Therefore Joe had had no new sum
ner 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 be regarded a. a sign
OF piety rather than poverty. The
board money would change all that.
In fancy Joe saw herself brave In new
winter tinery. 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-
CT was a little morbid on the point OF
Joe's lacks. In fear. Il might be said.
she neglected the girl. who. II was
well known. she did not love. still
they had got on fairly together until
the epoch OF Ransom Farley.
II was Mrs. Crcer's nephew and
prospective heir; hence IL seemed 10
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 TO 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 togcth-
or after Squire Gfcer died. Ransom
thought II beautifully NJ that they
should go on living together and letting
him take care OF them. AZ least that
was his way OF saying H. Joe snapped
that the caretaking would be all the
other way She had hated Ransom rs
n 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 10 the model
standard.
Joe was slim and dusky-lithe as a
sapllnG. with floss silk hair and eyes
outfiashlng black diamonds wild roses
kfrvakaN fss -
were cherry red and her voice full %
flute notes. Billy Wharton had a weak
ness for pretty girls He made love 10
all fate threw IN his way. Naturally
he made love 20 Joe Naturally also
be 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 az
him. made a pretense OF quarrelIng
and 80 kept him puzzled as 10 her
frame Of mind. Puzzllng over very
pretty girl Is bad for the affections II
the pu1zler wishes 10 escape free but
Billy did not know that lu time. He
tried all man might 90 read this
maiden riddle. He had been quite fair. |
he thought-had told her I'm the outset
he couldn't afford 10 marry until he |
was gray and bald.
1--WE nothing In the world now but /
myself" he had said "Aud. though /
space rates give n decentish living for /
one. it's little short OF criminal under |
taking 20 make them furnish rations /
for two" Then struightway he had |
made Joe guide him to the deepest pool |
OF the trout brook and stay with him |
at the stream side all through n sum |
mer morning. In course OF the talk |
there she had somehow gathered that a |
long time ahead when certain lives and /
leases lapsed Billy would have n snug
maintenance. Possibly the information
had its weight Possibly also Il went |
over her head. Certainly. when In the
sixth week Of Bllly's stay at the farm.
house Ransom was pleased TO grow
furiously Jealous OF him, Joe decided
something must be done-and did Il.
did you know there was a wedding
coming or sunday" she asked Of
Billy Thursday at noon. Billy pulled
out pencil and notebook. putting on
his most professional air as he asked:
'Wlll you give me the names OF the
victims. please, Miss Greer? Also any
other particulars Of INTEREST,""
moi Go ask the preacher" Joe said.
smiling mysteriously.
Billy went, but came back more than
ever mystihed. The wedding Is
fact" he said, but a 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
service. Furthermore. he
says you asked him. Confess. young
lady. You are getting up fine hoax"
See II am" Joe retorted, her head
higher than common. She ran or al
most instantly and was well nigh unap.
proachable throughout the next two
lays. But Saturday evening she walk.
Vi with Billy all up and down the yard.
he moon shedding silver hecks upon
them, the roses In the garden filling
he air with perfume. AZ they walked
Billy held her hand, and lnsensibly. Il
seemed. she dropped toward him. Mel
lhaf oald tsorv r,urh A. -. ,l.-,tr /