Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-22
SHE MERELY LAUGHED.

the summer, and settled down with the
idea Of doing lot Of work. After six
weeks / discovered one morning that
enc small canvas-a study Of a hay
stack-was the sole result Of my
praiseworthy resolve.
l sat down to my breakfast, deter
mined that / would set to work the mo.
ment it was over.
Letters, sir" said Spicer.
They were dull lot | turned 20 a
weekly paper that had come by pos.
1t seemed even more smart than usual
this week-in many instances more
smart than discreet. At the top Of the
second age l saw paragraph which
made me knock my cup Of coffee off
the table.
At first was annoyed. got up and
lit cigarette. Then l read the para
graph again and chuckled. 1t had lis
humorous side.
! dropped the paper on a verauda
chair and entered the house to get
ready for my morning ride. In few
minutes ! came out again. Spicer,
meanwhile, had taken my horse round
to the front
He looked at me nervously.
IF you'll pardon the liberty, sir"
he began, IT should like to Aoffer you
my 'earty congratulations"
stared at him in surprise "It's very
good of you. Spicer," l said, bewilder-
ed; but"
81 just happened to glance at the
newspaper, sir, and"
The explanation came on with
rush.
Thanks, Spicer, thanks!" l said
hurriedly. Run and fetch the paper"
1t was distinctly too precious to be
allowed to lie about put it in my
pocket
turned down the lane that leads to
Halestone Common. AS l went round
a sharp corner nearly ran into lady,
who was bicycling along calmly
yard or SO ahead.
81 beg your -. Oh; good morn
ing. Miss Warrender."
IL notice you don't think 1t neces-
sary to continue the apology you be-
gan" she said, with smile.
Are you going to Halestone?"
Eyes, said ! was going for a ride,
and Mrs Crawford asked me If I mind
ed fetching paper for her; the book
stall people forgot to send it."
We rode together along the edge of
the common.
"And how is Mrs. Cranford?"
well, the non-arrival of this paper
has rather upset her. She reads it
every week This morning she
wouldn't eat her breakfast because tho
Looker-On had not come"
docs Mrs. Crawford read that?" l
0ueried.
Miss Warrender looked at me in as
constituent.
"Of course; most people do. Don't
your"
"Oh. yes" I replied, Il read 1t.
Amusing paper, isn't dta"
"A tribe rapid but its facts ara
generally all right"
laughed.
"By the way" / said. II have a COPY
Of this weeks in my pocket There arc
some good things In 1t. Shall read
you one or'two?"
"Y1-df they are good"
glanced at the top Of the page and
read: 1--WE hear that Mr.. Austin Hay.
ter, the we'll known landscape paint
Err"
Gross fattery!" said Miss Warren
der.
gave her severe glance
lis about to be married"
She clapped her hands. Most anus
Ing she Gaid.
1.-The future Mrs. Hayter is that
charming actress. Miss Esme Warren
der, who made such success in"
She jumped of her machine, and
snatched the paper from my hand.
"You don't mean to say" she he
gan. She read the paragraph herself
what does 1t all mean?" she ex-
claimed. In a bewildered fashion.
II haven't the least idea. Rather
good, isn't it?"
She broke into a nervous little
laugh.
II never heard anything so ridicu-
lous What could induce them to say a
wicked thing like that?"
Usually their facts are all right" |
reminded her gently.
She was silent for a little while.
"Of course, it's absurd" she said q
length; yet 1t might be embarrassiu