Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-12-06
NOW OR
N EVE
Bly,.
Martha rfcCulloch- Williams
Copyright. lao5.
By Martha McCulloch-

] NhFh Nn' Idu HftI iilE NtM tnONu
clear had n black cat follow her home
and then dreamed of getting safe
across clear running stream. All
these were Omens OF good luck. II
was the best sort Of luck 20 have n
boarier In the big front room upstairs.
a 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 chHfed 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 20
church. where the wearing Of old
clothes might be regarded a. n sign
OF piety rather thhn poverty. The
board money would change all that.
In fancy Joe saw herself brave In new
winter fnery. 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.
er was little morbid on the point Of
Joe's lacks. In fear. Il might be said.
she neglected the girl. who. II was
we'll known. she did not love. Still
they had got on fairly together until
| the cpOch OF Ransom Farley
IL was Mrs Grccr's nephew and
prospective heir: hence II seemed 10
him but right and natural that be
should marry Joe. who held a mort
gage on the farm Mrs. Greer had
fetched her husband and his daughter
home with her 20 live and the Greer
estate bad been turned into cash and
used 10 free the homestead from sun.
dry membranes. Thus common Zoo
tcrcst had kept the two women tOgcth-
or after Squire Greer died Ransom
thought Il beautifully No that they
should 90 on living together ana letting
him take care OF them At least that ,
was his way Of saying Il. Joe snapped .
that the carctaklng would be all the .
hAANft way f0lAf llANA AAAAffA NaiTNAAA tNF
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 stlll held himself 10 the model .
standard
Joe was slim and dusly-llthe as %
saplng. with floss silk hair and eyes
outfiashing black diamonds. Wild roses
blushed In her olive cheeks. her lips
were cherry red aud her voice full Of
flute notes Billy Wharton had weak
ness for pretty girls. lie made love 10
all fate threw In his way. Naturally
he made love 20 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
him. made a pretense ~ quarrelng
and so kept him puzzled as TO her .
frame OF mind. Puzzllng over q very ,
pretty girl ~ bad for the affections II /
the pfzzlcr wishes To escape free. but
Billy dld not know that In time. lie
tried al man might TO read this .
maiden riddle lie had been quite fair. =
he thought-had told her In the outset .
he couldn't afford 10 marry until he I
was gray and bald.
1--WE nothing In the world now but
he had said. And. though
space rates give a dccentish living for
one. It's little short OF criminal under {
taking TO make them furnish rations I
for two" Then straightway he had I
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 I
long time ahead when certain lives and q
leases lapsed Billy would have n snug I
Possibly the information !
had It's weight. Possibly also II went q
over her head. Certainly. when In the Z
sixth week ~ Bllly's stay az the farm /
house Ransom was pleased TO grow I
furiously Jealous OF him. Joe decided c
something must be done-and did IT,
did you know there was a wedding {
coming of SundayT' she asked OF
Billy Thursday nc noon. Billy pulled ,
)ut pencil and notebook. putting on s
MS most professional air as he asked: G
"Wil you give me the names Of the "
'ictlms. please. Miss Greer; Also any A
,ther particulars Of INTEREST," a
mo! Go nsk the preacher" Joe said.
milling mysterlously.
Billy went. but came back more than
'ver mystifed The wedding Is ;
act" he said, but a solitary fact. o
Brother Jones knows no more than we o
lO-only that he has been asked 10 holl c
himself In readiness nc the close OF the q
morning service. Furthermore. be u
ays you asked him. Confess. young q
ldy. You are getting up iine hoax q
"Sec II I am" Joe retortcd her head u
.lgher than common. She ran or al D
most Instantly and was well nigh unap r
throughout the next two Z
ays. But Saturday evening she walk II
Il with Billy al up and down the yard u
he moon shedding silver fecl,s upon o