Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-01-04

first, every eye in the church was
upon them and her face was very red.
Full well she knew what all were
thinking and what tempest of gos-
sip would follow. It did not occur to
Martin, however, until service was
over, and as he opened the hymn book,
found the place and stood up, he was
quite proud of himself. But on the
way home a species of frost seemed
to fall upon Angie and her won't
you come in?" when the gate was
reached, was so chilly he came near
refusing it. The old custom had re-
Cured to him by this time, however,
and he felt he owed her an apology.
But it must be delayed, for Aunt
Comfort and Hannah sat upon the
porch and for an hour chatted of
commonplaces and the evening, which
was one worth talking about, for the
moons full light glowed in the naples
and fell checkered through the lat
ticed, vine-hid porch where they sat,
the syringas in the dooryard mingled
their odOr with the new mown mead
ows, and the low nurmur of the Mizzy
falls whispered in the balmy air-an
evening when Cupid should be abroad.
But Angie was decidedly out of har-
mony with 1t. She would not have
gone to CHURCH had she dreamed that
Martin would have intruded his COM
pany upon her. She could not refuse
it without affront, and thus caught,
had gone on to feel herself spectacle
for all eyes and a target later for all
tongues, and this, in the face Of her
determined effort, 50 far, to avoid his
attentions. Something Of this came to
him by degrees, however, and when
they were left alone together his first
words were humble.
Il owe you an apology, Angie" he
said, quite meekly, "and realize I'VE
put my foot In it, tonight; I didn't
until saw that we were stared at,
and hope that you will pardon my
blunder."
''Oh, it was nothing" responded
Angie. quietly. land no harm has been
DONE" 1t was the least she could
say.
i've been away so many years." he
continued, 1--WE forgotten Greenvale's
social laws, and how they will gossip
here. I won't make another such
blunder, I assure you" Then, as she
made no further response to this, per-
force he had to speak Of something,
and launched into a recital #of the
incidents Of his recent trip with DR..
Sol It was ancient history to, her,
but she listened and commented with
simulated interest. It was forced, as
Martin soon felt, and gradual sense
of his own failure to interest her grew
upon him. Beyond that her chilly re-
ceptton OF him upon all occasions,
added to the changes he had found in
his old haunts, now rendered him
gloomy. He had tried his best to be
agreeable, he had spoken all the
pleasant words he could, pertinent to
the OCCASION; he had shown his de-
sire to pay her attention, and it all
availed not. His return had so far
been a disappointment in all respects,
anu ne began to wish that he had kept
away from Greenvale. Il.
!: did you ever --ead the story II
Rip Van Wrinkle, Angie" he asked at
last, "and how the old fellow, after
sleeping 20 years, returned to his
village to find himself dead to all? I
never before realized how he felt, bu~
tonight do. I've been here less than
a week, but have come to realize
How soon we are forgot as Rip said. y
It was not wise speech, ana in
view Of the manner in which he had
turned his back upon Angie years be-
fore, it was an ungrateful one. It
stung her to the quick; and yet he was
her guest, and she forbore to reply
sharply. If. zz.z- :s u; S5>> .
we are al IN the same position, 3
sbs answered pleasantly. and ont of