The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-05-11

AAeiA "2y tVWak0 Iu0 vili4B0 kfOm IN
vicinity Of Squire Martins barn.
William arose calder than usua
next morning after . restless night
and leaving his breakfast nntasted
started to the shop. Al he neared II
he discovered that Marcia was al
ready sweeping her portion OF the
walk. evidently intent on getting II
done before people were astir gener'
ally. She did not perceive his ap-
proach unt1l he stood beside her, then
looking up at him she said demurely
Good morning. William"
Good morning. You arc out early
this mornings
$50 are you." abe retorted. biushins
q rosy red.
At the point Of inquiring II her frs
burned properly, he checked himself
~ he thought OF the embarrassment
| 1t would cause He could think Of
nothing else to say. and after staring
at her stupidity for Z moment. unlock
ed his door and went inside. reappear-
ing broom In hand.
A milk wagon drove by. the occu-
pant Of which was known to them
both. With q Good morning. friends.-
he pulled up his horse.
"Celebratin'. see." he observed, and
a grin overspread his face a. he point.
ed up to the front of the building.
Both looked in the direction indi-
Gated
The change the night had brought
was marvellous indeed Entwining the
two little signs and joining them low
ingly together were garlands of ever
greens and orange blossoms. while In
the center. suspended between them.
was what remained OF Ruth Martins
wedding bell. True. the flowers were
q bit faded and the evergreen showed
evidence Of hard usage. but the pur,
pose for which they were intended ,
was still easily observable.
With 4 scream Marcia darted into
her shop and closed the door. Will
lam paused long enough to bestow a
scathing glance upon the milkman.
then stalked into his own establish
ment
Among Williams early customers
was Judge Bradford. and as one OF
his oldest friends. the judge felt privl
legged to speak
I'm glad you've done It. William.
Nature never intended US to live with
out mates In this world You ought
to have done 1t years ago. but you
were always too modest She was .
handsome girl. and by ginger. shes
a good-looking woman"
The previous days rush of bust
ness, which bid fair to continue. was
effectually checked when It began
raining heavily early In the day. and
were few and far between.
To William the day was intolerabiy
ong. and altogether a miserable one.
The little shop next door had remain
ID closed since the unfortunate episode
" the morning. and though a number
anne. they turned away again. unable
o gain admittance. As the day wore
N he found himself growing more and
more anxious Perhaps she was Ill.
)nce or twice he surreptitiously
'laced his ear to the partition, but be
ould hear nothing.
He looked out at the old hitchinsl
all, forlorn and deserted. and for the
rst time the realization came to him
ow lonely his life had become. Il
He thought of the big house on the ~
Ill. Of which he was the only occu- "
ant Then he fell to wondering II Ii
be was lonely, too. He recalled her II
5 she stood before him that morning. La
he judge was right; she was hand rc
,me yet She was good as ahe was su
eautiful. too; and the village had no OF
ght to poke fun at her. They la
ouldn't do It II she had some one to sp
-otect her.
Next he did what for him was Q m
ost unusual thing. Going to the rear or
the shop he gazed long and soberly sh
to the mirror. He turned sadly SIC
way. 1t was too late now; his Cd iaI
'rtunity. had gone er.
Usually he kept the shop open until thu
o'clock. but at be decided to close or
4 60 home As he closed the shut. wi
: be looked anxiously at the adjoin- Its
8 door. He looked up and, RAISING req
, umbrella, started across the green. =
Nearly across, he hesitated, stopped. e
en- turned and marched resoIutely IL
ok. Straight up to the little, old 81
,hioned building he went. and on the ~
Or over which hung the sign of
Iarcia Goodwin. Milliner." he gave
,onderous knock. There was no re- ~
Z, and he knocked louder and more NJ
dly than before.
Who is thereT came from the In r
e. Il
1t is 1. william Underwood. Open
door,"
he door opened slightly. "what
you want, WiIIIamT
Ter voice seemed to trembie. Per
IS she had been crying. He pushed
door open and stepped inside. cue
I want you" he answered, with east
assurance Of q cavalier. Pre-
Y
Vhen, as the result of an interview new
his father, young Thomas Martin exte
ed into Williams shop the next no
ming ana Hammered an snoloov mort
tho m ~ ho had - hon In Aac~-~S ton