Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-10-05

HE WAS BESIDE THE CAhhlhGE WHEN II
STOPPED AND HELPED HER OUT.
posies and talking crops. Later he had
braved the front gate, generally with
q straw In his mouth, to sit on the
steps for an hour In the gloaming talk
ing with Betty. but looking at Dorcas.
On cold evenings the hour had been
passed In the cozy sitting room playing
checkers and popping corn. Not q
word OF love had been spoken, but 1t
was understood In the house and In
fhs whole neighborhood that John
Baldwin was waiting on Dorcas Syl
Vester and that some time In the fu
ture. as they should deter nine, the two
good old country families and the two
well titled farms would be united, pro
yided, of course, John Baldwln's diff
dence ever allowed him to get that far.
AS she ran lightly down the steps to
the farm wagon Dorcas gave one
quick, shy glance up the slope to where
the big Baldwin house stood half hid
den by its towering elms. Yes, there
was Johns buggy standing In the road
before the house, and his fast horse
could reach the station In one-half the
time they could make with the farm
wagon and old Charlie Besides, Betty
had thought the hired man might as
well kill two birds with one stone, so
he was taking a load Of produce along,
which he would peddle after leaving
Dorcas at the station AS she climbed
up beside Sethro, who did not offer or
dream Of Offering assistance, Dorcas
thought how much easier It would be
In Johns spring buggy tan In this
heavy wagon, which Jolted and rum
bled over the rough country roads.
But still she felt very happy. Al
though neither she nor John had
thought of such an audacious thing as
his Offering TO act as escort, yet the
presence Of the buggy meant that he
intended 10 keep somewhere In her Vi
cinity, to have m oversight Of her
safety; perhaps he would even go on
the train, riding I'm one Of the adjoining
cars.
As the load OF produce included eggs
and milk, progress would be slow, and
they had arranged for an early start,
but before half the distance had been
Travelled they heard the Sharp whir Of
Johns approaching buggy wheels AS
he flashed by he was bending over IN
ostentatlous search Of something under
the sent, hut he gave her bashful
side glance which plainly said: Don't
be uneasy, Dorcas III see that things
go right"
BY the time he Strengthened up he
was disappearing round a bend IN the
road But the glance had sent a soft
color TO her face which fingered there
through the long, rough ride until final
ly she was aroused by gruff "Jerusa-
leml Whoa, there, Charlie!
They were at the junction Of two
roads. One led up to the station a
quarter of mile away; the other went
on to the village. two or three times
that distance Jethro was looking at
her with dlsmay on his face.
"What is it2" she asked.
"Why-why-do you reckon you could
walk up TO the depot?" persuasively.
"'Tain't but step. You see" apollo
getically as he noted the surprise on
her face, Ben Pokey's wagons just
turning the corner down yonder, and
IL he gets In town ahead Of me he sells
bis stuff, and If get In ahead of him
| sell my stuff, and II | sell my stuff,
like Miss Betty counts on, why, she
amt going 10 fuss nt me much. See?
OF course I'm here to take you to the
depot and will now If you say the