The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1905-04-28

william arose calder than usual
next morning after a restless night,
and leaving his breakfast nntasted,
started to the shop. As he neared 1t,
he discovered that Marcia was al
ready sweeping her portion of the
walk, evidently intent on getting 1t
done before people were astir gener-
ally. She did not perceive his ap-
proach until he stood beside her, then
looking up at him she said demurely:
GOOD morning. William"
Good morning. You are out early
this morning"
$50 are you," she retorted, blushing
a rosy red.
At the point Of inquiring If her fire
burned properly, he checked himself
as he thought of the embarrassment
it would cause. He could think Of
nothing else to say, and after staring
at her stupidity for 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 "Good morning, friends"
he pulled up his horse.
| "Celebratin', see," he observed, and
a grin overspread his face as 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
bit faded and the evergreen showed
evidence of hard usage. but the pur-
pose for which they were intended
was still easily observable.
l. With a 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 priv.
legged to speak.
I'm glad you've done 1t, William.
Nature never intended us to live with.
out mates in this world. You ought
to have done it years ago, but you
were always too modest She was q
handsome girl. and by ginger. she's
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
customers were few and far between.
To William the day was intolerahly
long, and altogether a miserable one.
The little shop next door had remain
ed closed since the unfortunate episode
Of the morning, and though a number
came. they turned away again, unable
to gain admittance. AS the day wore
on he found himself growing more and
more anxious. Perhaps she was ILL.,
Once or twice he surreptitiously
placed his ear to the partition, but he
could hear nothing.
He looked out at the old hitching
rail, forlorn. and deserted. and for the
first time the realization came to him
how lonely his life had become.
He thought of the big house on the
hill, of which he was the only occu
pant. Then he fell to wondering II
she was lonely, too. He recalled be,
as she stood before him that morning
The judge was right; she was hand
some yet. AShe was good as she was
beautiful, too; and the village had nc
right to poke fun at her. They
wouldn't do it If she had some one tc
protect her.
Next he did what for him was g
most unusual thing Going to the real
Of the shop he gazed long and soberly
into the mirror. He turned sadly
away. 1t was too late now; his Cd
portunity had gone.
, Usually he kept the shop open unit
8 o'clock, but at he decided to close
| and go home. AS he closed the shut
| ter he looked anxiously at the adjoln
ing door. He looked up and, raisin,
his umbrella, started across the green
Nearly across. he hesitated. stopped
, then turned and marched resolutel!
, back. Straight up to the little, old
fashioned building he went, and on tn
door over. which hung the sign o
, Marcia Goodwin, Milliner," he CAV,
, ponderous knock. There was no re
ply, and he knocked louder and NOR
boldly than before.
j, "Who Is thereY came from the in
@ side.
ut is 1, William Underwood. Opel
q the door,"
/. The door opened slightly. "Wha
! do you want, William"
q Her voice seemed to tremble. Per
4 haps she had been crying. He pushe,
the door open and stepped inside.
Il want you," he answered, wit
', the assurance Of cavalier.
-
When, as the result of an interviey
with his father, young Thomas Marti
: sided into Williams shop the mex
q morning and stammered an apolog
u | ~or< bo had IN Sooo~