Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-07-25
Fiction

won't believe that. Violet would cut
her head of before she'd as. him.
She isn't the sort to run after a fel-
low"
Moo" Minnie said, "she wouldr t.
You're not quite stupid, except about
that boy who-likes red hair!" She
laughed till l had to shake her. 81
know what she would do. Though. I'll
tell him that you told me tina: she al
ways walked to the old oak about 3
and you believed it was because she
thoui ut he might be there"
Minnie and l hid behind a tree and
saw them go into the lane. We waited
half an hour before we went down
there. He had his arm around vi (she
pulled it away when she saw us), and
they were grinning like Cheshire cats.
"Hulloa!" said. "Quarreling
again?"
You re not supposed - speak, you
know, you two" cried Minnie. She
wagged her finger at them. (She did
look an impudent little wretch)
They grinned all the more.
you young-story tellers," Ted said
(He'd have said something different
if the girls hadn't been there, you bet.)
You dears," Violet said.
Il suppose you're engaged again p
asked.
Thanks to you two" Ted said.
"Umph," gro lid. That's a pretty
thing to lay at fellows door,
Il am so glad" Minnie said. BE
cause-I shouldn't like to quarrel with
with anyOne-who liked me-"
She said it in a soft voice, as if she
was grown up, and hung on to Wis
arm for minute. 1t reminded me of
the way she used to look and talk
when l was getting well from my
accident. She is a kind sort.
Il know a boy who likes-a girl"
Violet said.
"A girl with red hair," Ted added.
Minnie shook her name and laughed.
Come on, Jack" she said; they
don't want u.s."
So we ran off. When we got round
the bend in the lane l caught hold of
her.
You've got to tell me" I said. You
promised to-"
She breathed loud in shivery sort
of way and twisted her hands together
as if she was afraid of something.
Don't make me" she begged Don't
make me, Jack. Couldn't you guess ?"
| puzzled my head thinking of all
the fellows she knew and then caught
her looking at me out of the corners
of her eyes. (You know how girls do)
Mel" | said Me, of course l do!
But it isn't red, Min not really. It's"
took hold of some or 1t to see
what to call it. 1t fell over her face
anG she looked at me through it, as if
she was in cage. (You needn't say
l said so, but she's jolly, nice-looking
girl)
'It's-what?" she asked.
'It's-youI.s, | said. That's good
enough for me. III never call you red
head any more. There's nothing red
about you"
"Oh-h!" she said. Isn't tnere?"
She looked at me with her head on
me side and a funny little pout.
Red mouth" said. Il know a boy
VINO likes"
l expected she would box my ears,
but she didn't. l believe girls like
that sort of thing.
Anyhow, they're jolly artful. You
should have seen the way Violet got
out of the chaff and put it on us when
we got home. Minnie and / caught up
with them and went in with them to
see the fun. Ted and Violet had hold
of one another's arms. So Minnie and
took hold of arms to make game OF
them.
Father put down his pipe and star
ed at them, mother put up her hands
and said, "O1-h!" And Uncle George
laughed.
"Umph," he said $50 you're going
to run me in for wedding present
after all, you two?"
Ted looked idiotic, but vi only laugn-
ed.
Which two?" she asked and nodded
her head at us.
"Pooh!" said Uncle George. i've
known all along I'd have to give one
to Adam and Eve"
So of course they laughed at us In
stead Of laughing at Ted and vi. it
made me feel an awful fool and | was
half a mind to bolt, but Minnie was
looking as red as a carrot and it was
not likely l was going to make it
worse for her.
Rather" | said, I'm not such
fool as to quarrel with my-with my"
l stopped rather short, because
was in bit of hole.
Come" said Uncle George, you
aren't ashamed Of her, are your"
| don't know that Id have said 1t II
he had not said that, because hate
to be soppy, but wasn't going to let
anyone think was ashamed of Min.
Sweetheart" l said.
They giggled more than ever, but
Minnie tossed her nair back and
laughed and looked at them as If she
didn't care a button.
Yes" she said, and didn't she just
squeez my arm!
1t was pretty awkward for us at the
time. but it turned out a good thiag
afterward, for Uncle George went
out to the town after tea and came