The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-12-14
TWO OLD FOOLS.
BY J. A. TIFFANY

The only fault that Hiram Lamson
aad had TO find with Mira in all the
~ years OF their happy welded life
was her unreasonable and utterly
sroundless Jealousy There was hard,
y woman in all the countryside that
Jared speak TO Hiram or even look al
AIM Tor fear OF Mrs. Lamson berating
ner as ilirt or hussy and accusing
Der Of trying to steal Hiram away from
aer
From the blue one summer day
mere fell bolt that crashed through
me temple Of Hram's happiness and
Ell II shattered IN ruins around him.
AT supper Mira had announced her
Intention OF taking the old democrat
wagon and driving Dobbin to the city
g attend a revival meeting. Much to
lfiram's surprise and chagrin Mira had
aeclned his proffered escort.
After she had gone. Hiram sat dis
,onsolately on the side porch smoking
DIS pipe, until recalled TO earth by the
ringing Of the front door bell.
Passing to the hall. Hiram saw
through the plate glass in the front
door that. his visitor was merely an
Italian fruit vendor, and shook his
head al the man. As he was about 10
return 10 the side porch, Hiram no
nced piece of paper lying on the hall
floor He went forward and picked it
up.
What's this?" Hiram asked. as he
walked back to the porch "A letter.
oh ?-and torn in two. That's funny.
Mira's always so particular about the
/ way she saves her letters. Why, now.
who can be a-writin' to Mira like that
My darling Mira"
My darling Mira cannot go away
forever without seeing you for one
word Of farewell. II in your breast
there still burns one spark of the love
that you felt for me once, meet me at
half past eight o'clock tonight under
the blasted elm in Lovers walk. Grant
me this last prayer. my loved one, and
| will never trouble you again. Your
faithful lover, Claude"
SO this is the revival meetin' as
Mira's gone to? Gone to revive
guilty love for this fellow Claude
whoever he may be. Oh Mira. Mira,
This is why you've always pertended
to be so jealo.s OF me-you did il to
cover up your own wrongdoing.
Half past eight O'Clock, under the
blasted oak. | must get on my bike |
snd spin over there. | may be in time /
But look out for yourself Claude! III 1
Just put rawhide in my pocket, and /
III give you the gol-dingdest lambast-
Ing that man ever got on this side of |
the equator"
Lovers lane was the name given to
well-worn path that ran through a
piece Of woods about five miles from
the Lamson farm. The city TO which
Mira was supposed TO have gone to at
tend a revival meeting lay another FIVE
miles beyond the woods Hiram made
long detour so as TO approach the
trysting place from the back OF the
woods. instead of from the turnpike.
II still lacked 10 minutes Of the ap-
pointed time when he came within
sight Of the blasted elm.
In the gathering dusk Hiram espied
Mira. seated behind tree some 20
PAGES from the blasted elm. and he
heard the Whitney OF tie faithful Dob
bin. tethered somewhere near at hand.
Seems as eff Claude wasn't in such
a hurry to keep his appointment as
Miranda was. She came out here hot
loot to see that city dude. and there he
keeps her waitin' All. Mira. ! never
treated We that way It's pitiful-
downright pitiful TO see a woman of :
your years acting like this.
Aye. lass. could almost find ii in
ny heart to take and lift We into the
wagon and drive We straight home be-
ore We get a chance Of making a fool
II yerself before my eyes. I'd do it I
Ind forget the whole nights business
If il wasn't that I'm bound to ever
astingly knock the nourishment out % :
his fine gentleman Claude.
NO. | guess it's all over between ?
on and me. Miranda. don't think
We can ever live together after this
But I'll do the right thing by you. Mira Z
'ou shall have the old place and $4,000
n cash. Thatll leave me ample for q
ny needs. And Cont think s. 900 is
nough. either. You have done as o
luch as | have, Mira. toward saving y
hat we've got. I'll make IL $4,000 "a
,obody shall say as I'm stingy Well a
here isn't much for me 10 do around !"
ere. now All that's left Is to square a.
with Claude and Mira Then. N
his old man for Dawson"
At last IL seemed that Mira's pa ~
ence had given out. Hiram looked "a
/ his watch as she got up and started IN
II the by-road where he imagined she IN
nd left Dobbin tethered BY the light u
the full moon Hiram saw that il was 'e
M past nine. He got up. too. and IN
1iselessly followed Mrs. LGmson. re
ishing his bicycle along before him mi
Just as Mira was about to step into Sc
q wagon. Hiram. who had reached VIZ
n side unobserved. said: ~
let me help you. wife. guess III
ad my wheel into the wagon and
all drive home;togather.