Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-08-22
(sPyMlM. 1902. BY W. \. NEAR5r
GRAY bRlJa,N hIc,

viz peas iOT ulIllcT, uOu l t:llk seen
NONSENSE"
Madge put the plates down with I'M
necessary force and turned to face the
speaker.
I'm not talking nonsense she main
tanned. III l can't marry Il man of my
tastes, l shall marry none"
Mrs. Tompkins shifted. Gracious
sakes!" she calculated. "t.any IL girl
nd jump at the chance of marrying
that there Jim Hobbs. He's got the
incest farm
What do 1 care about his ARM"
MadGe bit her lips and he vivid color
fiamed in her cheeks.
Here Mrs. Hunter interposed. II
quite agree with Madge." she said
quietly. There is no hurry about her
marrying, I'm sure"
Mrs. TOmpkins was silent for a mo-
hmcnt. Then she pursued. II amt de-
hyin as you folks Is the most dedicated
people in Cedarville-'cept the Drews
of course-an' l know 1t amt nat'ral
1or We to take up with the common
folks But what ye goin' to do? 1 say
Madge is foolish not to go with the
young people or have n pleasure like
The rest of EN-. The only folks she no.
ticcs is the Drews an though they do
think a lot of her. l should think she'd
git tired jist a talkin' to old folks. Say,
look here, now. Mndge. they amt no
city Teller comm to this yerc place to
sECttI tIc StcIlCTJ, 50 uOI L YOU III 10
waitin' fer him.
Madge's eyes flashed n Brilliant blue.
II do not understand you. Mrs. Tomp-
Eiiis, l am waiting for no one. What
do you mean?"
Land sakes! Don't get so riled up.
l wuz jist teaZin' We
Madge left the room and disappeared
among the trees in the garden.
There was Il silence in the kitchen
me next moment a sound OF whisiling,
clear. sweet. birdliSe. came to the ears
OF the two women.
Both paused to listen.
That's Madge." said Mrs. Hunter,
smiling. Isn't it queer? She always
whistles when she wishes TO throw Off
amy unpleasa thoughts"
IF Madge could sing now. She might
maize something of herself an nave all
ccdaiville proud of her. But whistlinIl
never 90 her no good"
Perhaps not. bat she enjoys it,
Mrs. Tomp.Sins must have felt the
chill in the mental atmosphere. for she
arose suddenly, and ufhislsed her sun
bonnet from II nail. Just then Madyc
re-entered the room.
Mrs. Tompkins gave her a good ma
tured .-rin.
"Whistlin' girls an bleatin' sheep
are the poorest property a man can
keep she quoted warningly. BY
bye: the ironin' is waitin' fey me Mt
- esoit oOolI.
NO doubt murinured Ma1ge, Il
ing her small fist at the rctreating fig
uie.
Then the girl flung herself down by
ner mother. How long must this
last" she cried. 20 mamma.
when will we live among c~ongeniai
people,"
I'VE have each other and father.
dear"
II IL it" Madge faltered. Salt
tears stung her eyes. Her mother spoke
again.
If your aunt and Uncle Copely would
only send for you to come to New
York, wouldn't it be-"
oh. those Copelys." cried Madge.
"They think only of their wealth and
society. They ignore the fact of our
existence. 1 wouldn't visit them for the
world-but they are not likely to ask
me-" She laughed bitterly. mo one in
Cedarviile would. believe we had rela-
fives such as the Copelys. and who
Mould blame them for doubling it?
They never see us benefited by uncle's
riches. FOR my part 1 have never men,
toned the name of Copely to anyone
here"
Nor nave l."
A silence.
Come. Madge. it's time you were
taking Mrs; Drew that pattern l prom
The girl sighed and arose to do her
mothers bidding. The big old ramb-
ling house where the Drews lived was
not very far distant and Madge was
soon nearing the gate. AS she glanced
Mrs. Drew was not sitting in her ac-
cushioned rocker sewing. She must be
IN the house. thought Madge. Then
she paused. There Is Father Drew out
in the hammock. I'll speak to him first.
The girl went out under the trees.
where the hammock half htH1an l,,
dropping branches. was swaying gently
to n fro. A newspaper covered the
face Of Its occupant.
Good morning. Mr.. Drcw!' she call
cd Driehtly. Whe ts your wife? l
She stopped short in sudden alarm.
Mr.. Drew's hands were old and wrink-
led. but the ham that appeared from
under the newspaper was very smooth
and Q beautiful gem glittered on one
sternatton. but just then the newspaper
rustied and the supposed head OF Mr..
Drew came to view. 1t was brown and
shapely.
The next moment she found herself
gazing down into the face of a strange
her blue ones, fully. Madge Thought
them the hancsomest eyes she had ever
seen.
He abandoned the hammock at once.
Pardon me"-hiE smile was fasci-
nat!nE-"you wish to see Mrs. Drew? ~
Yes thought you--of -course-cer-
Madge was very angry with herself
mr. bertying her confusion. She would
not have carea 70 much had she known
how chnrmtl,y! b looked.
They fund Mrs. Drew in the sittin.
room. Is that you, Nadge? Glad YOU
came dear" smiled the old lady. Mr.
Hunter. my nephew. Hugh ravremre