The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-09-05
BOOMERS
LESSON.
BY w. r. Bryan.
Copyrighted. 1907, by M. NJ. Cunningham.

Up ahead a twinkllng lantern, swung
from the running gear of the govern
or's" light buggy, marked out the way.
At the crossroads the light turned
sharply to the left, and Ben Bogner
skillfully threw his four horse team
around the corner, and the pole wagon
ratified and bumped along the new pike.
Like the children Of Israel, Quintard
Bros colossal circus and mastodon me-
nagerie followed pillar OF cloud by
day and Of fire by night. In the night
time the swinging lantern was the
pilot, and in the daylight the smoke
from Gil Quintards huge cigar served
a similar purpose.
The new road had recently been re-
paired by the simple process of shovel
Ing the sides into the middle and let
ting the passing wagons beat 1t to
level The heavily loaded wagon
lurched from side to side, and Ben
stopped humming mo Wedding Bells
and began to curse, not loudly, but
fervently, the road committee of Blash-
ford township.
The other wagons, following In close
order, Jared even worse, for the lighter
loading increased the pitching, and
presently from the rear of the carryall
woman slipped out and ran ahead to
where Bogner was still explaining to
himself the tortures he would like to
inflict upon the men who had mussed
up the road.
Give me hand, Ben" she called.
Bogner, without pulling up, leaned over
and held out his hand. The girl grasp
ed 1t at the wrist, while his fingers
closed about her slender arm.
"Upw She gave spring and swung
Into place beside him on the broad seat.
This Is the worst this season." she
said. with laugh, as she looked over
the road, now cleaning as red as the
eastern sky. "None of us could sleep
in the wagon, so slipped out TO ride
with you"
"Why didn't you go to Tony?' be
asked ungraciously. you'll have that
dago knitting me yet"
"Pshaw! she demurred, with an ad-
miring glance at the huge muscles that
showed under the gauze shirt you
could break Tony In two
"Mebbe," he assented as he glanced
over his shoulder to where Tony AS
pirate, their trapezist and wire walker,
drove the first seat wagon Every one
worked with the Quintard show Bog
ner was the principal rider and did
the heavy juggling, to say nothing OF
magical act In the concert. BESSIE
Setback also did a riding act and
worked with Tony In the double ira
neze. besides doing a musical act for
the concert In addition, the men had
to help raise the tent and drive the
wagons on the jumps, while the wom-
en- performers cooked.
Though he was pleased at the pref
erence Bessie showed for him, Bogner
was none the less uneasy. He had no
intention of marrying, and he knew
that Tony worshiped the ground the
girl walked on, but Bessie preferred
Ben and was not backward In display
ing her choice.
She clung to his arm now as they
bumped over the rough road and drank
deep fresh morning air. isn't 1t spien-
did," she asked as she looked across
the green fields to where the red flush
of the sky was slowly turning to gold
"Pretty fair" assented Ben. Down
In his heart he loved the long, quiet
nights and the slow coming dawn. 1t
a wagon show when he could nave
Travelled with a railroad organization
with sleeper berth instead OF the
wagon seat. Looks like it's going to
be good day"
"Some day want to come to place
like this and live" she said, with a
Sigh. 81 want to have nice little
farm, with chickens and a horse and
all that sort of thing"
and you'd eat your heart out with
lonesomeness," he concluded.
you're always spelling things, she
said as she drew away as far as the
seat would permit 81 never saw
man like you
go to Tony" he urged Hes got
the gift of CAB. He can talk as foolish
as you can"
HE talks only about himself she
said. with shrug of the shoulders.
Bogner grinned He knew very well
that she would not GO II wish you
had his appreciation of things"
Bogner laughed his slow laugh and
handed her his pipe to fill. Il guess
one poet is enough with one ring cir
Gus" he said slowly. "Tonys death on
poetry"
He struck q match and held 1t over
the bowl, putting until the white clouds
surrounded his head as with a halo.
"All the same" he went on, "Tony's a
pretty decent chap, and he's dead gone
on you. / amt ever goin' to get mar
ried."
Pm not coaxing you to-" she said,
with a toss Of her head. IL guess l
can get along without either you or