The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-08-24

not help but admire it. since every
body had said; 1t was neat and nice.
STAND uD and let me see." II
He" did SO promptly, looking down
at himself, pleased. .l::.>.
Eth heh!" she said, smiling as he,
hunor. -. -. -. ~
he asked. "a s. = ~. L
Turn round -. 49,
He obeyed, pleased that she took
such interest in the suit.
Does it fit?" + y. -. ~
| mel, wouldn't have it," she broke
out. 1T fits horribly-worst. I ever
saw on you. I would not have it. I'd
take it back and have him make an :
other. I never saw such a fit! You
look awful in it,
| do II"
I And he sat down completely
crushed. What did she mean? Was
she ridiculing him? Was she trying
to make him feel little? Was she
trying to hurt him on purpose? In
short, was she trying to break with
him?
Her plain, unmistakable words cut
him to the very quick. He did not
like 1t. He was not angry, he did not
hate, her; but he was displeased and
distressed.
Not another word was said about
the suit, and he soon found occasion
to return home. Never aain did he
wear the suit when calling on her, and
| she never asked him the reason. He
supposed she knew why she did not.
A few days later he set out in
buggy to Kalida, eight miles away,
where Floss uncle lived and near
where his parents lived, to attend the
funeral Of a relative. He had but one
hour in which to make the distance,
but with a. swift horse he could easily
do. that. It was Sunday afternoon.
Though he had no definite agreement
to call on her of Sunday evenings, yet
he had always done so, and he knew
she would expect him on this Sunday
evening. So he drove up to tell her
he would not be there, and give his
reason. He also notified her that as
ne had not seen his parents for
long time he would spend an hour or
so with them after the funeral.
At once she proposed to go with
him, and urged it so persistently, de-
spite his hurry that he could not re-
fuse.
Can you get ready quick?" he
urged.
Did you ever know a. girl that
couldn't get ready in a minute?"
"No-o-o-o, I guess not"
"Ill hurry
you must for time is short"
She dar ted back into the house as
If she meant to fulfill her words, and
ne waited In the buggy at the gate
Time flew. He waited impatiently.
but he waited without a sword. It
was almost one hour before she re-
appered, ready to go. She was all
smiles when she ran out Of the gate
and was helped into the buggy.
The trip was not exactly pleasant
to either. He had one oppressed
sense of leaving had his plans all up
least concerned about the yexing de-
lay. He was half disposed to believe
she did 1t on purpose. In this he was
mistaken, OF course. But neither re-
ferred to the delay.
When they arrived at the little brick
church in Kalida the funeral services
were almost over. They simply heard
the conclusion. However, they wit
messed the burial =. in the MARBLE
marked little cemetery, and heard the
solemn rattle of the clods upon the
corpse.
Twill you go with me to visit nv
parents few minutes?" Mel asked
as he again helped her into the buggy
and all the people were preparing to
leave.
mo-"
I would like to see them, as I've
not seen them for a long time"
II won't CO."
Shall leave You here at the hotel
till return In an hour for you?"
mo. You shall not go. I won't
walt here. You must take me back
at once"
This decisiveness struck him as un-
reasonable, and he felt hurt. Why
would she not let him visit his par
ents nor go with him? Was she try
ing to offend him, or was she DUR
posely crossing him? Was she find
ing fault with him personally? Or
was she simply stubborn? Or was she
trying to run" him in a highhanded
way? Or was she doing it merely
because she could?
Il will not be gone long," he urged.
you've got to take me back at
once"
And he had it to do. He yielded,
but perhaps not gracefully. He felt
she might have made little sacrifice
: for him. Indeed her conduct in this
matter is scarcely to be explained.
This incident widened the growing
breach between them, and he felt that
If she led him such life when mar