The sun., 1908-01-11
Tie Married TO Test a Theory.

Mr.. Grover Clay's story OF Hester OF
the Hills" IL. {. Page 4 Co.. Boston, will
be found 10 be an outspoken tale. We
road that Sidney Stanton. who had reached
the age OF 40 years, went into the Ozark
Mountain country, whore he had pur-
chased a great area Of wild land. He was
slender; he wore spectscles; but the noun
iaineers soon learned that this was no
chicken that had Ventured itself among
the eagles. Big Pug Benson had squatted
on Sianton's land. He was cutting down
the white oaks. Stanton requested him TO
dpsist Pug laughed eRiably and al
lowed that he thought he would keep on.
.Stanton's observation in reply was sur
prisinC Stanton said: If I ever catch
You swinging your axe against my white
oak I'll swing this cane across tho seat
og your brceches so thoroughly that you
will have no use for chair until the blue
birds come" Pug arose. He grinned.
He advanced upon Stanton. his right arm
drawn back for a swinging blow. Stanton
lsaTed forward Hike a fash. With both
hands me seized Pug's left wrist. A Awreuch.
and the arm was dislOcated.
The fame Of the deed went quickly
abroad. Steuben Wallace's daughter Hes
ter was much impressed by il. Hester was
going on IS. stanton studied Hester. He
admired her physique. He thought that
with opportunity she would show herself
capable Of certain improvement. He af-
forded the opportunity. She improved.
In three months. we think it was, she was
transformed into an adorable young lady
She did admirably and amazingly at every
thing hut mathematics. We made note Of
bofa
There was a midsummer nights festival
At the fine house where Hester had been
improved young man from ST. Louis
invited her into the garden after the dane
ing. They sat on II bench we'll shaded from
the moon. The beau stretched hiSarm along
the back Of the bench and allowed his hand
to fall upon that one of her shoulders which
was furthest from him. Come he whis-
pered, only the moon can see, and she
won't tell" Her response was startling.
DIRTY dOg!' she cried. She added action
to observation. Plainly she remembered
the prowess of Stanton. We read In an
Instant she had clapped both her hands
on his. like the forepaws Of cat clutching
a mouse. and jumped to her feet. twisting
his fore and middle fingers in her viselike
grip until. wrenched from their knuol,les
the offending members hung Imply in their
joints. Then she flung his arm aside and de-
liberately began to wipe her hands in the
patch Of lace that with his hand she had
torn from her shoulder. Calm and with all
fear vanished lshe had drunk some punch
and had been a trihe dazed and just a little
afraid, she eyed her opponent as she per-
formed this cleansing process at utmost
leisure. and having finished she threw the
worked up pellet into the face Of the miser-
able man. who squirmed upon the bench
bowling with pain. As the woman erect
and ready. stood scornfully before him,
the man struggled to his feet and with a
ribald oath approached and raised the
clenched fist Of his other arm. Touch mo
and I'll tear your throatr The man halted
and the woman saw he dared not
The story has plenty of surprising Incl
dent. IL is related sharply and with humor.
Stanton married Hester at the end Of her
three months Of polite cultivation. He
took her TO Europe. She was jealous. He
had his hands full. but he was a strong
man and hs seemed to like It. We repeat
that the tale is outspoken. Stanton was
a theorist. He married az be did in order
to test a theory. His experience was re-
markable. 1t will engage the interest OF
the reader.