Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-01-01


streets for a couple Of blocks around.
To get nome she would have to force
her way through the crowd.
Carefully she counted the small
change In her purse and closed it, with
a sigh. 1t would never do to waste
car fare for the short ride. She had
fingered at the Office to clean up her
work in preparation for New Years.
1t would be no happy New Years for
her, for the trial balances she had so
neatly copied showed that no profit
had been made and as soon as the re-
ceiver could be brought in her work
would be done. To spend cents to es-
cape the crowd would be an extrava-
gance.
AS she tidied up her desk and laid
the typewriter sheets on the desk in
the bookkeeper's cage she thought OF
the year before, when she and JEFF
had come down to hear the chimes.
They were to have been married in
the spring, but JEFF had been offered
a position In California and had gone
out promising to send home for her.
Then his letters suddenly stopped with
one announcing that he had married a
half breed woman with a gold mine to
replace physical attractions.
1t would be very different tonight
with no one to forcb way through
the crowd for her. She buttoned her
shabby coat tightly about her and
made her way downstairs. Some of
the cleaners shouted out happy New
Year after her, and she called back,
but her voice was tired and listless.
There was none of the holiday spirit In
her heart
Once past the revolving doors, she
was caught up in the crowd and car
ried along In the human tide. At the
corner they struck cross current of
humanity that forced her into niche
between two huge pillars. Here she
was discovered by a crowd of rollick-
ers who, with half drunken good hu-
NOR, insisted that she join their party.
She shrank back into the shadow,
but her tormentors would not be balk-
ed of their prey and pressed forward.
One Of them Laid his hand upon her
arm, and, with a frightened cry. she
sought to wrench herself free. A
burst of rude laughter that greeted
her effort was stopped short as
brawny arm reached over and caught
the bully's collar. There was quick
exchange of blows. and then. with
last shout, they were swallowed up In
the crowd Ruth looked up to thank
her protector and encountered Jeffer-
son Berrian's gaze.
"Pve found your he cried eAuIting
ly. 81 knew that should. had
presentiment that If l came down here
should find YOU"
II was detained at the office" she ex-
planned. 81 was going home"
"Alonev' he cried Indignantly. why
didn't your husband come for your
my husband? she laughed. Where
did you get that Information
First hand. suppose" he said. "At
least had letter from you in which
you explained that you were tired of
waiting and had married Bronson
Deering."
Il never even heard of such per
son, she denied.
Here it is he said as he reached
into his pocket and drew out a wallet.
He placed letter in her hand. The
folds were scanned by friction. but In
the light from the interior of the
building she could make out its con.
tents.
That looks like my handwriting"
she said when she had done. "but
never wrote any such letter When
did you go TO WyomingT" she added as
she studied the envelope and noted