Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-06-02

TN ttTed OF INC game, ana you interest
mo no longer"
been talk some bout Necia, an 1t ain
aice talk ncider."
"Who is hep exclaimed the soldier
in tone that made the girls heart
leap.
swat! Lemme toll you wat he say;
den we'll talk bout feex i'm plaintee.
He say dere's joke down on Stark's
saloon dat Necia Gale Is max fool OF
herself on you an dat you ain care for
marry her."
"Runnion" cried Burrell and started
for the door. "Til settle with him now
for fart" But Polcon blocked his
way and, observing him gravely, con-
tinucd in II tone that the other could
not disregard nor mistake:
mo, m'sieu. Before you pass on dat
place you'll toll me If it's true.''
'True!' the lieutenant retorted an.
-grily. What business is 1t of yours?
This concerns me-"
IAN me too! I'm wat you call gar
deem for Necia till John Gale come
back, an I'm broder of her too. You
promis' jus now you don get mad, an
don suy she's ltunnion neider wat
spik dose ting. Dere's more dan lin
been tallsin' Is it trueT'
His sternness offended Burrell, for
the soldier was not the kind to dis
cuss his affairs in this way; therefore
he drew back. scowling.
"Poleon Doret." he said, Its not
.pne's enemies who do him injury; It's
his ID fool friends. have learn
ed to regard you highly, because you
are Il brave man and an honest one,
but it seems that you are q sentimental
idiot"
Dem is tough word" Doret replied
Put dere's reason wy can't tax Oh
no madness. You say I'm homes.
you wit fair words. am show my
han to you'll don hol' out no cards.
m'sieu'-but don t'ink It is you who
have play square altogeder. I'm Ne
cia's frien', an III fight for her jus
so .queeckerS lax you, but mus know
dis ting for sure. SO If you have de
good heart an de courage of good man
you'll tell me de truth. Do you have
the feelin for marry on herr
The pause that followed was awk-
ward for both of them. while the girl
who stood concealed near by, held her
breath and buried her nails in her
palms Why did he hesitatn? Would
he never speak?
II am amazed at myself for listening
to youf' he said at last, land quite
shocked, IN fact, at my answering your
questions, but perhaps I'd better, after
ALL First, however, let me say that
the little girl is just as pure now as
she was before she knew me-"
Poleon threw up lis hand. "M'sieu,
OATS more closer to de insult dan
wat you call me JUS now. You dom
need for spoke it."
you're right. There's no need to
tell you that. AS for showing her GER
tain attentions-well,.i I admit that I
have. as you know; but, thank God, I
can say I've been gentleman and ad-
dressed her as would the fairest lady
I've known"
"An' you mean for marry, eh?'
probed the other.
II did not say 3d." Burrell declared
Mt last. Its a thing can't discuss,
because I doubt If you could under
stand what would say. This life of
yours is different from mine, and 1t
would be useless for me to explain the
reason why cannot marry her. Leav-
ing out all question of my sentiment,
there are insurmountable obstacles to
such u union. But, us to this talk,
think that can be stopped without an
noyance to her, and, as for the rest,
we, must trust to time to bring about
proper adjustment
A low, discordant sound of laughter
arrested his words, and, turning, he be-
held Necia standing revealed in the
dimness.
"What an amusing person you are"
she said. '.I'vc had hard work hold
Ing In I'LL this time willie you were tor
turing your mind and twisting the
honest English language out of shape
and meaning. knew should have