Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-09-22

should come up to the house for some
supper" said McCloud, dryly. 81
could have taken camp fare with
the men. Gordon stayed there with
him."
Dicksie held his hat in her hand,
and her eyes were bright in the fire.
light. Puss must have thought the
| two made a handsome couple, for she
fingered, as she started for the kitch-
en-, to look back.
"Puss," exclaimed her mistress, "fry
chicken right away! A big one.
Puss! Mr. McCloud is very hungry,
know. And be quiek, do! Oh, how is
the river, Mr.. McCloud?"
Behaving like a lamb 1t hasn't
to be off the bank, if you know what
that means?"
''You must be a magician! Things
changed the minute you camel"
''The last doctor usually gets credit
for the cure, you know"
ooh, l know all about that. Don't
you want to freshen up? Should you
mind coming right to my room? Mari
on is in hers" explained Dicksie, land
am never sure. of Cousin Lance's-
he has so many boots"
When she had disposed of McCloud
she flew to the kitchen. Puss was
starting after a chicken. "Take a
lantern, Puss!" whispered Dicksie, We
hemently.
mo, indeed; dis niger dom need
no lantern TO chickens, Miss Dicksie."
"But get good one, Puss, and make
haste, do! Mr.. McCloud must be
starved! Where is the baking pow
der? I'll get the biscuits started"
Puss turned fiercely. Now look-a
heah, yo' can't make biscuits Yo'
jes' go Sc down wifi dat young
gen'm'n! Jes' femme lone, eff yo'
please! Dis amt de frs time l
killed chickens, Miss Dicksie, an
made biscuits. Jes' clair out an Sc
down! Place FIR young ladies is in de
parlor! OF Puss can cook supper
FIR one man yet-ef she has to-"
ooh, yes, Puss, certainly, l know, of
course; only, get nice chicken!" and
with the parting admonition Dicksie,
smoothing her hair wildly, fastened
back to the living room.
But the harm was done. Puss, more
excited than her mistress, lost her
head when she got to the chicken-yard,
and with sufficiently bad results. When
Dicksie ran out a few moments after
ward for a glass of water for Nc
| Cloud, Puss was calmly wiping her
| hands, and in the sink lay the CULVER
:! ing form of young Caesar. Dicksie
caught her favorite up by the legs and
suppressed a cry. There could be no
mistake. She cast burning look on
Puss. 1t would do no good to storm
now. Dicksie only wrung her hands
and returned to McCloud
He rose in the happiest mood He
could not see what torment Dicksie
was in, and took the water without
asking himself why it trembled in her
hand. Her restrained manner did not
worry him, for he felt that his fight at
the river was won, and the prospect
of fried chicken composed him. Even
the long hour before Puss, calm and
inviting In white cap and apron, ap-
4 peared to announce supper, passed
like dream. When Dicksie rose to
lead the way to the dining room, Nc
Cloud walked on air; the high color
about her eyes intoxicated him. Not
till half the fried chicken, with many
compliments from McCloud, had disap-
peared, and the plate had gone out for
the second dozen biscuits did he notice
Dicksie's abstraction.
I'm sure you need worry no longer
about the water" he observed, reas.
suringly 81 think the worst of the
danger is past"
Dicksie looked at the tabIecloth
with wide-open eyes. 81 feel sure that
it is. l am no longer worrying about
that"
IT'S nothing 1 can do or leave un.
done, is it?" asked McCloud, laughing
little as he implied in his tone that
she must be worrying about some
thing.
Dicksie made a gesture of alarm
ooh, no, no; nothing!"
'It's a pretty GOOD plan not to
worry about anything"
'Do you think SOP
why, we all thought so last night
Heavens!" McCloud drew back in his
chair 81 never offered you a piece OF
chicken! What have I been think
ing of"
"Oh, I wouldn't eat it anyway ]
cried Dicksie.
you wouldn't? It is delicious. D.
have a plate and a wing at least.
Really, could not bear to think Q
It," she said, pathetically.
He spoke lower. Something Il
troubling you. 1 have no right to
confidence, 1 know" he added, taking
biscuit.
Her eyes fell to the floor. 1T i
nothing. Pray, don't mind me. Ma,
fill your cup?" she asked, LOOKING
al