Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-01-13

this flesh-and-blood Marian. One was
small and dark. with glowing red.
rose beauty, the other was tall, well
developed, daughter of the century
with hair smooth laid and deep blue
eyes. Yet they had one thing In
common, their voices. 1t was difficult
to tell which cousin was speaking un.
less the face was seen. and Horace
found his heart responding with dan.
| gerous frequency whenever the sec
ond Marian spoke. 1t brought back
all the pangs of three years back,
when he was poor, and obscure. Now
| he could offer woman more than
Tom, and ts knew he had developed
in other ways than in the direction of
his bank account. Still, as he had
then underestimate himself, so did
he now, and hesitated as the weeks
slipped by, for the little romance con.
tinued through the summer, and Mrs.
Evans, to say nothing of Tom. helped
1t on with all her heart.
The summer drifted away, leaving
beautiful memories of delightful days,
and yet Horace knew he was storing
up for himself such unhappiness as
he had never known before, if he was
not to succeed He had loved the
Marian Hastings he had thought Mrs.
Evans was, but when he Let her
cousin he knew that the latter was
his ideal, for outside Of his admiration
for Nell Evans, he had always pre-
ferred blondes; he himself was very
dark, and tall women to those Of
small proportions.
is he never going TO speak?" Nell
asked Tom more than once, but Tom,
remembering how hard 1t had been
for him to realize that he had won
Nell, sympathized. and longed to give
comfort, but did not know exactly
how to administer the dose.
Matters were in this state when
Mrs. Nell resolved upon master
stroke. "l'll do It," she decided, and
shook her pretty head. although
suppose it is going outside the limit
Of the law, but then Ais fair in love
or war and she laughed softly, and
hCA DOt GtGll tdhluS 1Ou
into her confidence.
That very afternoon, delightfully."-
warm Sunday In early September, she
managed to get Horace and Marian
into the little summer parlor with
windows opening on the side veranda.
Then when they were. absorbed in
each other, although sitting In that
somewhat silent communion which
comes to those who are mentally
mated. she stole up on the veranda,
of the lace curtains into her be-ringed
little hands moment later she
fairly scuttled back to the main YER
anda where Tom was blissfully nap
ping, and picked up the book she had
abandoned She did not see a word
Of the printed words, however, and
she was as pale as death, this gor
geous little rose, until she heard a
long, thrilling scream. 1t was what
she had been waiting for.
Wake up, Tom, quick" she cried,
shaking her husband. Marian Is
screaming; something has happened"
Tom was on his feet in an instant,
and the two ran into the house, guided
by the screams, which were loud and
insistent Throwing open the door of
the summer parlor, Nell gave little
sobbing laugh, and then dropped her
head on her husbands arm, shaking
with laughter.
Marian was standing, her skirts
drawn about her, gazing with terror
upon spider while Horace was lean
ing back in his chair laughing until
fairly faint.
DO stop" he pleaded between
gasps.
"A spider does make me so nervous.
I'm afraid will kill it by mistake,
and yet / can always feel them crawl
ing on me-" and Marian stopped
screaming long enough to shudder.
Tom and Nell were silent, and Nell
gave a glance toward the lace cur
tains. They were still floating, al
though their lower edge was slightly
singed.
Don't scream any more" Horace
said very gently, although his voice
was a little weak from excessive
laughing. Marian, I'm awfully glad
you showed me that there is weak
spot in your armor, for now am not
afraid any longer. You come right
here and sit down. There are no
spiders here, but me, and you must
listen to what am going to tell
you"
There was q determined mastery in
his voice, and he led he to seat.
snow, Marian dear, / love you, and
! you must know 1t, for I've shown 1t
plain enough" Horace commenced, all
unconscious of Tom and Nell. The
latter, realizing that the end she de-
sired had come to pass, drew her
husband softly from the room, whis-
pering as they stole through the hall:
sBless the dears; It's all right
now"
Tom had noticed the burnt edges of
the curtain, and vague suspicion
came into his mind II say, Nell, you
didn't set fire to those curtains just
to bring those two together, did your"
he asked when they were reseated.
Never mind what ! did," Mrs. Ev.
ans said quite sternly; "they are
happy now, and I'm SO glad" and
| tnen she began to cry for pure JOY.
His Mother Was Lady.
| uas Shakesueare's mothers family