Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-08-17

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WAL. yas, Miss
"My name Is Laura Fain."
Il hev always been fond O. the sci.
ence Of He paused; he suddenly re-
membered that poor white trash
were not usually versed In any Of the
sciences.
Astronomy" she supplied
"Waal. yas."
"How did you come to learn astron-
omy"
"Oh, I don't know nothen bout II"
he said quickly. II hearn a man at
Jasper taken onct He said heap o.
quar- things"
What bright star is that? pointing.
venus, l reckon"
Il wonder how far it Is from us?"
she said musingly.
Venus? Why. Venus Is sixty-eight
millions OF miles, l reckon"
II happen to know that's correct
answer
Mark suddenly became conscious Of
having forgotten himself He recol-
lected his critical position and resolved
to proceed with greater care.
-'How far is the moon?" asked Miss
Fain.
1.-THE moons hundred million miles.
l reckon"
"Oh. no. You're far out Of the way
there. It's only about two hundred
and forty thousand miles,"
"Waal, noww exclaimed Mark in
we'll feigned surprise.
She looked searchingly at him, but
Mark looked as if he had simply re-
ceived an interesting piece of informa-
ton.
"Do you like poetryT' she asked
changing the subject.
"Some'at."
"My favorite poet is Tennyson. Is
he yours too?"
This was dangerous ground for Mark.
He had a special fondness for poetry,
and was more likely to betray himself
On this than on any other subject
NO" be said: II love Shelley best"
"Why. Mr.. Slack. how can you I'm,
derstand Shelley? l can't"
"Waal. he is kinder obscurelike."
do you remember any Of his poems?
If you do would like to hear you re-
peat it,
"Waal, l mought give you a few
lines of the ode to the Spirit o Ma
ture'"
please do"
Mark would have done we'll to let the
lode to the Spirit Of Nature" alone;
but with a beautiful girl beside him,
the half moon sinking in the west and
all nature in repose, he momentarily
forgot his assumed character entirely.
Suddenly he awoke to the conscious
ness of having given the whole poem
In his natural tone and with his ordi-
nary accent
"Mr. Slack" said his listener when
he had finished, did you learn that
from a man in Jasper"
"No-no--I-waal," he stammered, 81
read it in book"
He stole glance at his companion,
but failed to detect any unusual ex-
preston on her face. He took courage.
"What do you raise on your planta-
tion?" she asked.
''Oh, we put in some potatoes and
corn and straw this year."
"Straw?"
mo. no: not straw" Mark was as
little conversant with the farmers art
as he was familiar with the poets. II
mean hay"
The girl looked at him and smiled.
1.-THE wheat was all gotten in early
this summer. / am told" she remarked
casually.
"Yas, we got in ourn early. We jest
finished up before l KEN away"
"Why, Mr.. Slack"
Mark knew that he had blundered
again.
wheat Is gathered In July" she in
formed the young farmer.
II mean the corn" he said wildly.
1.-THE corn comes later. 1t is ripen-
ing now"
Mark felt it was all up with him so
far as deceiving Miss Fain as to his
being farmer. but he struck out
boldly to undo some of the mischief.
"Waal, you see, Miss Fain. to tell
the whole truth, dad he don't reckon
much on my farmer. He says
ouchter be a perfessor or somep'n O.
that sort"
"a gentleman. for instance"
Mark made no reply. For the first
time he detected irony in her tone.
Mr.. Slack--if that is really your
name. which don't believe-you are
certainly not very complimentary to
my sense Of perception"
How so?"
"In trying to make me think you are
not an educated gentleman"
Mark saw the futility Of keeping up
the sham with Miss Laura Fain any
longer. He resolved to give her so
much Of his confidence as was neces-