The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-03-23
CHAPTER Xxi.

~ odlst church Nat hesitated
" The building was dimly light
ed. for it was choir practice
night. and the door was ajar. but he
couldn't bring himself to enter.
Raving and ranting with the ex-
travagance of youth. he passed through
the village. out into the open country,
and. in the course of an hour and n
half. back. all blindly, circling back to
the store. in the course Of his wander
ngS. as instinctively us Il carrier pigeon
shapes its course for home.
1t was with incredullty that he found
himself again In that cheerful. cher.
ished. homely place. But there he was
when he came out of his abstraction
there in those familiar surroundings.
with Traceys round red face beamine
at him over the cigar stand like u
lively counterfeit OF the round red
moon he had watched lift up into the
skies, back there in the still country.
side. just as he paused TO turn back to
town
lie recollected his faculties and re
sumed command of himself sufficiently
TO acknowledge Tracey's greeting with
n moody word
IAN right. Tracey" he said abrupt.
ly. you may go now. ri shut up the
store"
tie .OOKpd at ms watch aud was sur
prised to discover that IL was no later
than half past 3 He seemed to have
lived II lifetime in the last few hours
Thank you. sir" said Tracey. with n
i'ush Of gratitude. "I'll be glad to get
olf Angles waitin'"
"AngieF"
Good evening, Mr. Duncan"
"Oh, Miss Tuthill" Nat discovered
that little rogue. all smiles and dim.
Piles and bushes. not distant from his
elbow. 81 didn't see you-l was think.
ing"
Guess we know what you was
thinkin' about" observed Tracey
bringing his hat round the counter
Everybody in towns talkin' about It. -
About what|
"Ah. you know about what. and
were mighty glad of 1t, and we want
10 congratulate you, don't we. Angler
"Oh. yes, indeed. Mr.. Duncan. It's
just TOO sweet for anything"
20 Lord" groaned Nat.
I'm awful glad you done II when
you did" pursued Tracey, oblivious to
Nat in his own ecstatic temper 81
guess wouldn't never we got up the
spunk toto tell Angle what ! did to
night Z II hadn't been we was talkln
bout your engagement to Josie Then
somehow, II just seemed to bust right
out of me, like ! couldn't hold 1t no
longer. Didn't 1t, Angler"
"Oh, Tracey. how can you talk sov
Then you're engaged, tooT' Nat In
quired, rousing himself little and
smiling feebly upon them
"Yes. SIR"
I'm glad to hear II. It's great news
Now. run along, both of you, and dom
forget you'll never be so happy again
With what he thought an expiring
fash OF humor he raised his hands
above their heads. BLESS you. my
children!" he said solemnly, "Now. fol
heavens sake, beat itp'
Alone he went to the prescription
desk and. opening one of the drawers
took out the firms books. After tha
for some fifteen minutes there was
nothing to be heard in the store save
| Mats breathing and the scratching OF
his pen as he figured out a trial bal
ance.
Brisk FOOTBALLS disturbed him. Ill
sighed and moved out into the stor'
TO find Kellogg there. suaye and easy
as always. yet with that In his man
ner. perceptible perhaps only to q
friend of long standing like Nat. to be
tray mind far from complacent
"Oh, you're herer' he cried. with
distinct start of relief "I've been look
Ing all over for you