Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-02-22
CHAPTER II.-continued.


What's your-friend like?" asked
Miss Cynthia interestedly.
Hes a kinder forlorn-like young
man that paints pictures what are
plumb uplifting fer other folks to see.
They are jest out and out surprising.
When l seen his heart was so sot on
the barn to work in-I Jest amt one
to hold out against other folks hank
ering fer what's mine, and so-lands
alive, there he comes nowl"
Up from the river over the Bluff
came the forlorn one, and the two or
three minutes he consumed in strid-
ing across the lot to the grocery door
Miss Cynthia spent in paralyzed re-
gard Of him
He was tall and broad and had a
square chin and laughing dark eyes.
So much she could see, but further de.
tails were obscured, for perched on his
right shoulder was the Blossom. nod.
ding like flower in the breeze, and
on his left arm bobbed Carrots of the
flaming hair. To one kHickerbockered
leg chung Bonnie Dobbs, while the
pocket on. his other side sagged with
the wounded hand of Ethel Maud,
who ran to keep up with the process
sion.
In due time they arrived at the foot
of the steps on which stood Miss Gym
th4a. still hypnotized with surprise, and
Miss Selma Lue, anxious to do the
honors in the way of an introduction.
The swaying of the Blossom and her
clutch of his hair had hid Miss Gym
thia from the sight of the artist, and
his surprised eyes took In the radiant
vision in white linen and large rose
garden hat with such a start that
there threatened rain of babies on
Miss Selma Lue's devoted head.
Make you 'quainted with Miss Gym
THE, Mr.. Alan-not as that's his last
name. as is Kent, but we feel so friend
ly with him now we compliment him
with his first. Miss Cynthie, please
take Blossom SO he can put Carrots In
his box; he is most droze of and am
afraid he will drop often his arm. I've
got to git bucket of lard and some
starch fer Mis- Dobbs fer she is in SIGH
a hurry"
Miss Selma Lue's energetic treat.
ment of the situation released Miss
Cynthia's motor nerves and she be-
came once more herself, a very sweet,
cool, formal self that acknowledged
the introduction with graceful aloof-
ness. This most appropriate attitude
toward the strange young man was
somewhat modified by having to de-
scend to the step above that upon
which he stood in order that she might
get possession Of Blossom who was
dropping toward her with an en-
chanted gurgle. AS Miss Cynthia
raised her arms she also raised her
long lashes a fraction. and inadyer~
tently let forth a CLEAN Of mischiev-
GUS amusement that sent little tongues
of flaming embarrassment all over
the still dumb Mr.. Kent.
1t was enough to floor any man to
find suddenly that girl was laughing
at Eim-and such girl in such a hat
OF course he realized that he looked
like a new style perambulator, but
what-The arm that steadied Blossom
trembled and she was about to be low
cred into the embrace of her waiting
friend, when with a little squeal and
a scornful kick of one pink foot she
clutched determinedly a shock of his
black hair and absolutely refused to
leave her perch. In vain Miss Gym
thia wooed with outstretched hands:
Blossom held to her coign of vantage.
A mean little feeling of qualification
cooled the embarrassment in Mr..
Kents veins, and he said gently. too
meekly perhaps: Try lower down.
Carrots will, am sure, be more amen
able to the-th-charm' And he
rolled that very sleepy young gentle
man into her outstretched arms.
A CLEAN of vexadon was all the re-
turn he got for the trick he had played
on her, and with a shrug of dismissal
for both Blossom and him. Miss Gym
thia turned and mounted the steps
and made her way to the back of the
store.
Rage, yes, actual rage was boiling
within her as she laid the heavy baby
on the pillow and threw the mosquito
netting over him. The mans calm as
sumption of an intimate friendship
with Miss Selma Lue and the babies
and the grocery, and she had almost
included herself, was uncomfortable
And Blossom, who had always been
overjoyed at her attentions, refusing
to leave him for herself was the last
straw
But, even worse, could the man have
meant to insinuate that she was con-
sciously exerting a charm, for him,
over Blossoms shoulder? The mers
suspicion of such thing settled mat
tiers! With her head in the air she
walked to the front Of the store and
demanded a paper Of tacks. which
Miss Selma Lue FASTENED to wrap up
for her. all unmindful OF the proximi-
ity of the volcano.
Il do wish you didn't have to 90,
Miss Cynthie, honey. was Jest co11t-
ing on your setting with US awhile
TO git 'quainted with Mr.. Alan. He do
talk so interesting about pictures and
things we don't know nothing about.
You can learn heap from him. Why.
Hr. Dobbs was a-saying Jest last night
that the things he tells Us about are
plumb educating. Yc- must come
down often TO see him" And within
y~-7 Of Miss selma Lue stood the