Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-05-04
IN" growled the young man

Your girl. she mebbe meant like
yess when she said no." comforted Ma
than as he poked busily among the
pockets in the garments.
''She hasn't said word-thats the
trouble" groaned the stranger. And
then he resumed, as if the mere utter
ance of the words were a relief to his
overwhelmed mentality. Had fuss
with her and wrote her letter two
weeks ago and haven't heard a word
from her Saw her with another chap
the other day. l didn't know she was
quite so fiinty."
The tailor followed the rapidly spoken
words with knitted brow and puz-
zled understanding. For several mo-
ments he vainly endeavored to extract
some meaning from the fragmentary
phrases; then with a doubtful shake
of his untidy head he said sympathet
ically:
Girls iss der deffie. l expect"
But the stranger made no reply. He
was gazing moodily down at the floor,
and his thoughts were far away from
the little tailor shop.
Nathan stitched away for awhile. his
thoughts intent on the troubled young
man who had followed him home that
he might throw work into the tailor's
idle hands. He understood that the
stranger had had trouble with some
girl. 1t appeared that she wouldn't
speak. This was an amazing state Of
affairs-a woman who wouldn't speak.
Nathan's neighbors never could COM
plain of that. Their wives spoke at
all hours in all languages and with
varying degrees of emphasis.
'Mebbe she ISIS loving somebuddy
else l knew girl NIT a love fer
somebuddy what she WASN'T promised
to, und she died of der love" He shot
speculative glance at the down bent
head and repeated. "Mebbe your girl
ISIS loving NIT somebuddy."
Cheerful ideas you have. Sort of
Jobs comforter you are" calculated
the stranger rising and coming for
ward into the light. Don't worry
about my affairs. old man. l dare say
you have troubles of your own"
ut ISIS der dizziness it ISIS dull" re-
marked Nathan. II don't bother nit
lovings. | amt got no time"
Nathan bent over the handsome gray
coat in his lap. He was thinking that
it needed very little mending. Indeed,
it appeared to be almost new, and the
creases were yet in the sleeves. He
turned the pockets inside out, hoping
that some undiscovered tatters might
justify his charging a dollar for the
job A dollar meant food for an en-
tire week.
Suddenly his hand slipped through
one of the breast pockets and went
down to the bottom of the coat. Some
thing stiff and hard was there, and he
slowly drew forth a large square en-
velope-a letter sealed and stamped and
addressed. Nathan could not read
English. but his keen mind made in
slant connection between the unhappy
young man. the girl to whom he had
written and who had remained so ST.
lent and the letter repOsing in the coat
lining
"a letter here iss'' he said, simply
extending the missive.
"Where did you find it?' asked the
young man without making any effort
to take it.
The tailor explained that the letter
had evidently slipped down within the
coat lining. where doubtless it had re-
posed for many days. The young
mans face grew paler, and with a
sudden snatch he took the letter and
glanced at the address.
"Great smoker he yelled excitedly.
mo wonder she never answered my
letter-she never had it. Where is the
nearest telephone-the drug store at
the corner? I'll be back in mo-
mentv'
fed, while Nathan watched anXiously
until his flying steps had taken him
out OF the areaway and down the
greasy pavement. Then he returned
to his seat on the table and his in
terrupted sewing.
Gle ISIS NIT all kinds Of trouble" he
murmured sadly as he mended the
torn pocket. First it's girls und 1t
ISIS letter. und he speaks NIT strange
ness about all things / couldn't ask
dollar for so little job" He sigh
ed and got down to press the garment
carefully.
Presently the young man dashed
back again, his face radiant, his eyes
shining with happiness.
"Hurrah, Nathan, You're my mas
cot all right. l shall never lose you
again. I'll bring all my buds for you
to mend and keep in order. and I'll
send all my friends. Say. she never
got the letter at all. OF course she
couldn't. you know. It was In my
coat pocket. and If you hadn't spoken
to me at the bridge and offered me
money and sympathy and II hadn't
followed you here the Lord only
knows how long Mabel and I would
have been separated or whether we