The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-09-19
HER FAITHFUL LOVER
BY J. A. TIFFANY.

The only fault that Hiram Lamson
had had to find with Mira in all the
thirty years of their happy welded life
was her unreasonable and utterly
groundless jealousy.
At supper Mira had announced her
intention of taking the old democrat
wagon and driving Dobbin to the city
to attend a revival meeting. Much to
Hiram's surprise and chagrin Mira had
declined his proffered escort
After she had gone Hiram noticed
piece of paper lying on the hall
floor. He went forward and picked it
up.
Whats this?" Hiram asked "A let
ter, eh?-and torn in two. Why, now,
who can be a-wr;tin' to Mira like that
My darling Mira"
My darling Gira-Meet RE at half
past eight O'clock tonight under the
blasted elm in Lovers walk Grant
me this last prayer, my loved one, and
l will never trouble you again. Your
faithful lover, CLAUDE
$50 this is the revival meetin' as
is why you've always pertended to be
so jealous of me-you did it to cover
up your own wrongdoing.
"Half-past eight o'clock, under the
blasted oak. l must get On my bike
and spin over there"
Lovers lane was the name given to
a well-worn path that ran through
,1{o 81 10
the Lamson farm. Hiram made a long
detour SO as to approach the trysting
place from the back of the woods. in
stead of from the turnpike. 1t still
lacked fifteen minutes of the appoint
ed time when he came within sight of
the blasted elm.
In the gathering dusk Hiram espied
Mira, seated behind a tree some TWEEN
ty PAGES from the blasted elm, and he
heard the Whitney of the faithful Dob
bin, tethered somewhere near at hand.
Seems as if Claude wasn't in such
a hurry to keep his appointment as
Miranda was. Aye, lass, | could al
most find it in my heart to take and
lift We into the wagon and drive We
straight home before yet get a chance
of making q fool of yerself before my
eyes. I'd do it-and forget the whole
nights business-if it wasn't that I'm
bound to everlastingly knock the
nourishment out Of this fine gentle
man Claude.
At last it seemed that Mira's pa
tience had given out. Hiram looked
at his watch as she got UP and started
for the byroad.
Just as Mira was about to step into
the wagon, Hiram, who had reached
her side unobserved, said:
Let me help you, wife. I guess I'll
load my wheel into the wagon and
we'll drive home together"
''Where have you been skulking,
Hiram Lamson?" Mira demanded,
wrathfully, "and where's that Jezebel
as you come out here to meet?'
"Now, Mira" said Hiram, quietly but
firmly, "the jealousy racket doesn't go
in this family any longer. It's played
out. You're the only woman I came
here to see. But / was expecting a
man. Where's Claude, Mira?"
"Claude!" Miranda echoed in dis
gusted tone. 81 don't know nothing
about no Claudes. What / want to
know is-Wheres Clementina, and
who is she?"
II don't know what you're talking
about, Mira-Ive no more idea than a
next years pumpkin. But I'd like to
know If this Is what you call attend
ing a revival meeting. I'd also liko TIC
know who Claude is?"
"To the later bugs wi Claude!" was
Mira's impatient exclamation. But
when you get love letters from your
Clementinas, Hiram Lamson, you
should be more careful than to drop
'em around in the dairy. Now, read
that letter. and then tell me you never