River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-10-02
CONTINUED from last week.

hated him, but held on to his thumb
tight for half a minute He didn't
know what the matter really was, but
be understood what | needed. He al
ways does.
And after that everybody had a good
time, the ginger barber and Judy as
much as anybody. and could see Aunt
Bette and Mrs Johnson peeping in the
pantry door, having the time of their
lives too.
That dinner was going like an air
ship on a high wind. when something
happened to tangle it's tail feathers and
| can hardly write it for trembling
yet 1t was a simple little blue tele-
gram, but it might have been nitro
glycerin on a tear for the way it acted
It was for me, but the ginger barber
handed it to Tom. and be opened it
and. looking at me over his full-after
many times emptied-glasS, he solemn
ly read it out loud. 1t said:
Landed this noon. Have 1 your permits
sion to come to Hillsboro Immediately?
Answer. ALFRED.
1t was dreadful Nobody said word
and Tom laid the telegram right down
in his plate, where it Immediately be-
gan to soak up the dressing of his sal
ad. He was so white and shaky that
Pet looked at him in amaZement. and
then l am sure she had the good sense
to find his hand under the cloth and
hAI 70 hi e,hA h0r CT
hers and the color came back to his
face as he smiled down at her.
don't believe I'll ever really get the
courage to look at Tom again until he
marries Pet, which he'll do now, feel
sure.
And as for the judge and Ruth
Chester. was glad they were sitting
beside each other. for l could avoid
that side of the table with my eyes
until had steadied myself a few Sec
onds at least The surprise made the
others had been dining seem statues
from the stone age. and only Mr..
Graves fork failed to hang fire. His
appetite is as strong as his nerves, and
Della Halves looked at his composure
with the relief plain in her eyes.
Henrietta's smile in the judges di-
rection was doubtful. But they were
not ali my lovers, and why that awful
silence?
l couldn't say a word. and l am sure
don't know what l would have re
if it hadn't been for the doctor. Ee
leaned forward. and his deep IS
came out in their wonderful d
seemed to collect every pair at
the table, even the most astounded. as
he raised his glass.
We all held our breaths and waited
for him to speak.
mo wonder we are ali stricken
dumb at Mrs Carriers telegram" he
said in his deep voice that commands
everybody and everything, even the
terrors of birth and death. THE
whole town will be paralyzed at the
news that its most distinguished citi
zen is only going 60 give them two
days to get ready to receive him. l
can see the panic the brass band will
have now getting the brass Shined
up. and ! want to be the one to tell
Mayor Pollard myself, so as to sug-
gest to him to have at least a two
hour speech of welcome to hand out at
the train. Well make it one hot time
for him when he lands In the old town,
and here's to him, God bless him!
Every glass hight" They all drank,
and l suppose it helped them. / wish
l could have drained a quart, but l
couldn't swallow a sip, though 1 did
a good stunt of pretending.
The rest of this evening has paid
me off for every sin | have ever COM
mitted or am ever going to commit.
Tom took Pet home early. and / hope
they walked in the moonlight for
hours. Tom is the kind of man that
any pretty girl who is loving enough
in the moonlight could comfort for
anything. I'm not at all worried
about him, but
The hour l sat on my front steps and
talked to Judge Wade must have
brought gray hairs to my head if it
was daylight and l could see them.
Ruth Chester had said goodby with
the loveliest haunted look in her great