Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1913-02-13


the question that had been in his
nina and on his lips all day
tine question for which he had
never been able to find a con-
venlent opportunity - perhaps Phyl-
Ida guessed his purpose, and set her
quick wits to Illustrate it. He would
say MS say, though, before they got
nome again-on that he was deter
g1ined; but the fit moment had not
come Tor him by the time they reach
ed the landing-place, and he drew the
boat up to the mooring-stake and gave
Pnylhda his hand to help her out. Per-
haps the touch of her fingers gave
him courage, for he held them an in
slant, and began:
/ want to ask you"
she snatched her hand away, say
ing, i will wait in the field for you;
it is so hot here" and hurried up the
bank.
Her first impulse had been to es-
cape, but as she walked rapidly on, en-
tangl1ng her feet in the new-mown
hay, she saw how foolish the idea
was, and, as she said to herself, sink
ing down on to a haycock, that it
would be better to have it over.
But need it be over?" was her Sec
ond thought, as Johnny fingered, fast
ening up the chain with his usual de-
liberation. Had she not better say
Yes" to the question she knew he
was going to ask her?
1t would please her mother, she
was sure, for whom she had done so
little, and Mrs. Curd also, and Mrs.
Allen, she believed, would not object;
and what happy, comfortable home
it would be for herself! and she was
so tired, poor child! Of being worried
and unhappy. Such good son must
make good husband. and if he were
not handsome or clever, there were
plenty in the world worse than he;
and handsome is that handsome does
as Mrs. Makey so often told her.
She carefully kept all thought OF
Frank out of her considerations,
though she knew it was there in the
background, together with the faint
suspicion of doubt and jealousy
which the idea of his amusing himself
SO well at Verdun with the pretty
French girls had been allowed to
nOurish.
AS she pondered she was absently
playing with the hay, and drew out a
bit of dry thyme from the handful
she was sitting through her fingers. In
a moment, by the subtle association
of ideas which scents bring with
them in some inexplicable manner,
she was standing again by the thyme
bed beside the beehives at home, on
that warm, wet morning more than a
year ago, feeling Franks arm round
her, and hearing his very voice say:
ga promise-to be true till come
back to you
A promise indeed, and how was she
keeping it?
Poor John! He had often been
scolded for dawdling, and that five
minutes he now kept Phyllida waiting
cost him what he could never regain.
He said his say, and Phyllida list
ened to it with the respect an honest
mans love carries with it, however
tamely it may be expressed, and re-
fused it as gently as she could. In
deed, she felt rather ashamed of her
self as they trudged home side by
side in silence, and her humble regret
disarmed even Mrs. Curd's mild re-
sentiment when she found the con-
gratulations she had confidently pre-
pared for their return were out or
place.
John disappeared till the gig came
to the door, remaining firm in his orr
ginal intention of driving Phylllda
home, to her dismay. However, all
his conversation on the road was adj
dressed to the horse, and when she
had jumped down, and Ventured tl1n-
idly to hold out her hand and say,
"'Thank you very much; am SO sor-
ry," John only vouchsafed a grunt'
whether of displeasure or forgiveness,
she could not tell.
She was greatly surprised to DE
called downstairs two evenings later
and told Master Curd wished to speak
with her. During those two days she
had not given much thought to what
had passed at Belmains, for her moth
er had been seriously worse. 1t was
evident she must have had another at
tack during the night, for she woke In
a wandering and enfeebled state, from
which the doctor thought it unlikely
she would recover.
Phyllida found John Curd awaiting
her in the kitchen with a parcel in his
hand, which he presented ia some
confusion. Opening it, saw the con-
tents were set of blue ribbons.
Mother thought you might Ike
them-they match your Dress" John
you kindly all the same" she cried,
'after-after the other day. am very
much obliged to you, and am very
willing to be friendly; but l wish, l
do wish, you would not come here
any more"
John gave a desperate twirl to his