Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1913-11-14
the time and save us both embarrass-

away, and half a minute later he was
kicking himself for born fool. There
was the 'tiff," that his mother was
hoping for, and from the looks of
things 1t would last considerably long
er than a full moon. Randolph had
deliberately provoked the quarrel, as
he had to admit to himself, and if
there was any feeling of satisfaction.
1t rested with some one else.
The trouble with lover in cases Of
this sort is that he is not content with
making donkey of himself. He must
be two or three of them. Instead of
going back to the girl and Tossing
up" and having it all over with in half
an hour, he must go round with the
air of martyr and keep the whole,
United States upset for weeks. He
knows that the girl can't and won't
visit his gents furnishing store to ask
about dollar shirt for her father and
make it an excuse for looking at him.
in heart-broken way and limiting that
she has consumption and not long
to tarry. No, she can't and won't
come, and that's another crouch to
add to his stock. She ought to send
little note-she ought to do this and
that, and he keeps right on the don,
key job till Destiny gets mad and
slam-bangs him. !,
The cousin from the west married a i
girl in village five miles away and
went home to his steers and his al !
kali, and of course young Aikens got ;;
the news. That was another crouch. ]
Why didn't Miss Fanny deny the gos-i
sip more vigorously? Why didn't she i
roll up her eyes, raise her right hand i
and say in loud firm voice:
Randolph, swear to high heaven
1 can never love anybody but thee!".
Had she SO sworn? Not by jug-i
full! Very well; let her suffer for the
omission
Mr.. Aikens' furnishing store closed ]
at eight o'clock in the evening. He,
always went home by a particular
| route. Miss Fanny was aware of this,
but had she thrown herself in his
way and given him good evening and
show? Not blamed throw, and
when he thought it over he fairly
| gritted his teeth.
Weeks passed. Then he got the
habit Of taking evening walks along
the riverside. He would wander out
on an old dock and sit on an old bar
rel and sigh and cuss a couple of
hours and then head for home saying
he didn't care rap for my girl that
ever wore hobble skirt
| On this night-on this particular
night-the moon rode high, to be high
er than the cost of living. The little
waves of the river Tapped at the old
dock, as they had been trained to do
from infancy. From various quarters
came plaintive walls of the bullfrogs
and now and then dog barked or an
owl hooted.
| 1t was a night for reflection. 1t was
night for young man who had made
donkey of himself to sit and think
whether the best dollar shirt could not
be sold for 80 cents and then make 80
per cent. profit? Also to wonder how
he came to do it! Also, to wonder
| why some mutual friend didn't take
hold of the matter and make it his
or her business to bring about re.
conciliation! Also. lots of other
things.
A step on the dock!
/ It was too late in the season for
assassins. None of the ministers in
town were given to walking in their
sleep. 1t was a light step-a human
step-not that of COW. 1t came on.
1t halted beside him. One-two
three minutes the owner of that steI
waited before whispering the name
Randolph"
The young man looked up and gave
start It was Fanny!
Never in this world will it be admit
ted that she knew of his presence ane
had come to make up. 1t is a thou
sand chances to one that she thought
he was up at Troy buying his fal
stock of collars and cuffs. Anyhow
she was there.
1t has been stated that the docl
was old and rickety. 1t was strong
enough to withstand fair start, whe1
he heard his name lovingly whispered
That dock sighed and groaned ant
staggered and went down under tn,
strain.
Two feet of water and two of NUT
but it was enough. After the lover
had Topped around for awhile tha
girls life was saved and the young
man climbed out beside her. They
were very wet and very muddy, but
they were very happy. Each had for
I given the other, and the collar market
was firm at one for 15 cents, or two
for quarter.
Copyright, 1913, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)