Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-08-07

the big rocking chair on the porch
Over and over we ro,id, Billy chuck
ling and SquealinS while | laughed
myself all out Of breath. I'm glad |
always would wear delicious petit.
coats. for there, looking right over
my front fence. discovered Judge
Benton Wade wish | could write
down how felt for | never had that
sensation before. and don't believe
III ever have it again.
have always thought that Judge
Wade was really the most wonderful
man in HillSboro. not because he is
judge so young in life that there is
only Il white sprinkle in mis- lovely
black hair. that grows back on his
head like Napoleon'S and Charles Yves
ley'S. but because Of his SMILE which
you wait for so long that YOU glow all
over when YOU get It. nave seen
him do it once or twice ut his mother
when he seats her III their pew at
church and once ut little Mamie John.
soE when she gave tim dover
through their fence as he passed by
one day last week, but | never thought
| should have one all to myself. But
there it was. II most beautiful one
long and slow and distinctly uine-at
least | didn't think much OF it was for
Billy | SAT- up and bIuShrd as red all
over as | do when | first hit that tub
of cold water
Il hope you'll forgive an Intruder.
Mrs nhtllH al
resist peep into the garden OF the
gods if he spied the queen and her
faun ut play he said in voice as
wonderful rs the smile BY that time
had reefed III my rutlleS around my
feet and pushed IN all my hairpins.
Billy stood spread legged as near in
front of me as he could get and said
in the rudeSt possible tone of voice:
Get away from my Molly. manr
never was 81 mortified in all my
life and | scrambled To my feet and
came over to the fence to get between
him and Billy
Its a lovely day. isn't it. Judge
tereSt. which didn't really feel in the
weather. but what could think of to
say: y woman is apt to keep the I'M
age Of Il good many OF the grand men
she sees passing around her in queer
inches i'll her brain. and when one steps
out and speaks to her for the first time
it is confusing. OF course have
known the Judge and his mother all
my life, for she is one OF Aunt AIDE
lines best friends. but had Il feeling
from the look in his eyes that that
very minute was the first time he had
ever seen me 1t was lovely, and |
bluShed some more as put my hand
up to my cheek so | wouldn't have to
look right at him
About the lOvclieSt day that ever
happened in HiIISboro." he said. and
there was still more of the delicious
smile though | hadn't noticed it SO
especially until
But | never knew what he had in
tended to say, for Billy suddenly swell
ed up like Il little turkey cock and cut
out with his switch at the Judge
Git. uan. git. and let my Molly
alOne!' he said in a perfect thunder
tone of voice. but | almost laughed
for 1t had such a sound in it like Dr.
Johns at his most positive times with
Billy and me.
NO. no, Billy, the judge is Just look
ing over the fence at our flowers! Don't
you want TO give him rose?" hur-
ried TO say rs the smile died out Of
Judge Wade'S face and he looked at
Billy intently
How like John Moore the youngster
is he said. and his voice was so cold
to Billy that it hurt me, and | was
afraid Billy would notice it. Goodness
in peoples voices always makes me
feel just like ice cream tastes But
Billy's answer was still more rude
You better go. man. before | bring
my father to sic our dog on you" he
exploded, and before / could stop him
his thin little legs went trundline down
the garden path toward home.
Then the Judge and both laughed
We couldn't help it. When two people
laugh straight into each others eyes
something feels dangerous and you get
closer together The judge leaned
farther over the fence. and ! went n
little nearer before | knew it,
You don't need to keep a personal
dog. do you. Mrs Carter|' he asked
with twinkle that might have been
a spark in his eyes. and just ut that
moment another awful thing happened
Aunt Adeline came out on the front
porch and said in the most frozen tone
of voice:
Mary, | wish TO speak to you in the
house" and then walked back through
the front door without even looking in
Judge WHde's direction. though he had
waved his hat with one of his mothers
own smiles when he had seen her be
fore | did One of my most impossible
habits is when there is nothing else to
do | laugh | did it then and it saved
the day, for we both laughed into each
others eyes second time, and before
we realized it we were within whisper
ing distance