The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-02-12
CHAPTER XIV.
BACK TO THE OLD TOWN.

Spring comes about Rome by simple
tokens. In the black bottoms the will
lows gently free themselves from the
soiling snow. bend upward ever so
lightly. and presently are wands of
furry gray. In the clay gaps of the
hills one hears the tinkle of water un-
der ice n over rock. answering the
first call OF the robins. The rabbit
tracks along the fences drabble down
to mere muddy markings in the snow
and h e are lost in the first faint
green. Also. I'm town, housewives hang
their rugs on the porches and beat
them. stopping to look up at the blue
and breathe. as II the winters housing
had taken a bit out Of their souls which
now was coming back; and one sees
the children digging their toes in the
mud on their way to school, testing
eagerly its release from the frost.
But chiefly. in Rome people know
spring has come when Rube Van Hart
disappears. When the former Lacquer
began to climb the hills in February
and look off south; and when his work
in Carmichaels stable grew slack and
his eyes vacant I'M his promises TO
coach the high school ball team more
vague; and when he came silently in
the News office to read the pink uns"
or the chicago papers. paid no atten-
ton to Jim Minis. the tramp printer
asking for a chew. or to Wiley when
he asked who looked good for the sec
ond cushion with the Cubs since Della
hanty was sold-paid no attention to
any at all, but wandered down to
h junction and dreamily read the
names or the o cars jogging down
h cut. why then 1t was safe to set
out garden truck-spring had come,
Then the News that Ru-
fus Adrian Van Hart, one time catcher
with the Cubs. had gone south to help
with the spring try-outs at San An
tonic and would also get himself In
condition. This pleased Rube and all
the town kids and hurt nobody. Poor
old Rube was merely slowed in a box
a getting away just because spring
called and baseball was here and ne
could not help 1t. Among the Van Harris
there was no accounting for Rube.
And when RUDE came back to town
the women knew 1t was near time To
AXE In house plants and let the chill
dren go for hazelnuts. and resume the
lapsed work OF the Shakespeare club,
with RUDE watch for a nip of frost.
But now spring, n Uncle Michigan
spading UP Mr.. Curran's garden, dis
putting with his ~housekeeper while they
knelt in the black damp earth over a
package OF seeds magnanimously dis
tributed by the Honorable James S,
q M. G. Their voices came to the
editor at his desk. Jim Minis had gone
to the blind tiger in the haymow OF
Carmichaels livery stable; and Aleck,
the press boy had stolen off to Sin
creek to see IL n was yet good bunhead
fishing.
IF I'm going to congress-" murmured
the editor, Il must fire this spring fever
and scold everybody into working" He
was watching Janet Vance tie her
team of colts to the county yard hitch
ing rail, her trim, blue figure against
the young elm green. She looked al
her watch decisively. 1t was early for
a county officer to be down town. She
came across the street with her direct
and springy step and to the News door.
The editor took his Gee Off the desk
and waved his hand lazily.
Janet, let's go fishing. Let's get Old
Mowry'B wagon and take Aunt Abby
and Jim Mims-if he's sober-and
Mich and Aleck and all go fishing
Wiley, that's what you've ALWAYS
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