Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-01-22

| Dearest Minnie" the note inside
said, II had them matched to my
thatch, and | think they'll match
yours. And since, in the words of the
great Herbert Spencer. things that
match the same thing match each 9th.
err! What do you say ?--Barnes."
'P. ST. love you. feel like a
damn fool saying 1t, but heaven knows
it's true"
P. P. S.-Still love you. It's easier
the second time"
IN. B.--I love you-got the habit
/ now and can't stop writing it.-B."
Well, had to keep calm and attend
to business. but was seething inside
like Seidlitz powder. Every few
minutes I'd reread the letter under the
edge OF the stand, and the more | read
1t the more excited / got. When a
woman's gone past thirty before she
gets her first love letter, she isn't
sure whether to thank providence or
the man, but she's pretty sure to make
fool of herself.
| Thoburn came to the news stand on
his way out with the ice-cutting gang
to the pond.
Last call to the dining car, Minnie"
he said. "'Will you--won't you-will
you-won't you-will you join the
| dancer"
Il haven't any reason for changing
my plans" retorted. 81 promised the
old doctor to stick by the place, and
I'm sticking
"As the man said when he sat down
on the fly paper. You're going by your
heart, Minnie, and not by your head,
and in this toss, heads vim
But with my new puffs on the back of
my head. and my letter in my pocket,
wasn't easy to discourage. Thoburn
shouldered his pick and, headed by
Doctor Barnes, the ice-cutters started
| out in single file. AS they passed Doc
tor Barnes glanced at me. and my
heart almost stopped,
do they--is 1t match" he asked,
with his eyes on mine.
couldn't speak, but nodded yes, "
and all that afternoon could see the
wonderful smile that lit up his face
as he went out.
Miss Cobb stopped at the news stand
on her way to the gymnasium. She
was homely woman at any time, and
in her bloomers she looked like a
1 soup-bone. She padded over to the
counter in her gym shoes. and for
once she'd forgotten her legs.
May | speak to you, Minnie?" she
asked
"You mostly do / said. There
isn't new rule about speaking. is
there?"
This is important, Minnie" she
said. rolling her eyes around as she
always did when she was excited. I'm
in such a state of ex--I see you bought
the puffs! Perhaps you will lend them
to me If we arrange for country
dance"
I'm not lending them" said firm
ly. 1t would have been like lending
an engagement ring, to my mind
Miss Cobb was not offended She went
at once to what had brought her, and
bent over the counter.
Minnie, you love Miss Jennings
almost like daughter. don't your"
Like a sister. Miss Cobb" said
I'm not feeble yet"
well, you wouldn't want to see her
deceived"
Il wouldn't have it," | answered
Then what do you call this?" She
and stared at me over it. There's
treachery here, black treachery." She
pointed one long thin forefinger at the
bundle
What is It? bomb?" | asked
stepping back. More than once it had
occurred to me that having royalty
around sometimes meant dynamite
Miss Cobb showed her teeth.
Yes, bomb" she said. Minnie
last night, when the Summers woman
was out, goodness knows where
Blanche Moody and / went through
her room. We did not find my precious
missives from Mr.. Jones, but we did
| find these. Minnie, tied around with a
pink stocking. Minnie, | have felt il
all along. Mr.. Oskar Won invalid is the
prince himself"
moi"
Eyes. And more than that, he is
making desperate love to Miss Sum.
mers. Three of those letters were
written in one day! Why, even Mr.
| Jones'"
THE wretch" ! cried. ! was sud.
denly savage. Miss Cobb was reach.
ing out for the bundle. ! snatched IL
from her
Give me those letters instantly
she cried shrilly. But marched from
behind the counter and over to the
| fireplace.
Never" ! said. and put the package
on the log. When they were safely
blazing, | turned and looked at Miss
Cobb.
I'D put my hand right beside those
letters to save Miss Patty heart
ache" said, "and you know It,"
You're a fool" She was raging
You'll let her marry him and have
the heartaches afterward"
She won't marry him." / snapped
and walked away with my chin up
| leaving her staring.
But wasn't SO sure as | pretended
to be- Mr.. Won invalid and Mr.. Jen.
nings had been closeted together most
of the morning. and Mr.. Won invalid
was whistling as he started out for the
military walk. 1t seemed as II the
very thing that had given Mr.. Pierce
his chance to make good had i'm.
proved Mr.. Jennings disposition
enough to remove the last barrier to
Miss jennings wedding with some
body else.
CHAPTER XIV.
Even II we hadn't known, we'd have