The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-03-21

match the same thing match each 9th
err! What do you say?-Barnes."
"P. 81 love you. feel like &
damn fool saying it. but heaven know!
it's true"
p. p. S.-Still love you. It's easier
the second time"
IN. b love you-got the habit
now and can't stop writing it-B."
| Well, had to keep calm and attend
to business. but I was seething inside
like a 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
a 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, y
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"
LAS 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 win
But with my new puffs on the back Of
my head and my letter in my pocket,
] wasn't easy to discourage. Thoburn
shouldeIed 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 a 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 boomers she looked like a
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" l said. There
isn't a 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 state of ex-I see you bought
the puffs. Perhaps you will lend them
to me if we arrange for a country
dance"
I'm not lending Them" I 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 a daughter, don't you?"
Like sister, Miss Cobb" | said.
I'm not feeble yet"
We'll, you wouldn't want to see her
deceived"
Il wouldn't have it," l answered.
Then what do you call this?" She
put small package on the counter,
and stared at me over it. There's
treachery here, black treachery." She
pointed one long thin forefnger at the
bundle.
What is 1t? A bomb" I asked,
stepping back. More than once 1t had
occurred to me that having royalty
around sometimes meant dynamite.
Miss Cobb showed her teeth.
Yes, a bomb" she said. Minnie,
last night, when the Summers woman
was out, goodness knows where,
Blanche Moody and l 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 it |
all along. Mr.. Oskar Won invalid is the
prince himself"
MOI"
. Yes. 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" l 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 a heart
ache" ] said, and you know it,"
You're a fool" She was raging
You'll let her marry him and have
he heartaches afterward"
She won't marry him." I snapped.
Ind walked away with my chin I'D,
eaving her staring.
But | wasn't so sure as / pretended
o be. Mr.. Won invalid and Mr.. Jen-
iings had been closeted together most
" the morning, and Mr.. Won invalid
vas whistling as he started out for the
military walk. 1t seemed as if the
'ery thing that had given Mr.. Pierce
lis chance to make good had i'm