Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-03-19

sometimes in my sleep, and his eye
caught mine through the crack.
But If I'd looked to see him drop
her l was mistaken. He drew her
up and kissed her again, but this time
on the forehead. And when he'd let
her go and she had dropped into a
chair and hid her shining face against
the back, as if she was ashamed,
which she might we'll be, he stood
laughing over her bent head at me.
Come out, Minnie!" he called.
Come out and hear the good news!"
Hear" l said, I've seen all the
news I want"
Gracious" Miss Patty said, and
buried her head again. But he had
reached the shameless stage; a man
who is really in love always seems to
get to that point sooner or later. He
qtooped and kissed the back of her
neck, and if his hand shook when he
pushed in one of her shell hairpins it
was excitement and not fright.
81 hardly realize it, Minnie" he
said. 4 don't deserve her for min
ute
Certainly not" I said.
HE does" Miss Patty's voice
smothered. Then she got up and
came over to me.
There is going to be an awful fuss,
Minnie she said. Think of Aunt
Honoria-and Oskar!"
Let them fuss!" l said grandly. eff
the worst comes, you can spend your
honeymoon in the shelter-house. I'm
so used to carrying meals there now
that it's second nature"
And at that they both made for me,
and as Mr.. Pierce kissed me Doctor
Barnes opened the door He stood for
a moment, looking queer and wild,
and then he slammed the door and we
heard him stamping down the steps.
Mr.. Pierce had to bring him back.
Well, that's all there is to it. The
place filed up and stayed filled, but
not under Mr.. Pierce. Mr.. Jennings
said ability of his kind was wasted
there, once the place was running, and
set him to building a railroad some
where or other, with him and Miss
Patty living in a private car, and he
carrying a portable telephone with
him so he can talk to her every hour
or so. Mr.. Dick and his wife are run
ming the sanatorium, or think they
are. Doctor Barnes is the whole
place, really. Mr.. Jennings was so
glad to have Miss Patty give up the
prince and send him back home,
after he'd been a week in the hotel
at Finleyville looking as if his face
would collapse if you stuck a pin in
it-Mr. Jennings was so happy, not to
mention having worked off his govt at
the wood-pile, that he forgave the
Dickys without any trouble, and even
went out and had a meal with them
in the shelter-house before they moved
in, with Mr. Dick making the coffee.
miss the spring, as | said at the
beginning. 1t is hard to teach an old
dog new tricks, but with Miss Patty
happy, and with Doctor Barnes
around
Thoburn came out the afternoon be-
fore he left, just after the rest hour,
and showed me how much too loose
his waistcoat had become.
I've lost, Minnie" he confessed.
Lost fifteen pounds and the dream
of my life. But I've found something,
too"
"What?"
my waist line!" he said, and threw
his chest out.
you look fifteen years younger" l
said, and at that he came over to me
and took my hand
Minnie" he said, maybe you and
l haven't always agreed, but always
liked you, Minnie-always"
Thanks" 1 said, taking my hand
away.
You've got all kinds of spirit" be
said You've saved the place, all
right And if you-if you tire of this,
and want another home, I've got one
twelve rooms, center hall, tiled baths,
cabinet mantels-Id be good to you,
Minnie. The right woman could dc
anything with me-"
When I grasped what he meant,
was staggered.
I'm sorry" l explained, as gently
as I could. "I'm-Pm going to marry
Doctor Barnes one of these days"
He stared at me- Then he laughed
a little and went toward the door.
"Barnes!" he said, turning. can
other redhead, by CAD! Well, I'll tell
you this, young woman, you're red
but he's redder Your days for run
ming things to suit yourself are over"
I'm glad Of it, I retorted. 81 want
to be managed myself for change.
Somebody" 1 said, who won't be al
ways thinking how he feels, unless it's
how he feels toward me-"
Bah! He'll bully you"
It's human nature to like to be
bullied,'" I quoted. and I guess IN
not afraid. He's healthy and healthy
mans never a crank"
"a case of yours for health, eh?'
he said, and held out his hand
THE END.1