The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-12-24


~ hope you'll exeus me-"
would. WAL, l guess l better be a-step-
pin off the road. Far'well."
"Goodby. Mr.. Stevens"
"11ope you won't git plumb wore out
a-settin' round here with nobody to
talk to-"
ooh, don't you worry about me.
shall get along all right"
"Mebby you'll find 'Nevvy kind O in
t@erestin' If you kin git her started to
talkin'. Some men likes to listen to wo-
mems chatter, but, Lord, it's plumb
aggravatin' to me! Jest as soon listen
to the chatterin' of a guinea hen. Me
an you mayn't be alike in that thar re
spect, though. EVERYBODY hain't got the
same sort O taste, you know"
Certainly not. Perhaps it's we'll,
too, that we haven't"
That's what Jake Martin says. He
lows if everybody had tastes like his'n
they'd all be a-wantin' his ole oman.
The Lord knows I can't make out what
anybody'd want of ole Mis- Martin,
though. She's ugly enough to sour
sweet milk an has temper enough to
set the woods a1re. But I'm in a right
smart Of a hurry, so I guess I better
be a-goin'. WAL, far'well.'
Good day, Mr.. Stevens"
This time George tore himself
away He went out and shut the
door, md the others, waiting in silence,
heard his footsteps as he shuft1ed awk-
wardly off across the yard.
When George had passed out Of hear
ing Minerva drew a long sigh. Ross
looked over at her and saw her sitting
with her head dropped and her face
} white and drawn. He knew she was
sorely troubled. and he pitied her. He
longed to offer her his sympathy, but
it is not always an easy matter to say
the proper thing in proffering consola-
ton TO a m
2 He took it for granted that she was
troubled on her husbands account.
Perhaps she knew his business out that
night and feared for his safety or dis
approved Of his going. At any rate, il
being a matter between man and wife
an outsider had no right to interfere
even ny II NOIu. cO dAtcA a hItAc le
arose and went to the window and
looked out.
'This is a beautiful night" he re
marked presently, feeling that the 81
lence was becoming oppressive and thai
t he must say something.
h To his surprise Minerva clasped he7
d hands and. looking up at him appeal
ingly, cried:
II ooh, why did you ever come here
Why We're you so mad"
Y He stared at her wonderingly for
e moment, then came back to the table
and sat down.
O II have told you why l came" h
said, "but If YOU don't want HE here
can go away"
ut is not that" she replied hastily
II don't want to make you feel unwel
come.''
"What is it them"
&c "It is the danger"
" He laughed lightly.
II think you are unduly exercised
about that" he said. GAS l have a
ready explained to you. l am in no res
H. danger here. Nobody will recognize
lg me. You sec. even your husband doe
SO not suspect that | am the man he pun
G, sued that day with such deadly intent.
Ill She held up her hands in mute az
d, peal.
"Oh. for mercy's sake don't speak c
it" she pleaded. at is so terrible. S
Mt horrible!'
to "\Vhat Isl" he asked i~nnocently.
O '"To think Of You being here nnde
III his roof and sitting ut the same tab
with him, after that. Isn't it awful:
SIS ooh. that's all right. | don't mind i
Tx so long as he don't know
C. But just to think Of what it wonl
mean If he did know. Why. If h
We knew who you are he would kill You
a II have no doubt of that. He e!
lis pressed himself very cmphatically
Tx that effect, ut least. But what is IL
difference. so long as he don't know"
it "Oh, the thought of It! The drea'
o. the continual fear that he may disco
IS, cr the truth"
ed He became soberly earnest in an il
slant.
m II have been thinking only of M,
X SELF" he said. "when ! should hay
remembered that | am not the only Oh
to interested. l had forgotten that II