Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-01-21

Hell get over THAR
81 doubt it, | said Besides. you
are reckoning without Linda. How
do you know that She
Naturally | don't know for sure
, about Linda he answered shortly;
then. CHANGING at his watch. he got up.
! "Just about time to get my mail
ready"
We had been speaking in low tones,
for the subject of our conversation
naturally did not lend itself to loud
talk. and besides, during the last quar-
ter of an hour or so a murmur of
voices from the verandah had warn
ed us to be careful. We had not shut
the door leading to the veranda. as it
was the only one. and we needed it
open for light and air. Petersham
walked toward it. but, instead of STEP
ping out. he turned and laid a hand
like wise on my arm.
''Quiet! Quiet for your lifer' he
, whispered. ''She must never know
we were here!'
But, Joe, you're mistaken, Joe. I
wish itv' 1t was Linda's voice. shy
and trembling as l had never heard it.
"Ah, that's all your great goodness,
! Miss Linda, and l haven't earned none
of it,
[ pointed frantically to the door, We
must shut that door and shut out those
voices, but Petersham swore at me
under his breath.
hiror
Screech like a wildcat! 1t can't be
helped, for it would kill her to know
we heard word of this
We crept away into the farthest cor
ner Of the workshop, but even there
phrases f1oated to us, though merciful-
~ we could not hear all.
but father would help you, for you
know you are a genius, joe
''All 1 could ever do lies in the woods,
Miss Linda: woodsways is the whole
of it. A yard outside the wood and
the meanest chap bred on the streets
could beat me easy. l can't thank you
nor MI. Petersham the way I'd like to,
for my tongue is slow" Here his
voice fell.
But if you hate the city life so
was Linda again. Live your life in
the woods. l love the woods too"
"The woods is bleak and black
enough to them that's not born among
the trees. Them that's lived outside
allus wants more, Miss Linda
A long interval followed before the
voices became audible again.
ooh, no, no. JOe!'
Petersham clutched my arm once
more at the sound.
you're so young Miss Linda, you
don't know. I'd give my right hand
to believe different, but l can't. 1t
wouldn't be best-not for you
November's tone moved me more
than Linda's passion. He was a man
fighting it out against his own heart.
1 knew well the power Of attraction
Linda possessed, but somehow / had
not guessed how it had worked on Joe.
1 had, indeed. been right in so far that
he had not dreamed of aspiring to her;
nevertheless the episode would mean
pain and loss to him. / feared. for
many day.
Once more I heard him.
"Don't you think I'll be proud every
hour / have to live that you was so
good to me, Miss Linda? l shan't new
er forget it.
Joe, l think l hate your she cried.
And then the quick tap Of her footsteps
told US she had run into the house.
There was absolute silence for a min
ute or two. At length Joe sighed heav-
lily and with the slow laborious move
ment of weakness went to his room.
When all seemed safe Petersham and
l stole out of hiding like thieves, and,
though we exchanged no word, Peter
sham was swearing violently under his
! breath until he shut his office door,
Rather to my surprise November Joe
came out for awhile after supper, be-
cause he said it was my last evening
at Kalmacks. Neither he nor Linda
gave any sign that anything unusual
had passed between them. Indeed. we
were gay enough, and we had Charley
Paul in to sing us some French Cana
dian songs.
After saying goodby as well as good
night to Linda and her father follow
ed Joe to his IN.
81 won't wake you up in the morn
ing, November" said. There's moth
ing like rest and sleep to put you on
your legs again.
give been trying that cure, Mr.. Qua
ritch, and l won't be long behind you
ooh, where are you going tor
ITO my shack on Charley's brook
Pm kind O. homesick like. and that's
the truth"
"But how about Mr.. Petersham's
wish to give you a start in his business
in New York or Montreal?"
'I'm not the kind of guy for city.
Mr.. Quaritch. All the chaps d get
turning round to stare at the poor wild
fella, and I'd sure be scairt to sleep in
one of them up in the blue sky houses
anyway" He laughed