Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-10-26
/ BELMORE ENDICOTT

DacK. she ala not see II, for she was
quite as intent upon keeping her face
turned from Mr.. Stage as he had been
determined to ignore her presence.
Carolyn May was shaking and help
less. Not so Prince He repeated his
challenging growl and then sprang
at the vibrating head. Miss Amanda
uttered stihed scream and jumped
up from the log. whirllng to see what
was happening behind her.
Joseph Stagg dropped Carolyn Mays
hand and leaped forward with his
walking stick raised to strike. But
the mongrel dog was there first. He
wisely caught the blacksnake behind
the head, his strong. sharp teeth sew
ering its vertebrate.
Good dog" shouted Mr.. Stagg ex-
citedly. ''Fine dogr'
ooh, Miss Amanda - shrieked Caro-
Ign May. II thought he was going
to sting you-I did"
| She ran to the startled woman and
| chung to her hand. Prince nosed the
dead snake. Mr.. Stagg looked exceed
ingly foolish. Miss Amanda recovered
| her color and her voice simultaneously.
"What brave dog yours is, little
girl" she said to Carolyn May. "And
/ | do so despise snakes I" Then she
looked directly at Mr.. Stage and
bowed gravely. Il thank you" she
said, but so coldy. SO Carolyn May
thought, that her voice might have
come Just off an iceberg"
ooh, l didn't do anything-really
didn't" stammered the man. at was
the dog"
Both looked very uncomfortable.
Joseph Stagg began to pick up the
scattered cheStnuts from the over
turned basket The lady stopped and
whispered to Carolyn May:
Come to see me, my dear. want
to know you better"
Then she kissed Carolyn May and
slipped quietly away from the brook,
disappearing quickly in the under
growth.
Joseph Stage and the little girl
went on across the stepping stones,
while Prince splaShed through the
water. Carolyn May was thinking
about Miss Amanda Parlow and she
believed her Uncle Joe was. too.
"Uncle joe" she said, "would that
bad old snake have stung Miss
Amanda?"
Huh? No; I reckon not" admitted
Mr. Stagg absent-mindedly. "Black-
snakes don't bite. A big one like that
can squeeze some"
"But You We're scared Of it-like me
and Prince. And for Miss Amanda
said Carolyn May very much in ear
nest.
Il guess most everybody is scared
by the sight of n snake. Car1yn May"
Put you We're scared for Miss
Amandas sake-iust the same as I
| was" repeated the little girl decidedly.
"Wel?" he growled, looking away,
troubled by her insistence.
Then you don't hare her. do your"
the child pursued I'm glad Of that,
Uncle Joe. for I like her very c2lch.
I think she's a beautiful lady"
To this Uncle Joe said nothing.
81 guess" thought Carolyn May
wisely, that when two folks love each
other ana get angry the loves there
| just the same. Getting mad doesn't
kill IT; it only makes 'em feel worse.
"Poor UncIc Joe Poor Miss Aman-
da' Maybe if they'd just try to look
up and look for brighter things they'd
get over being mad and be happy
again"
When Uncle Joe and Carolyn May
returned from this adventurous walk
Mr.. Stage went heavily into bis own
room. closed the door and even locked
/ it. He went over to the old-fashioned
walnut bureau Tint stood against the
| wall between the two windows and
| stood before it for some moments in
an attitude Of deep reflection. Finally.
! ne drew his bunch Of keys from his
/ pocket and opened one Of the two
/ small drawers in the heavy piece If
| furniture-the only locked drawer
there was. He drew forth a tirtvpe
picture, faded now, but clear enough
/ 70 show hiia tle features Of tha Two
individuals printed on the seustze1
+ plate.
His own ewes looked ont of the pho
to-rarh proudly They were much
/ younger eyes than they were now.
And the eirI beside him iu the mic
mre, Sweet as q Wild rose. Mandy
I parow's lovely, calm countoaaneo
promised an tHe beauty and dignity
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