Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-07-07
CHANTICLEER
BY MARIE LOUISE sTETsoN.

Robert sat by the open fire anu
smoked, but his was not pipe u
peace, despite the warmth OF the at
mosphere and the air Of comfort pei
vading his bachelor apartments. 1llev
had once seemed home, but that was
before Margaret had been declueu
upon as the woman in all the Worlu'
In school days Robert had been
called slow. 1t was soon noted, now
ever, that information once reglstereu
was ever after ia readiness for use.
Out in business hustlerS had lOOkeu
upon him with suspicion, and YET
they were forced to admit he seemeu
to have a way of getting on. LII oe-
lated counting days, too, Robert SUN
showed that tendency to daily, anu
yet, though Margaret knew it not,
she had been welcomed into his heart
there to remain whatever her wish III
the matter might be. 1t was eHas-
perating, though, to find that the lover
was being thwarted as student ana
business man had never been.
'C0nfound those Rhode lsland
Reds he muttered under his breath.
'Gladioli,' strawberries, poultry "A
cabbage or pig craze will come next
| presume These women! They We
put up big fight and got the ballot.
Why can't they settle down and be
satisfied" And Robert, in spirit OF
vindictiveness, kicked the brass and
irons faithfully rendering the service
for which they were created.
Small satisfaction, that. They mere
ly kept right on shining in the red
glow of the fire.
The Hilton farm is a little more
than a mile from the city postotnce.
Barlow had often covered the distance
in three-quarters of an hour, but on
that particular Sunday afternoon, IT.
ritability within and autumnal chilli
ness without gave new impetus TO
rapid walking. He was surprised In
gIancing up from long perusal OF
the sidewalk to find himself passing
the old Norris place, an eyesore IN
an otherwise attractive neighbOrhOod.
On the sunny, if weather-beaten,
doorstep sat EnOs Norris.
Barlow nodded and passed on.
Across the road and a little farther
up the hill were the well-kept farm
buildings owned by Margaret's father.
"Smug contentment of the same sort
she shows" was his ,unspoken com
ment. "Eo be smiled at forever and
day and yet to find the conversa-
ton switched off onto Rhode Island
Reds whenever "a fellow tried to be
SeriOust''
Suddenly around the corner of the
house, the Lord of the henyard came
futtering and squawking into view,
a rose-cheeked, hying-haired little
woman in hot pursuit
ooh, Bob, can't you catch him?"
she cried excitedly. *'Don't let him
get into the road, for PHYS sake y
Barlow dashed out into the road,
arms waving threateningly, and Cham
ticleer, with an exclamation of rage,
changed his course i'm the direction
of the gOoseberry bushes.
That barnyard fowl was captured
! only when gooseberry bushes, pressed
trousers, polished shoes, and dainty
afternoon gown gave evidence OF the
devastation of war.
won't you come in, BobT' In
spite of the torn and mud-stalned
gown, Barlow thought the lady OF his
choice had never looked half so sweet
as when she peeped up at him through
a pair of dancing eyes and blushlng-
ly asked the question.
Barlow smiled. certainly. You
surely don't think / came away up
here merely for the joy of chasing a
rooster over plowed ground and
through gooseberry bushes, do your
She laughed. "No, l don't suppose
you did, but I'm ever so glad you
were here. I don't know what l
should have done without you"
He looked keenly into the brown
eyes raised to his.
Its gratifying to realize that once
you, Margaret, longer than l care to
say"
She was silent for moment. Then
she smiled one of those battling smiles.
Don't let's talk about it out here
on the porch. Come in. | have
confession to make"
Once beyond the closed door, she
again looked up and smiled.
Bob, | was afraid for long time
l was going to up and love YOU"
"Why didn't you? I shouldn't have
made any objections"
81 didn't dare to. Do you know
Mr.. Enos Norris?"
'By sight"
And Mrs. EnoS?'
I've heard her voice.
Then you know her. Mrs. Enos is
what Mrs Enos is because Mr.. Enos
is what Mr.. Enos is. He's slower
than Stock-still, and I made up my
mind ages ago that whatever else did
Til nnSnr marry q man that was slow,