Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-02-17


and his plan Of satisfying them. He
had met and talked with a majority
OF the voters before the campaign
ended in his election in August
Al odd times that summer he had
been surveying Il new road With Har-
~ Needles for his helper In Sep
telnber they resumed their work upon
il in the vicinity of New Salem AND
Abe began to carry the letters in his
hat again. Every day Ann was look
inc for him as he came by in the dim
light of the early morning on his WAY
to work.
Anything for me-" she would ask
mo mail in since ] saw you, Ann.
was the usual answer.
Often he would say I'm afraid
not. but here--you take these letter
and look through EN- and make sure.
Ann would take them III her lantIs
trembling with eagernesS. ami run in
doors TO tile candlelisht, and look them
over. Always She came back with the
lirtle bundle OF letters very slowly
as if her disappointment were q heavy
burden.
'rherell he one next mail if have
to write it myself" Abe said one
morning i'll October as lie Went on
TO Harry Needles, who was With
him that morning he said:
Il wonder why thar fellow don't
write TO Ann. couldn't believe that
he has been fooling her, but now /
don't know what to think Of hiln. I
wonder what has happened 10 the
fellow"
The mail stage was late that eve
ming. AS it had not come at nice Mr..
Hill went home ard left Abe in the
store to wait for his mail The stage
arrived a few minutes later. Abe eN-
amined the little bundle of letters and
newspapers which the driver had left
with him. Then he took q paper and
sat down to read in the tirelight.
While he was thus engaged the door
opened softly and Ann Rutledge EN-
tered The postmaster was not aware
OF her presence until she touched his
arm.
Please give me letter" she said.
"Sit down. Ann said he. very gent
ly. rs he placed q chair in the fire
glow.
She took it, turning toward him
with a look of fear AMI hope. Then
he added
"Fin sorry. but the truth is it didn't
come. It is terrible Ann, that I have
to help in this breaking Of Your heart
that is going on ! seem to he the
head of the hammer that hits YOU so
hard, but the handle is in other hands
Honestly, Ann, I wish ! could do the
suffering for you-every bit of itand
give Your poor heart a rest. Hasn't
he written YOU this summer
Not since July tenth.' she an
swered. Then She confided to. Abe
that her lover told her before he went
away that his name was not Mcneil
int McNamar; that he had changed
his name TO keep clear Of his family
until lie had made success: that
he had gone East to gel his father
and mother and bring them back With
him: lastly she came TO the thing
that worried her most-the suspicion
of her father and mother that John
was not honest. They say that he
probably had Wife when he came
here--tltat that is why he don't write
TO me-"
Then after a little silence she plead
ed: You don't think that, do you.
Abe?"
$40" said the latter, giving her
the advantage Of every doubt John
did foolish thing, but NC must not
condemn him without knowledge Of
the facts. The Young often do foolish
things and sickness would account for
his silence. You 20 home ana 20 10
sleep and stop worrying, Ann Yonn
get that letter ono of these days"
A dag or two later Abe and Harry
went To Springfield Their reason for
the trip lay in Il talk between the post
master and Tack Kelso the night be-
fore as they sat ny the latter's fire
side
''I've been living where there was
no one to find fault with my parts Of
speech Or with the parts Of my legs
which We're not decently covered
said Abe. "frhe sock district % my
person has been without representa-
tion in the legislature of my Intellect
MP 10 its last session Then we got q
bill through FOR local improvements
aud the governor has approved the
appropriation. Suddenly we discov-
cred that there was ITO money in the
treasury. But Samson Traylor has
offered to buy al issue of bonds of
the amount of fifteen dollars.
I'm glad 10, hear you declare in
favor of external improvements, said
Kelso. We've all been too much alb
sorbed by internal improvements.
You're on the right trail, Abe. You've
been thinking of the public ear and
too little of the public eye. We must
= 4, 1.