Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1922-05-04
mau. but called a messenger and soon


her reply was In John Miles hand
ANY answer?" he asked meenani-
calIy.
mo, sir, guess not Miss Marchand
didn't say So" replied the boy.
Miss Marchand" Mr.. Niles waved
him away and opened the letter. He
read IT over, spread the two dainty
sheets OH his desk bending over them
ms If solving a puzzle Benny and
Harold's conversation came TO mind
BENNY he called. His momentary
rage was chased away by a happy
smile-should Benny be chastised or
canOniZed?
"What did you boys DO with your
April foolishness? Write any letters|
"A few" admitted Benny, search
Ing his fathers non-committal face.
"Why, pop?"
"To Miss MarchandT' asked his
father, with an effort smothering his
desire to laugh like boy, "and who
else?"
That's all we signed your name to
cept the washwoman, tellin her she'd
lost our shirts. but l called her on
the phone and told her April fool
Miss Marchand knows by nc-y that
It was only April fool for she's got
the other one" explained Benny cas-
ually. His father gripped him by the
shoulders and, In voice that made
Benny tremble, demanded, what
other etterT
"Why the one that said 'Ha Ha
April fool whimpered Benny.
John Miles never punished In haste.
He pushed Benny out of his room and
shut the door "Of all the imps Of
Satan commend me to a boy! Poor,
dear Chatty-I wonder If can beat
the postman out thereT Selling his
hat he hurried out, stumbling over the
penitent, frightened Benny. Hesitat-
ing an instant he took his hand.
"Come, son, we've got TO undo the
mischief you young rascals did"
On the way out Benny was left to
his anxious thoughts. Arrived at their
destination he VAS told to sit on n
bench In the yard till called, and his
father insiStently rang the bell TO
the maid, who denied him admission.
declaring that Miss Marchand could
see no one he said, Please tell Miss
Marchand 1t is John Miles and | shall
remain till | see her"
After a cruel wait little rustic an
nounced her coming. He Sprang up,
advancing to meet her. She had been
crying, An he said, pityingly you
poor darling; then you did get that
horrible letter" and despite her eff
forts to prevent ii he took her in his
arms and she sobbed on his shoulder
81 was SO SO ashamed-John. to
think / was in such a hurry to ac-
cept," and she hid her face, crying
piteously. He petted her, kissing the
tumbled hair The laundering years
fell away; they We're young. He as
sured her that he was only waiting
these five years to get enough courage
to ask her and the imps of boys pre-
cipitated the matter The culprit is
out of doors, sweetheart, what shall
we do with hlm2"
THE Angel Bring him in" de-
clared Chatty happily.
SO Benny was called In and pre-
scented to Miss Marchand, his friend
the lady with whom he might live
some day If they grew to like each
other. Then he was taken into the
yard and introduced to more pets
than he had ever seen together A
wonderful cocker spaniel kittens,
chickens and real talking parrot.
SAY, pop" Benny whispered long
after he had been told to go to sleep
and not utter another sound til
morning, don't you suppose we could
move out there tomorrow, Sattidy--
| there's no school"
what, and be hoSSed 10y step
mother?' chuckled his father.
Jaw, shucks pop, she ainz step
| mother, she's nice enough 10 be a
| feller's real mother If she had a
chance. An amt she pretty" Sigh
| ing contentedly, he dropped on to
sleep, 10 dream of the happy days
they were all to have in the Marchand
| cottage.