Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-05-19

hSh1n' is SpO1lti Wnynt you listen
me? I told you 1t wasn't more'n three
foot deepi / and Heinie waded all
over this creek gettin' our bait. You're
a pretty sight I"
Of Milla he spoke unwittingly the
literal truth. Even with her hair thus
wild and sodden, Milla rose from i'm
mersion blushing and prettier than
ever; and she was prettiest Of all
when she stretched out her hand help
lessly to Ramsey and he led her up
out Of the waters. They had plenty Of
assistance to scramble to the top Of
the bank, and there Milla was sur
rounded and borne away with great
clacketing and tumult. Ramsey sat
upon the grass in the sun, rubbed his
head, and experimental with his neck
shine was strong and hot; in half an
hour he and his clothes were dry-or
at least "dry enough" as he said, and
except for some soreness Of head and
neck, and the general crumpledness Of
his apparel, he seemed to be In all
ways much as usual, when shouts and
whistlings summoned all the party to
luncheon at the rendezvous. The
change that made him different was
invisible.
for everyone appeared to take 1t for
granted that he was to sit next to
Milla at the pastoral meal. She her.
self understood 1t, evidently, for she
drew in her puckered skirts and with
out any words made place for him
beside her as he driftingly approached
her, affecting to whistle and keeping
his eyes on the foliage overhead. He
still looked upward, even In the act Of
sitting down.
Squirrel or something" he said
feebly, as If in explanation.
"Where?" Milla asked.
cup there on branch" He ac-
copied plate from her (she had pro-
vided herself with an extra one), but
he did not look at 1t or at her. He
continued to keep his eyes aloft, be-
cause he imagined that all Of the class
were looking at him and Milla, and
he felt unable to meet such publicity.
Tt was to him as IL the whole United
States had been scandalized to atten-
ton by this act Of his In going to sit
beside Milla; he gazed upward so long
that his eye-bells became sensitive un-
der the strain. He began to blink. II
can't make out whether>it's a squirrel
or just some leaves that kind O. got
fixed like one," he said. II can't make
out yet which 1t Is, but guess when
there's a breeze, If it's squirrel he'll
probly hop around some then, II he's
alive or anything"
It had begun to seem that his eyes
must remain fixed In that upward
stare forever; he wanted to bring them
down. but could not face the glare of
the world. But finally the brightness
of the sky between the leaves settled
matters for him; he sneezed wept, and
for q little moment again faced his
fellowmen No one was looking al
him; everybody except MiIla had otle,
things to do.
Having sneezed Unfortunately, h
added a spell of coughing for which
there was no necessity. Il guess l
must been wrong" he muttered thickly.
what about, Ramsey"
about it's bein' a squirrel" With
Infinite timidity he turned his head
and encountered a gaze so soft, so hal
lowed, that it Disconnected him, and
he dropped a "drumstick" of fried
chicken, well dotted with ants, from
his plate. Scarlet he picked it up, but
did not eat it. For the first time In
his life he felt that eating fried chick
en- held in the fingers was not to be
thought of. He replaced the "drum-
stick" upon his plate and allowed it
to remain there untouched, in spite of
great hunger for 1t.
Having looked down, he now found
difficulty In looking up, but gazed
steadily at his plate, and into this
limited circle of vision came Milla's
delicate and rosy fingers, bearing a
gift. There she said in a motherly
little voice. Its tomato mayonnaise
sandwich and I made it myself. I
want you to eat it, Ramsey"
His own fingers approached tremu-
lousness as he accepted the thick sand
witch from her and conveyed it to his
mouth A moment later his soul filled
with horror, for squirt Of mayonnaise
dressing had caused a catastrophe the
scene Of which occupied no inconsider-
able area Of his right cheek, which
was the cheek toward Milla. He
CROPPED wretchedly for his handker-
chief but could not find it; he had lost
1t. Sudden death would have been re-
lief; he was sure that after such gro
tesquerie Nilla could never bear to
have anything more to do With him;
he was ruined.
In his anguish he felt a paper nap
kin pressed gently into his hand;
soft voice said in his ear, "Wipe 1t off
with this, Ramsey. Nobodys MOTTO
ing"
go fhic fporodiblv oh q ri 70 hlo croo +t1ro