Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1923-12-06


grace. No speaker could have asked
a better audience. He had been well
heralded and expectation was at keen
est pitch. And no speaker ever better
improved his opportunity. The speech
ended while the audience was still
hungry 10 hear more--a trick that
many a less brilliant speaker might
well copy. He turned back to the
table and raised his hand. The two
long rows of youngsters stood In awk
wardly decorous expectancy. The low
tones OF the solemn grace fell softly
impressive; the minister resumed his
seat; q deep breath swept down the
two rows of hungry urchins; and--the
Festival was on.
A good length Of the candles In the
windows had burned away when Jack.
sauntering almlessly In the crowd,
found himself, for the first time that
evening. face to face with Texle, where
she leaned over Mrs. Mason's chair.
The girl looked up and smiled. He
was raking over his scant stock OF
words for one that would at the occa-
sion--words being about the hardest
things he had to reckon wlth--when
the young preacher. suave and affable.
by odds the most popular man In the
house, Joined the group.
Through the mind OF Jack warhope
flashed comparison between the
preacher and himself. The compari.
son showed dead against him. For the
first time In his life he was half
ashamed of his ungalnly clothes. Of
the great limbs. the massive chest and
shoulders - the "slx-foot-three" of
bone and Drawn upon which the Flat.
woods had exhausted Its utmost lmag-
nation, Its ultimate romance. when II
bestowed the title: Big Jack.
OF truth, the comparison between
the two men could not well have been
more striking. The young preacher
was very handsome man. The beard
and spectacles, the mass OF hair fail
ing about his ears seemed to invest
him with an air of exquisite mystery
an air that has such power to compel
the attention OF women.
The young woodsman, on the other
hand. with his uncouth and ill-itting
clothes, though far from plain, owed
whatever attractions he possessed to
his magnificent physique, a bold regu-
larity OF features. and an honest, open
frankness--a mans man.
With jerky. elaborate bow to
Jack. the young preacher turned to
Texie.
II was Just hunting for you, Miss
Texle, They want you at the punch
bowl"
The girl must have known the
woodsman was about TO speak to her.
His face was as easy to read as the
signs OF spring. she glanced az him;
dropped her eyes; laughed--a tribe
uneaslly he thought. knowing her so
well--and walked away beside the
minister.
The woodsman stood looking after
them, n queer sense OF emptiness In
his breast--a man nursed by nature,
untaught to juggle with the hearts
emotions.
The voice OF the gray-haired gentle
woman In the rocking chair recalled
his straying thoughts
Aren't they a fne-looking coupler
she was saying.
"Uh.huh."
AS l look back over the years since
we came to Buckeye. I remember that
you and she have always been play.
mates. My dear husband so often
used TO speak Of the beautiful COM
partnership between you. Long associ-
alton with one so sweet and innocent
must have had most ennobling infiu-
ence upon you"
at didn't hurt me none"
Dear me but you are laconic this
evening. my lad. DO you always speak
with such spartan brevityr
She might as well have said II In
Latin. Jack was frowning hard in an
effort 20 make out her meaning when
Zeke Pollok, obviously omnipresent.
stopped at the old lady's chair.
The woodsman was saved. He
walked away In the crowd. while Aunt
Liza, few seats away, never back
ward about airing her views. leaned
over toward the postmaster's wife and.
In hoarse hslf.whispers. laid down her
vastly positive opinion on the very sub
ject he had just escaped discussing.
Amt Il barnln' shame the way
rexie lets the new parson carry on
with 'er, an leavin' Big Jack out n
the cold IAN him wo'th any two o.
the parson, the best breath . ever
drawed. Shell rue Il. Mark my
words, Hammer Pollok. she'll rue H."
"Aw. shucks. Aunt Liza. you're tist
Jealous f'r Big Jack, him bein' about
y'u 8 much, an Uncle Nick a.teachin'
| I'm all ahauf ths v,a.,.lS an haxfns an,