The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1923-09-28
INsTALLMENT NO. 20.


early dinner at three o'clock, Miss
Pink habitually retired to her own
room to mediate as she expressed
it. Her 'meditations invariably end
ed in sound sleep of some hours;
and during that interval Isabel was
at liberty to do as she pleased. After
considerable hesitation her implicit
belief in Meody's truth and devotion,
assisted by a strong feeling of curl
osity to see the companion with whom
the steward had associated himself,
decided Isabel on consenting to keep
the appointment
Taking UP her position beyond the
houses, on the day and at the hour
mentioned by Moody, she believed her
self to be fully prepared for the most
unfavorable impression which the
most disagreeable OF all possible
strangers could produce
But the first appearance of Old
Sharon-as dirty as ever, clothed in
a long. frowzy. gray overcoat, with
his pug-dog at his heels, and his
smoke-blackened pipe in his mouth,
with a tall white hat on his head,
which looked as If it had been picked
up in gutter. a hideous leer in his
eyes, a jaunty trip in his walk-took
her so completely by surprise that
she could only return Moody's friend
ly greeting by silently pressing his
hand AS for Moody's companion, to
look at him for a second time was
more than she had resolution to do.
dog, and with good reason; so far as
appearances went, he was indisput-
ably the nobler animal of the two.
Under the circumstances, the inter
view threatened to begin in a very
embarrassing manner. Moody, dis
heartened by Isabel's silence, made
no attempt to set the conversation
going; he looked as if he meditated
a hasty retreat to the railway station
which he had just left. Fortunately
he had at his side the right man (for
once) in the right pace. Old Sharon's
effrontery was equal to any emerg-
ency.
81 am not a nice-looking old man,
my dear, am II" he said, leering at
Isabel with cunning. half-closed eyes.
BLESS your heart! you'll soon get
used to me. You see, l am the sort
of color, as they say at the linen
diapers, that doesn't wash well. It's
all through love; upon my life it is!
Early in this present century | had
my young affections blighted. and
I've neglected myself ever since. Dis
takes different forms, |
miss. in different men. / don't think |
/ have had heart enough to brush my |
hair for the last SO years. She was
magnificent woman, Mr. Moody, and
she dropped me like hot potato.
Dreadful. Dreadful! Let us pursue
this painful subject no further. Ha!
here's a pretty country. Here's nice
blue sky. admire the country, miss;
| see so little of it, you know. Have
you any objection to walk along IN
the fields? The fields, my dear. bring
out all the poetry of my nature
Where's the dog? ere, PIGGY. Puggy!
hunt about. my man, and find some
dog-grass Does his inside good you
know. after meat diet in London
Lord! how I feel my spirits rising IN
this fine air! Does my complexion
look any brighter. miss? Will you run
a race with me, Mr.. Moody, or VIII
YOU oblige me with back at leap
froo2 I'm not mad, my dear young
lady: I'm only merry. live, you see,
in the London stink, and the smeh OIL
the hedges and the wild flowers is
too much for me at first. 1t gets into
my head. it does. I'm drunk AS
live by bread, I'm drunk on fresn ar!
oh! what jolly day! Oh! how young
and innocent do feel" Here his IN
nocence got the better OF him. anu
he began to sing, "1 wish | was
little fly, in my loves bosom 1or 10
lie,' ullew! here we are on the nice
soft grass, and. oh, my gracious
there's bank running down into
hollow! can't stand that, you KNOW
Mr. Moody, hold my hat, and take
the greatest care Of it. Here goes LOT
roll down the bank"
He handed his horrible nat TO tne
astonished Moody, laid himseil iia'
on the top of the bank and delioer-