Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-08-09

near the meat OF the matter now. I've
made Lettie give you an apology,
although goodness knows think she's
as much entitled to receive one as to
give it. But that's all right, cause
the teller that apologies is the one
that gets the benefit. Now I'll tell
you what I'm going to do"
Mr.. Wopple's eyes shifted nerv-
ously. He was like little fussy dog
that barks and threatens when he Is
the only one in sight, but subsidies
cringingly if powerful dog chal-
lenges. When it came to a contest
of wills, Mr. Wopple could measure
himself with remarkable but silent
accuracy.
First thing" she continued, "I'll
have Lettie replace that window.
Then I'm going to put up some wire
netting tween the two yards. That'1l
keep FIJI on his side. Next, I'll see
that Lettie never trespasses or inter-
feres with you. If she ever does, you
let me know, 'thout taking m B law
into your own hands UnderstandY
"Well," returned Mr.. Wopple slow
ly, Eyes, Of course, if you'd ruther
NEEDLE"
'I had" interrupted Mrs. Penfield
briskly. It'll suit me fine to be
given chance on any such occasion.
can think of pleasanter jobs, but ]
amt stopping at nothing that'll help
Lettie. You see, Mr.. Wopple, the chief
reason you and / are having this con-
versation is cause we got diff'runt
ideas about human rights. You think
children amt any good unless their
families would make fine reading in
a cyclopedia, and l b'lieye the Lord
never'd let 'em be born so prOmiscu-
Gus as constantly happens if the main
thing wasn't what becomes of 'em
after they get here. Course they in
herit lot, but you can bend it or
shape it in any direction you like
"Ain't no use in your looking down
on Lettie cause you don't know
where she come from. Chances are
her family trees got as many live
branches on it as yours has. There
amt much diff'runce in families
when you come right down to it-no
more'n there is In individuals The
main diff'runce in folks is in the
amount they'll confess.
Snow, what all this comes to is
Lettie's going to have her chance.
rye elected to give her breathing
space and what help can, and I'm
trusting the Lord to right the human
nature in her that's got a bit twisted.
But there's one thing you got to keep
in mind. That is, there amt nothing
won't do to help that child grow
into the fine woman she's capable Of
making. She amt going to be ia
vored, and she amt going to be pes
tered; but she's going to have her
chance"
Her right hand, resting on an old
post between the yards, clenched sud-
denly till the knuckles pressed the
blood from the skin; her fine eyes
glowed with unusual fire; but her even
color and the mild curve of her lips
showed how superbly she had herself
in control.
Mr.. Wopple was paralyzed-nOt by
the words, but by the fact that they
had been spoken by this woman whom
he had known for many months with
out suspecting the dynamic will power
hidden beneath her good nature.
Once before he had caught glimpse
Of it, to be sure when she had risen
to the defense of Thad-but that
glimpse had been mild compared with
the tense determination in her pres
ent attitude.
Before his astonished eyes her ex-
preston changed as swiftly and COM
pletely as the picture on the screen
when a new slide is inserted in the
lantern Her fingers uncurled; her
body relaxed; the fire in her eyes
blended into warm glow; her lips
curved back from her white teeth in
smile that was Unexpectedly youth
full.
"Guess you can see this is serious
matter with me, Mr.. Wopple. Aud
you're dead right thinking / hain't got
any man to lean on. Uncle Jerry
amt round 'nough to be counted on
steady, and as longs you'd noticed
yourself that l need mans help,
thought mebbe you'd be that man.
Mr.. Wopple coughad. 'Why-er-o'
course
"That's the idea," she encouraged.
'eYou could do it so easy, you know,
living so near and knowing Lettie al
ready-and ev'rything. You could
kind o. praise her when she's doing
well, and make little suggestion
now and then that'd start her in the
right direction"
Apparently Mr.. Wopple's shoulders
grew half an inch broader.
''She's sure too much for you, Mis-
Penfield," he admitted, "and as longs
you stand up for her through thick
and thin, blamed if 1t don't make me
mad. But now't you've come down
from your high horse, 1 don't mind
helpin' out what / can"
ooh, thank you." she acknowledged
with feeling.
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