The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1924-01-10
CHAPTER .VI--Continued.


or a truth, the comparison between
the w men could not Well have been
more striking. The young preacher
was a very handsome man. The beard
ami spectacfes, the mass of hair fall
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-fitting
clothes, though far from plain, owed
whatever attractions he possessed to
his magnificent physique, a bold regu-
larlty OF features, and an honest, open
trankness-a mans man.
With a jerky, elaborate bow to
Jack. the young preacher turned TO
Texie.
Il was just hunting for you. Miss
Texie. 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 at him ;
dropped her eyes; laughed-a trife
~uneasily he thought, knowing her so
weil-and walked away beside the
minister.
The woodsman stood looking after
them, a queer sense Of emptiness In
his breast-a man nursed by nature,
nntaught to juggle with the hearts
emotions.
The voice of the gray-haired gentle
woman In the rocking chair recalled
his straylng thoughts.
aren't they a ~fneIooking coupler"
she was saying.
"Uh-huh."
"As / looR back over the years since
we came to Buckeye, | 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 a most ~ennobllng inhu-
ence upon you"
st didn't hurt me none"
Dear me but you are laconic this
evening, my lad. Do you always speak
with such Spartan breyityf"
She might as well have said II I'm
Latin. Jack was frowning hard In an
effort to make out her meaning when
Zeke Pollok, ~efficiously omnlpresent,
stopped at the old lady's chair.
The woodsman was saved. He
walked away In the crowd. while Aunt
Liza, a few seats away. never back
ward about airing her views. leaned
ever toward the postmaster's wife and,
m hoarse Aalf-whispers. laid down her
vastly positive opinion on the very sub
feet he had Just escaped discussing.
Amt II q purnin' 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 e yer
drawed. She'll " II. Mark my
words, Hammer Pollok. she'll rue It."
saw. shucks. Aunt Liza. you're jist
Jealous fr Big Jack, him bein' about
y'u s. much, an Uncle Nick a-teachn'
I'm all about the woods an boxin' an
Sich."
ssNick Nick Pit would be utterly
impossible 70 commit to paper the ul-
innate contempt In the stifled tones
ar the lam sakesl What d y'u s'pose
/ care who the oil man teaches is
fool truck an boxin' tricks to? She'll
rue the day she draps a fine lad like
Big Jack-bound though e bean
fakes up with a teetotal furriner, jist
h,cayss . happens { be a mite slicker-
fookin tnrbbe-though, fr my part 4
don't consait I'm I'M iotum better
lookin' than Zig Jack Is. She'll rue Il.
Hammer Pollok. she'll rue IT. That par
son hain.t got all that PLAYER an
,.sechin' ways ~ nothin', now there's
ne business OF II, I-jeeminy
The postmaster's Wife had her lips
ref ready for her reply when there
came i sudden ~commotion ~ the door,
z strange man tall and powerfully