Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-11-25

gloomy statement that drew from the
proud and happy minister an unusual
ly harsh rejoinder.
"You ought to be kicked all the way
home for saying such thing as that,
Joe Skies" Turning to the slim, pretty
| girl who walked beside him across the
June-warmed campus, he said COM
fortingly: Don't mind this old croak-
| er, Jane dear"
A word in passing about Jane Sage.
Slender, graceful, slightly above
medium height, just turning into young
womanhood, she was an extremely
pretty girl.
She adored Oliver October. There
had been a time when she was his
sweetheart, but that was ages ago
when both of them were young! Now
he was supposed to be engaged to a
girl in the graduating class-and Jane
was going to be an old maid-so the
childish romance was over.
Late in the fall of 1911, young OH
yer, having passed the age of twenty
| one, packed his bag and trunk shook
the dust of Rumley from his feet, and
accepted a position in the construction
department of a Chicago engineering
and investment concern.
Early in 1913 he was sent to China
by his company on a mission that kept
him in the Orient for nearly year and
half. A week before Christmas. 1914.
the Rumley Dispatch came OUT with
| the announcement-unde a double
head-that Oliver October Baxter was
returning from the Far East, where he
had been engaged in the most stu
pendous enterprise ever undertaken
by American capital
When he arrived, he was met at the
depot by a delegation.
Il can't believe my eyes-no, sir, /
can't" cried old Oliver, quaveringly as
he wrung his sons hand. you're back
again, alive and sound"
You bet I'm alive" answered Oliver
October laying his arm over the old
mans shoulder and patting his back.
It's mighty good to see you, and it's
wonderful to be back In the old town
again. Hello, Uncle Joe! Well, YOU
see they haven't hung me yet"
"And they amt going to If 1 can help
it," roared Mr.. Skies, pumping divers
arm vigorously. mot on your life,
It's all fixed, Oliver. We've got you
the appointment of city civil engineer
of Rumley."
You needn't worry about that, IA
Their. I'll not accept the position"
Mr.. Baxter frightened you won't?
Good for you! Thatll show Joe Skies
and Silas Link they can't run every
thing
Presently they drew up in front of
the Baxter residence, and as they did
so an uncommonIy pretty girl opened
the front door.
Hello, Oliverw' she cried.
Hello, Janer' he shouted back, as
he ran up the steps. Gee! It's great
to see you. And, my goodness, what
big girl you are"
He was holding her warm, strong
hands in his own; they were looking
straight into each others eyes
You haven't grown MUCH" she said
slowly. Except that you are a man
and not boy"
That's it, he cried. "The differ.
ence in you is that you're a woman
and not a girl"
"Come in" she said, with a queer
| dignity that she herself did not under
stand
When he came downstairs, after
having unpacked his bags and scat
| tered the contents all over the room,
he found the company" already as
| sembled. AS might have been ex~
| pected, the guests included Rev. Mr..
Sage, Mr.. Skies and Mr.. Link, and
one outsider, the mayor of Rumley,
Mr.. Samuel Bedding.
whats this l hear?" demanded the
latter sternly, as he shook hands with
| the young man. 'Your fathers just
| been telling us you won't accept the
distinguished honor the city of Rum
ley has conferred upon you. What's
the matter with it,"
"The truth of the matter is" Oliver
answered seriously, II have other
plans. I'm going Over There il Feb
ruary with the Canadians. It's all
settled Pm to have my old job back
when the war is over
"But it's not our war;" cried Mr..
Skies.
ITS everybody's war;" spoke young
Oliver out of the very depths of his
soul. "We will be in it some day.
Oh, I'll come back, never fear. You
see, Uncle Joe, I've just got to pull
through alive and well, so that 1 can
be hung when nv time comes"