Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-05-06

"He is all right He is over at Four
teen, and not up yet, I'll wager. Now
suppose you go into the mems apart
ments and face the wall-that fire
looks most inviting!''
l did as l was hidden, in part at
least, while Jean dressed by the fire.
After little she gave me the "All
clear!' and / swept out and seized
her in my arms. -. It was very
wonderful way to begin the day.
'There now" she expostulated at
length, "let me get the porridge on.
That's more to the purpose"
'Porridge is poor business when
there's loving to be DONE" argued.
you won't always think So" she
replied as though with some strange
glimpse of prophecy, and set busily
about preparing breakfast. In these
operations she discovered that every
thing that could freeze had frozen;
we melted the butter until it ran over
and spread it on the toast. We could
not afford to be fastidious.
We ate and drank, and laughed and
were happy and cared not tuppence
for all the storms that ever blewl
About midforenoon came a sudden
smash at the door, and Jack precipi
tated himself into our presence. He
was masked in snow, but his first
glance was at me, and l knew by the
sudden drawing of his lips the relief
it was to see me safe and well.
81 was afraid for you, Frank" he
said "afraid you'd try it."
81 did try it." And then told him
the story of my attempt.
1--WE have great deal to be thank
full for" Jack said, soberly, when
had finished. "a very great deal, in
deed"
"Yes more than you know" l re-
turned, joyously, eager to spread the
my wife,"
Jack refused to be excited. Son
gratulations, old boy" he said, pressing
my hand, "but, really, that is hardly
a news item. Jean has been-well, on
the point Of consent for a long, long
while"
"Oh, Jack, that isn't fair!"
'Sorry, sister, perhaps it isn't quite.
But you two have been so beastly slow
over this business you've tied up the
whole progress of events, and now you
want me to be surprised about some
thing that's long overdue"
"Well, it's settled now, anyway"
said l, "and as soon as you and Mar
jorie can make up your minds we will
fix a date"
"As soon as Marjorie and can make
up our minds" Jack exclaimed "Son,
our minds were made up months ago.
We've been waiting, waiting At last
we concluded that we really must
speed things up little, so it was ar.
ranged that Marjorie would send you
over here last night, and would ac-
cidentally miss you in the gully and go
over to Marjorie's. OF course. we
didn't know there was a storm coming
1t rather overdid things from con
ventional point of view, but fortunate
ly Mrs. Grundy hasn't moved out here
yet" 1873
"Why, never thought of such a
thing ~ cried Jean. Indignantly. "How
can YOU
"Of course you didn't, you old DEAR"
said Jack, drawing her within his arm,
"and, I'll bet a wedding present, neither
did Frank. And listen, little woman.
you're getting one of the best little
chums and one of the whitest men be-
yond the Red river and the Rockies
and beyond. And as for you. you old
son-of-a-gun," punching me in the ribs,
.'if there are two angels In the world
today one Of them is Jean Lane"
Although the storm still ragged day
: light now struggled through the wind
swept screen of snow, and there was
no great danger in making the short
trip from Twenty-Five to Fourteen
Jack confessed that Marjorie was I'M
easy for me so went home very soon
after his arrival
Marjorie few into my arms as
opened the door. II was SO frightened.
Frank, so frfghtenedl" she whispered,
I'm half sobs. II didn't know 1t was
going TO be such storm. ! was al
most sure you'd come back and when
you didn't I couldn't help wondering.