The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current, September 18, 1913, Page PAGE 5, Image 5
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1913. PAGE 5. THE elting By MARIA THOMPSON DAVIESS Copyright, 1912, by the Bobbs Merrill Company --WeII, I tSInk he is really Interested now from the way he danced most of his time with her down at the hotel the ther night, and I have hojjes I never had before. Now, Molly, do put him between you and her. sort of cornered, bo he can't even see Ruth Chester. She is too old for hiin." And Tom's mother locked at me over the orange peel as to a confederate. "Ilumph, I'd like to see you or Molly or any woman 'corner Tom Pollard," said Mrs. Johnson with a wry smile as she tasted the concoction in the wine glass. "I have put him at the end of the table because he is my kinsman and the only host I've gc t at rresent. Aunt Iicttie," I said regretfully. I always take every chance to rub In Tom's and my relationship on Aunt Bettie, so she won't noce our flirtation. "I'd put John Moore at the head of the table if I were you, Molly Carter, because he's about the only man you've invited that has got any sense left since you and that Chester girl took to visiting Ilillsboro. lie's a host of steadiness in himself, and the way he ignores all you women who would run after him if he would let you shows what he is. He has my full confi dence," and as she delivered herself of this judgment of Dr. John, Mrs. Johnson drove in all the cork3 tight and began to pound spice. "lie's not out of the widower woods yet, Caroline," said Aunt Bettie with her most speculative smile. "I have about decided on him for Ruth since ;he judge has taken to following Molly ibout as bad as Billy Moore does. But 6n't you all say a word, for John's nighty timid, and I don't believe, in fme of all these years, he's had a sin glt notion yet. If he had had he'd fcavs tried a set-to with you, Molly, like all the rest of the shy birds In tow. He doesn't see a woman as auytiing but a patient at the end of a spoon, and mighty kind and gentle he do?s the dosing of them too. Just the otier day dearie me, Judy, what has boJed over now?" And in the ex citement that ensued I escaped to the garden. - - j Yes. Aunt Bettie is right about Dr. John; he doesn't see a woman and there is no way to make him. What she had said about it made me realize that he had always been like that, and I told myself that there was no rea fion in the world why my heart should beat in my slippers on that account. Still 1 don't see why Ruth Chester should have her head literally thrown against that stone wall and I wish Aunt Bettie wouldn't. It seemed like a desecration even to try to match make him, and it made me hot with Indignation all over. I dug so fiercely at the roots of my phlox with a trowel I btd picked up that they groaned bo loud I could almost hear them. I felt as if I must operate on something. And it was in this mood tht Alfred's letter found me. It had a surprise in it and I sat back on the grass and read It with my heart beating like a triphammer. He had sailed the day he had posted it and he was due to arrive in New Tort almost as soon as it did. just any hour now I calculated In a flash. And "from New Tork iinmed-ately to Ilillsboro" be had written in words that fairly sung themselves jff the paper. I was fright ened so 'frightened that the letter shook in my hands, and with only the thought of being sure that I might be alone for a few minutes with It, I fled to the garret LEAF NINTH. When the Telegram Came. UUELT no woman ever In all the world read such a letter as that, and no wonder my breath almost failed me. It was a love letter in which the cold paper . was transubstantiated into a heart that beat against mine, and I bowed my head over it as I wet it with tears. I knew then that I had taken his coming back lightly; had fussed over it and been silly proud of It. while not really caring at all. All that aw ful melting away of my fatness seem ed just a lack of confidence In his love for me. He wouldn't have minded if I weighed 500. I felt sure. He loved me really, really, really and I bad 6at and w j&,hed him with a lot of men who were nothing more than amnsed by my flightiness or taken with my beauty and who wouldn't have known such love if it were shown to them through a telescope. I reached into a trunk that stood right beside me and took out a box that I hadn't looked into for years. His letters were all there and his pho tographs that were as handsome as the young god of love himself. I could hardly see them through my tears, but 1 knew that they were dim In places with being cried over when I had pat theni away years ago after Aunt Ade line, decir! that'T.was, tpbe married. Of Molly forereTgTTtTnnfro'nT'merstodcI "a more woe .stricken human being than I could possibly be, if I judged by ap pearances. "Molly. Molly," gulped Billy, "I am so sick I'm going . to die here on the floor," and he sank into my arms. "Oh. Billy, what is the matter?" I gasped and gave him a little terrified shake. "Mamie Johnson did It poked her finger down her throat and mine, too. he walled against my breast. "We was full of things folks glved us to eat and couldn't eat no more. She said if we did that with our fingers It would all come up and we would have "room for some more then. She did it, and I'm going to die dead dead !" "No. no, lover; you'll be all right in a second. Stay quiet here, in your Molly's lap and you will be well In "ist a few minutes." I said with a emile 1 fclfl in his yellow mop as I kissed the drake tail kiss spot. "Where's Mamie?" I thought to ask of little Billy with the greatest appre hension. "In the garden eating cupcake Judy baked hot for both of as. She didn't frow up as much as I did or maybe more," he answered, snuggling close and much comforted. "Don't ever, ever do that again. Bil ly," I said, giving him both a hug and a shake. "It's piggy to eat more than you can hold and then still want more. "What would your father say?" "Doc ain't no good, and I don't care what he says," answered Billy with spirit. "He don't play no more, and be don't laugh no more, and he don't eat no more hardly too. I ain't a-go ing to live In that bouse with him more'n two days longer. I want to I Kissed the Poor Little Girl Cry Spots. come over and sleep in your bed with blue ribbons on the posts and have ouplay with jne, Molly." . ' "Dbvrteay" thaT.Iover,"ever again," I said as I bent over him. "Tour fa ther 13 the best man In the world, and you must never, never think of leaving him." "I bet I will when I get big enough to kill a bear," answered Billy decid edly. "Say, do you reckon Mamie saved even a little piece of that cake? I 'spect I had better go see." " And he slipped out of my arms and was gone before I could hold him. Is "aonelyTioliseacross the gar den with the big and the tiny man In it all by themselves. And tears, from another corner of my heart entirely, rose to my eyes at the thought, but they, too, never fell, for I heard Mrs. Johnson calling, and I bad to run down quick and see what new delica cy had arrived for my party. Uncle Thomas Pollard had sent me a quart bottle of his private stock with the message to put the mint to soak Just one hour and twenty minutes be fore the men came. I made room for it beside the case of champagne on the cellar shelf and wondered how they would stand it all. We don't have champagne often In Hlllsboro, and when we do nobody seems to want to cut down on the Juleps, consequently well, nothing ever really happens! nowever. It must have been the cham pagne that made Tom act as he did. He was never like that before. Somehow I didn't enjoy dressing to night for my dinner as I did for the dance, and when I was through I stood before the mirror and looked at my self a long time. I was very tall and slim and well, I suppose I might say regal In that amethyst crape with the soft rose point, but I looked to myself about the eyes as I had been doing for years when I put on my Sunday clothes to go to church with Mr. Carter. He was always in a hurry, and I didn't care about looking at myself in the mirror anyway. Nobody else, ever looked at me and what was the nse? And tonight that Rene triumph made me feel no different from one of Miss Hettie Primm's conceptions that I had been wearing for ages with indiffer ence and total lack of style. I shrug ged my shoulder almost out of .the dress with what I thought was sad ness, though It felt a trifle like tem per, too, and went on down Into the garden to see If any of my flowers had a cheer up message for me. But It was a bored garden I stepped Into just as the last purple flush of day was being drunk down by the night The tall white lilies laid their heads over on my breast and went to sleep before I had said a word to them, and the nasturtiums snarled around my feet until they got my slippers stained with " green. Only Billy's bachelor's button stood up stiff and sturdy, slight- ly flushed with imbibing the night dew, . ' . I and Tipped meati Impertinent "wink. 1 felt cheered at the sight of them and bent down to gather a bunch of them to wear, even if they did swear at my amethyst draperies, when an amused Bmile that was done out loud came from the path just behind me. "Don't gather them all tonight. Mrs. Peaches." said Dr. John teasingly as he stooped beside me. "Leave a few for for the others." I waked up in a half second and so did all those prying flowers, I felt sure. "I was Just gathering them for place bouquets for for the girls." I said stu pidly as I moved over a little nearer to him. Why it is that the minute that man comes near me I get warm and comfortable and stupid, and as young as Billy and bubbly and sad and hap py and cross, is more than I can say, but I do. I never possibly know how to an swer any remark that ho may happen to make unless It Is something that makes me lose my temper. His next remark was the usual spark. "Better give them the run of the garden alone. Mrs. Molly. No show for 'em unless you do," he said laugh ingly, "or the buttons either." he added under his breath so I could just hear it. I wish Mrs. Johnson corl have heard how soft his voice lingeid over that little half sentence. She was so ex perienced she could have told me if it meant but, of course, he isn't like oth er men! , There are lots of questions I'm going to ask Alfred after I'm married to him Mr. Carter didn't know anything about anything and I never cared to ask him, but I wonder how you know when "Oh, you Molly!" came a hail in Tom's voice from the gate, just as 1 was making up my mind to try to think up something to wither the doc tor with, and he and Ruth came up the front walk to meet us. I wondered why I was having a party in my house when being alone in my garden with Just a neighbor was so much more fun but I had to begin to enjoy myself right off, for in a few minutes all the rest came. I don't think I ever saw my house look so lovely before. Mrs. Johnson had put all the flowers out of hers and Mrs. Cain's garden all over everythin and the table was a mas3 of soft pink roses that were shedding perfume and nodding at one another in their most society manner. There is no glimmer in the world like that which comes from really old polished silver and rosewood and mahogany, and one's great-greatjrrandmother's hand woven linen feels'llke oriental silk across one's knees. Suddenly I felt very stately and granddamey and responsible as I look ed at them all across the roses and sparkling glasses. They were lovely women, all of them, and could such men be found anywhere else in the world? When I left them all to go out into the big universe to meet the dis tinctions that I knew my husband would have for me. would I sit at salt with people who loved me like this? I saw Tet Buford say something to Tom about me that I know was lovely from the way be smiled at me, and the Judge's eyes were a full cap for any woman to have offered her. Then in a flash all the love fragrance seemed to go to my head Tom's mixing of that Julep had been skillful, too and tears rose to my eyes, and there I might have been crying at my own party if I hadn't felt a strong warm hand laid on mine as It rested on my lap, and Dr. John's kind voice teased into my ears. "Steady, Mrs. Teaches, there's the lov ing cup to come yet," he whispered. I hated him, but held on to his thumb tight for half a minute. He didn't know what the matter really was, but he understood what I needed. He al ways does. And after that everybody had a good time, the ginger barber and Judy as much as anybody, and I could see Aunt Bettie and Mrs. Johnson peeping in the pantry door, having the time of their lives too. That dinner was going like an air ship on a high wind, when something happened to tangle its tail feathers and I can hardly write It for trembling yet It was a simple little blue tele gram, but it might have been nitro glycerin on a tear for the way it acted. It was for me. but the ginger barber handed it to Tom. and he opened it and, looking at me over his full after many times emptied glass, he solemn ly read it out loud. It said: - Landed this noon. Have I your permis sion to come to Ilillsboro Immediately? Answer. ALFRED. It was dreadful. Nobody said a word and Tom laid the telegram right down In his plate, where it Immediately be gan to soak up the dressing of his sal ad. He was so white and shaky that Pet looked at him in amazement and then I am sure she bad the good sense to find his hand under the cloth and hold it or his shoulder hovered against hers and the color came back to bis face as he smiled down at her. I don't believe I'll ever really get the courage to look at Tom again until he marries Pet .which he'll do now, I feel sure. . And as for the judge and Rath Chester, I was glad they were sitting beside each other, for I could avoid that side of the table with my eyes until I had steadied myself a few sec onds at least The surprise made the others I had been dining seem statues from the stone age, and only Mr. Graves' fork failed to hang fire. His appetite is as strong as his nerves, and Delia Hawes looked at his composure With the relief plain in her eyes. Henrietta's smile In the judge's di rection was doubtful. But they were not all my lovers, and why that awful silence? I couldn't say a word, and I am sure I don't know what I would have done IfTt EadiTt "beenTor "the doctor He leaned forward, and his deep eyes came out iu their wonderful way and eeemed to collect every pair of ej-es at the table, even the most astounded, as he raised his glass. . We all held our breaths and waited for him to speak. "No wonder we are all stricken dumb at Mrs. Carter's telegram," he said in his deep voice that commands everybody and everything, even the terrors of birth and death. "The whole town will be paralyzed at the news that its most distinguished citi zen is only going to give them two days to get ready to receive him. 1 can see the panic the brass band will have now getting the brass shined up, and I want to be the one to tell Mayor Pollard myself, so as to sug gest to him to have at least a two hour speech of welcome to hand out at the train. We'll make it one 'hot time' Tor him when he lands in the old town, and here's to him, God bless himl Every glass high!" They all drank, and I -suppose it helped them. I wish I could have drained a quart, but I couldn't swallow a 6ip. though I did a good stunt of pretending, j The rest of this escning has paid me off for every sin I have ever com mitted or am ever going to commit Tom took Pet home early, and I hope they walked in the moonlight for hours. Tom is the kind of man that any pretty girl who is loving enough in the moonlight could comfort for anything. I'm not at all worried about him, twt i The hourly sat on my front steps and talked to Judge Wade must have brought gray hairs to my head if it was daylight and I could see them. Ruth Chester had said goodby with the loveliest haunted look in her great dark eyes, and I felt as if I had killed something that was alive and that I hadn't killed it enough. Dr. John had been called from his coffee to a patient and had gone with just a friendly word of good night, and the others had at last left the Judge and me alone also in the moonlight which I wished in my heart somebody would put out i They say among the lawyers that It is a good thing that Benton Wade is on the bench, for it is no use to try a case against him when he has the han dling of a jury. He just looks them in the face and tells them how to vote. Tonight he looked meIu the faceand told me how to marry, and I'm not sure yet that I won't do as he says. Of course I'm in love with Alfred, but if be wants me he had better get me away quick before the judge makes all hi3 arrangements. A Woman loves to be courted with poems and flowers and deference, but she's mighty apt to mar ry the man who says, "Don't argue, but put on your bonnet and come with me." The fact that it was too late to get Into the clerk's office saved me to night, but In two days Oh, I'm crying, crying in my heart, which is worse than in my eyes, as I sit and look across my garden, where the cold moon is hanging low over the tall trees behind the doctor's house and the light in his room is burning warm and bright They are right he doesn't care if I am going away forever with Alfred. His quick toast to him and the lovely warm look he poured over poor frightened me at his side as he drank his champagne told me that once and for all. Still, we have been so close together over his baby and I have grown so dependent on him for so many thinsythat it cuts into me like a hot knife that he shouldn't care if he lost me even for a neighbor. I shouldn't mind not having any husband if could always live close by him and Billy like this, and if I married Judge Wade I could at least have him for a family physician. No I don't like that! Of course I'm going with Alfred, now that an accident has made me an nounce the fact to the whole town be fore he even knows it himself, but wherever I go that light in the room with that lonely man is going to burn in my heart Hope it .will throw a glow over Alfred! (To be Continued) HON. W. H. NILS MEETS WITH A SEVERE ACCIDENT From Tuesday's Dally. Quite a severe accident befell lion. W. 11. Puis at his home, near- Murray, yesterday after noon that will put him on the re tired list for a few days. lie was driving around his farm looking after some work, when in some manner he foil from the wagon in winch lie was standing and struck the ground with bis lead, inllicting a very severe gash on one of his ears that may require several stitches to close. as well as receiving a severe in jury to his back. Medical atten tion was at once summoned and the injured man made as com fortable as possible under the circumstances and no serious danger is apprehended from the injuries. The news of the ac cident to iBlly will be learned with much regret by bis host of friends, throughout the county, although it is very fortunate that lie did not receive more serious injuries from the fall. Try a sack of Forest Hose Hour. Your money refunded if not satis factory. I PLATTSMTH FORTTMfEARS AGO Itoms of Interest to Old and New Residents of City Which Were New Forty Years Ago. Our people are just going for the butchers on the raise in meat. Is it mete they should? Dr. Wiley, the most original man in Cass County, raised a Sweet Potaloe three feet and one inch in length. For Connor's information we announce that our old reliable J. V. Johnson will act as Sheriff un til this court is over, when Butler will arise in all his glory and lake care of all the grain men and others. A dry goods clerk in this city went to see his girl the other night, and got lighting mad at her because he found two warm places on the sofa. The green eyed monster has full possession of that chap. L. F. .Johnson, the great organ ami piano man of Plattsmouth, has just received the finest Bur nett organ ever shipped this far west. It was made for the family of Mr. Hugh Orr. It is a very handsome piece of furniture and at the same time one of the sweetest and finest tuned instru ments of music. We beard the Rev. Mr. Bartle, of the Presbyterian church, for the first time on Sunday evening last. One thing is sure, the Pres byterians have a live man in the pulpit, and not a dead stick. Ono half the ministers show about as much life in preaching as a Cot tonwood man might, and many more preach about Religion as if it were some old long forgotten fable, and draw all their illustra tions from occurrences that hap pened centuries ago. 1 Ins is a fast age; men are pressed for time, bound up in the present and wrapped up in the world they know, for the most art. Our preaching needs to have, some thing of our every day life in it; something that appeals to the sene ot men in tlieir actions of today; not all old time theories. Christ ami his apostles always drew on the scenes of the time on the things before them, around them, for illustrations, and that is the way to preach now. The Rev. gentleman above mentioned has this happy faculty to recom mend him as a teacher. Married. At the residence of Jno. A. MacMurphy, Plattsmoul h, on the morning of the 21st inst by the Rev. Chaplain Wright, Mr. George DeTemple, to Miss Katie Murray, both of Blair, Washington county, Nebraska. And a big time they had of it! milted there the stars above only know. Go to it young folks, you're bound to anyway, and all the advice of a sage old gray haired editor, has no effect. We went and got married once our self, ami have been sorry ever since that we didn't do it years before. As we are. kind o'daddy to one of the parlies, and gave the bride away, we hereby honestly and sin cerely give you our paternal ben ediction, and charge you, George, and you, Catharina, that ye here by live honestly, soberly, and righteously, iu the fear of the ed itor of this paper, all your days, and that whenever we come to Blair you have a clean bed ready for our royal repose, and hot mufiins for breakfast. Chaplain Wright did the thing up in apple- pie (not appie-jacK; order, and n that couple are not married fast and sure and made into one (and i half) no couple ever was be fore, nor ever will be hereafter. The only thing that puzzles us t it - . is wnat maue me oriue cry so. They have been expecting it, they knew it was a coming; they have both chuckled over it; for months they have looked down with suT perior eyes on their less fortun ate neighbors, who wern't going to be married this fall, and yet, when the final pinch came, rna dame piped her eye and the "briny" dropped slowly but sure ly over the green silk wedding garment. Such is life! inexplic able, tender, unaccountable. George didn't cry a bit, until after all I lie pretty girls kissed him, and then be bawled right out, be- cause it was tne last time ne ex pected to get such a chance. H tiij'tlif - Children Cry 1 The Kind You Have Always iu use for over SO years, U4; Allow All Counterfeits, Imitations Experiments that triflo with and endanger the Jieaitu ot Infants and Children Experience against Experiment. What is C ASTORIA Castoria is a harmless substitute for Castor Oil, Pare goric, Drops and Soothing Syrups. It is pleasant. It contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Jfarcolic substance. Its ago is its guarantee. It destroys "Worms and allays Feverishness. For more than thirty years it lias been in constant use for the relief of Constipation, Flatulency, "Wind Colic, all Teething Troubles and Diarrhoea. It regulates the Stomach and Dowels, assimilates the Food, giving healthy and natural felccp. The Children's Panacea The Mother's Friend. GENUINE CASTORIA ALWAYS iBears the Z? s.s JZ,S The Kind You Have Always Bought In Use Fcr Over 30 Years THK CfNTAUR COMPANY, NEW VORK C IT V. il... Dr. Livingston has the limps cause, bunting for blind culverts, on the new grad along with Sam Chapman. Fred Sladelmann, our baker, has at last vacated the old build ing in "scary row" and moved all his traps up to the tine, new building on the corner of Sixth and Main streets, where the First National bakery looms up in bright gilt letters to warn all travelers and citizens that here's where you get your line oyster suppers, good square lunches or nobby little dinners. Frank Sladter is the locum mens, and sweeps around (with tae air of o prince or a Pole. A very line specimen of ()(- tumwa coal lias been left, on our desk by Mr. II. K. liurkett of the National Coal Co. of Iowa. It looks like No. i coal, and burns well. Mr. Burkelt has just established a new coal yard here, near the cattle yards, and his office is on the corner of Main and Sixth streets, witli Dr. John lilack. Mr. Kli P hi i inner, of the firm of Clark & Plummet", is now in New York and Boston selecting and -purchasing a stock of 'goods for their fall , trade. Mr. Plum met is an excellent judge of the kind of goods needed in this mar ket, and having every facility possible for making good bar gains himself, he expects to give the same chance to his custom ers on his return. Look out for a large, judiciously bought and well assorted stock of goods at Clark & Pummer's this fall. Mrs. Prisrila Jenks of Weep ing Water died after a short but severe illness, September 22, 1873, aged i3 years. Sister Jenks was loved by all who knew her. Her kind Christian character en deared . her to many friends. Willi her the ministers of Jesus ever met a smile of welcome; in her the poor ever found a sym H I ! .; , 13 n rAuToribBitii FbkAi:. Parade JucVDAYEM.SEPi30?ClTft JLtXCTRICAL -riFU5JS, VTONESDAY'iVIGHr 'OCTOBER'! GOROKATION; BALL? FRIDAY, .IRWIN XJROS.TR.CNTIER VAX. )5W "E. n - l-3i- Douglas.v6ouni.yiirXandLi vej: Stock Sh owe? (fu) r-i it - 'i in - 'ri : for Fletcher's n 1 Bought, and which has been lias borne tlio signature ot r f i u i 1 n V ana lias been niauo nnucr jus pcr ' sonal supervision since its infancy. no ono to deceive you in this. and Just-as-good arc but Signature of - t. . m Him, in mii.i mi i pathizing friend; if any needed a word of Christian encourage ment, with a smile it was cheer ful j" given. She filled the re sponsible position of superin tendent of the M. K. Sunday school, of which church she had long been a devoted member, with modest dignity. Her amia ble disposition endeared her t all. She left an agfcd mother and four children, together with her bereaved husband. Brother Win. Jenks, to mourn her loss. Cass County Central ; ra i ig ; A ssoc i a t ion . Tli i s a s soc ial io n met at Eight MiIc "(irove on Tues day, October 8. The principal business before the meeting was the propriety of erecting ware houses and of si art ing a co-operative store. The warehouse mai ler was laid on the table; and m regard l a co-operative slore, it was resolved that the 'rangers need one, and that I he initiatory store should be at We.'ping Wa ter, and a eunimiltce of three were appointed to form rules and regulations for its government, and to receive stock for the same. The meeting was largely attend ed, and finally adjourned lo meet again in regular session at Eight Mile drove the first Tuesday i'l January, 1 87 i . Aflei the busi ness of the meeting was ocr Mr. James Wood was called on for l speech, and did make a very neat short-horned, clean-limbed lilll.j "spout" rather llowery and a lit tle political, but then Jimmy is (ne of the sweetest talkers in lii county, and he has set his heart on being probate judge, you know, so we'll forgive him. MacMurphy was then called for and spoke his piece, without any politics, lie cause the moon was under ;i cloud, and it wasn't a good nighL for politics there, any more. Auto Bargain. On account of having taken the distributor's agency for Ne braska and western Tow a for the Henderson automobile, I will sell my Chalmers 36 aulo cheap for cash. First-class condition. Used one year. T. H. Pollock. V EYEWNa; 6 C TQ5ER.4 3 & liILD VVtST DHQV A '