The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-03-25
A FAIR EXCHANGE.
BY F. G.

''and doing nobody any goodr"
The golden summer sunsh .e was
stepping all the uplands in yello, bright
ness, and the wild strawbeI lies for
which the Leigh woods are &C famous
came frcighting the air with sweetness.
Such strawberries too-great blooming
masses of scarlet, outlined against their
rank, green leaves, as if some enchant-
ed hand had hung all the forest aisles
with glittering pendants of amethyst.
The jelly they would maker pom
lered Phyllis. shading her large black
eyes with one hand. ''And the pre-
serves. l really do think that when Hes
ter took the cottage, we ought to have
had the privilege of these woods into
the bargain, more especially as Sir
Edgar Leigh is abroad, and the fruit is
doing nobody any good"
And pretty, wilful Phyllis drew q deep
sigh, as the wind waited a fresh gust Of
fragrance toward her-the sweet, inde-
scribable aroma Of ripening grapes in
the crucible Of sunshine.
She vas q pleasant picture to gaze
upon, fair as q lily, yet with laughing,
sloe-black eyes, long-lashed and almond
shaped, q saucy, refr0usse nose, and
ups AikS u CACAb AOoCOad- hha ~ onO
stood there, with her dimpled hands in
resolution formed itself in her heart.
II will have them," she exclaimed
with q determined air, "as we'll as tho
schoolboys and the sparrows. And if l
were to ask that crusty old agent, I
know he'd refuse, SO I shall Just omit
the little ceremony"
And Phyllis went home to the little
cottage on the edge of the wood, which
had once been a porter's lodge to tho
Leigh estate. and told her sister what
she had determined upon.
s.Phyllis," said Hester Grant, who
was ten years older than her sister, and
q good many degrees graver, "pray
don't think OF such a thing"
..Why notP" said her sister.
at would DO stealing"
mo, it wouldn't" stoutly argued
Phyllis. There they grow, doing no.
body any good; and it's q wicked. sim
full shamei And Sir Edgar is in Paris.
and that cross old crab OF an agent sets
up a cry. II one does but break of o
mric OF leaves. No. Hester. there's no
use arguing; the strawberries I want,
and the Strawberries I'll haver'
II wouldn't" said Miss Grant.
81 would" said Phyllis.
And she took down a little wicker
basket, with a twisted handle and a
double lid, and tripped of.
How are you going to get at them,"
said Hester.
81 shall climb over the hedge" said
Phyllis.
ssYouP" cried Miss Grant.
..Yes, IT.
Whilst she was engaged gathering
the scarlet spoils that grew ripe and
tempting within her reach, there was q
cracking of dry leaves under foot, and
a tall young man, in a suit of dark-col-
ored cloth and a Tyrolese hat, stepped
lightly into the forest glade.
''Its the new curate," said Phyllis to
herself. ITO think that he should have
Numbered along at this very time of all
others! But l may as well make the
best of it."
And she turned round to greet the be-
wildered newcomer with a sweet smile
and the utmost self-possession.
'Win you have some strawberries?'
said she, holding out the twisted wicker
basket.
IL beg your pardonr stammered
the stranger; s'but l must have mistak-
en- my way. I supposed these were the
Leigh woods"
$50 they are," said Phyllis; land
am stealing the observation-disclosures
you see. we-my sister and myself
have rented the little cottage yonder,
and l really think the Strawberries ought
to go with the cottage-don't your"
Really" said the stranger-Phyllis
had perceived by this time that he wa
tall and straight, with pleasant haze
eyes, and n long, silky moustache-..
know SO little about the property here
-
..Oh, of course not" said Phyllis, sit
ting down on . fallen tree, with her lit
tie apron full of ripe fruit. "But l car
tell You. Sir Edgar Leigh, is such I
old fudge that n can't ask fol
so much as a bunch of wild flowers:
regular crab, you knowr' opening hel
bright eyes very wide, to emphasize thu
idea.
s.How very disagreeable," said Oh,
stranger, who had taken q seat on til,
NOISY log, beside Phyllis, and was eat
ing strawberries as If it were the mos
natural thing in the world.
$50 l Just made up my mind to hell
myself" said Phyllis
$50 1 perceive" said the hero of til,
silky moustache.
.'Wouldn't you, il you were in m,
placer" said Phyllis.
Certainly l would" said the gentle
man. .and. II you will allow me, ] vii
help you to help yourself"