Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-06-17
MERCY REU0MM len DED.

1 say, Paul, what do you think
You know Deep Dell"
"Why, Charlie, of course ] do"
interrupted bright voice, as the
impatient news-carrier, in the form
of a restless lad of fourteen, clatter1
ed into the quiet, sunny kitchen,
and checked the important work of
cake making with his abrupt in
quiry.
swell, you can't go there any
more. The owners come back, and
stuck up bills all over verything,
that trespassing won't be allowed.
It's shame. | think"
And Charlie sat astride a kitchen
chair and looked dolefully at his
sister, as she put down the cake
pan and regarded him in turn.
The owner of Deep Dell has come
back she repeated musingly.
" es, and locked up all the gates
and stuck up notices that he Will
punish trespaSsing on the property.
And. Paul, the strawberries are just
ripe" added Charlie, suggestively,
looking at the thoughtful face of the
girl, as she still considered the start
ling news of the 'squlre's return,
after SO many years of absence.
The word strawberries aroused
her
Its a shame!n she flashed out
then, stamping a strongly clad foot
on the brick hearth as she poked her
cake pan into the oven "And L
shall not mind his notices. Notices,
indeed - she scoffed, with d high
head. Il have picked Strawberries
from Deep Dell farm ever since |
was a little child; and | mean to
pick them again to-day"
but he'll punish treSpasSers,
urged Charlie, with scarlet delight,
thinking of the cake and straWber
ries for supper.
Pauline furled her apron like flag
and nodded her head.
''Let him."
"What would you do ?" wickedly
urged the spirit of mischief. rocking
his chair.
Let him. laconically retorted
Pauline, as she made things tidy
about the kitchen, and reached up
for basket beside the dresser.
''But look here, Paul, you're the
minister's sister, you know, and
ought to set an example of-of-"
The boy floundered in moral
slough as the steady eyes of his sis,
ter settled on his face.
'If you say honesty, Charlie
Kirk" she said, calmly tying her
sunbonnet strings under her round
chin, ''you shall not have one berry
no, nor cake either. Minister'S
sister or not, | consider | have the
right to those berries, when | gath
cred them years and years before he
ever knew anything about them"
And she walked resolutely to the
door.
"Well, if he runs across your
bow" advised Charlie from the gate,
watching her resolute face with sat
isfaction, ''just put up your board
ing nets and give him broadside."
Charlie had naval aspirations for
the next year, and was cleaning
knowledge from course of Marry
ats novels as a useful preliminary.
Paul trudged away in silence,
bordering upon two subjects-the
'squire's return from his rowing life,
and the indignity he had put upon
the village by his notices and barred
gates.
Il will look out for my rights"
she concluded, illogically, as she
climbed the fence into the straw
berry patch, land the people can
take care of themselves.
No thought OF the 'squire'S right
entered her mutinOuS little head,
as she filled her basket with luscious
fruit.
David always brings home COM
pany on Friday evening, she solilo-
QuiZed as she picked lndustriously,
and whoever it is will enjoy these
berries, | know"
She filled her basket evenly to the
brim, and arose with flushed cheeks,
disheveled hair, sunbonnet hanging
down by the string tied under her
chin, to find her face to face with
stranger-a man who stood regard
ing her quietly.
Paul stood motionless. He must
be a tramp, in that old brown coat,
sloucn hat, and dusty top boots.
''If you please" he said very po-
litely for tramp, sis this trespass
ing ?"
Paul thought of the notice and
the punishment attending the act,
and was sorry for the man.
at is" she said calmly, "and you
had better leave at once, for there is
no knowing what the owner might
do, if he caught you"
And she lifted her basket majesti
cally.
''Is he so very hard, then ?" asked
the tramp, with humble Difference
to her manner
II fancy he is a--tYrant.N replied