The Opelousas courier., 1885-10-10
TRESPASSING G..

Il s,pose twill have to do !" sighed
Mrs. Jones, as she surveyed the well
filled pantry shelves with a dissatisfied
air. can l amt a sayin' it amt
enough, an good enough, such as it's,
put ! should like to treat 'em to a good
old-fashioned strawberry s~lortcake."
"And you make such delicious ones,
100. Aunt Sally /; they almost melt in
! body's mouth like snow. I'll tell
you what it's, I'll pick the berries.
You've no idea what a famous picker
/ am. Where shall | end them?'' said
Mrs. Jones' neice, Lottie Adams, who
had come to spend the summer months
as she took a bright pail from the
shelf.
"That's just it, deary. faint for
me to call a man stingy for seeing to
what is left in his care. Berries is
scarce now, an ] don't know of none
but them on the side hill mowin' field,
Peter Dorman carries on the place for
the heir-that's young Hugh-an' he
won't let a neighbor 50 much as look
at a berry for fear of hayin' the grass
tangled"
Il think I a get them and not
hurt the grass. You shall have the
shortcake for the sewing circle supper,
for ! am going to get the berries"
I wish you could, but Peter Dor
man'll drive you out as soon as he
finds you in the field" answered Mrs.
Jones.
I'LL try to get enough for the cake
before he sees me-" returned the girl.
IL was not very far, and soon she
was kneeiing amid the grass in the
side-hiIl moving field, searching for
the fragrant scarlet beauties hidden
there.
"l've not tangled the grass q bit"
she said, half aloud. as she arose and
looked around. 'And my pail is full
already. Aunt Sally will have her
shortcake. and Mr.. Dorman will never
know that | have been here"
Vain boast. At that moment two
men came owe the brow of the hill.
One in d farmers dress she recog-
nlzed as Peter Dorman; The other was
q young man.
There, Mr.. Hugh, | told you / saw
some n in the mowing-grass !" cries
Pete exultingly, while Lottie pulled
her sunshade lower to hide her Grim
soned face, and pretended not to hear
nor see them.
"Mr. Hugh
This then, was the heir Of the old
Danham Farm-the finest in the coun-
try. and she was simply a trespasser-
theft
Hush. Petel It's a lady, and she
will hear you"
IA lady is 1t, sir2' said Pete, indig-
nantly. 1T amt much of lady as
would be ~a-stealin' berries. | lake it.
Why didn't she ask ii she wanted EN- p
Why. indeed | Lottie felt that she
never wanted to take another berry.
" will speak to her and tell her that
this mowing-ield il private property"
said the young mar.
1850
Then he approached her and began:
"Ah, Miss-ah-Were You aware
that this--ah-that this-in fact, that
You are trespassingpn
Lottie bent lower as she picked
away mechanically.
"Poor thing-she's deaf. Pete r he
continued, a. he touched her shoulder.
Then she sprang to her feet and
confronted him, but bis words had
opened . way whereby to escape utter
humiliation.
With an innocent smile she began a
rapid pantomime with her fingers,
showing her pail and pointing to the
berries with childish pleasure.
she Is deaf, and a mute as well" |
added Hugh Denham in APPLYING tone,
while he answered her III the same 81
lent language. ..Don't make a motion
70 tell her that she ID not welcome
here. Pete. and let her eone here as
often 81 she
That's the way 4 pretty face win
make z fool of ! man I grunbled
Pete, ~ be walked away.
Hugh Denham, watching Lottie's
Enlschievous face. accompanied her Go
Ter aant's door. declining that lady's
limitation "a stop ~ dinner with the
laughing answer: