Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-07-01
TRESPASSING.
BY ELLA n. STRATTON.

Il s'pose twill have to dol" sighed
Mrs. Jones, as she rested her hands
upon her broad hips, and surveyed
the well-filled pantry shelves with a
dissatisfied air. CAN [ amt a-sayin'
it amt enough, and good enough, such
as tbs, but | should like to treat 'em
to good, old-fashioned strawberry
short caker'
'And you make such delicious ones,
too, Aunt Sally; they almost melt in
a body's mouth like snow. A-a-ah !!
My mouth waters now for taste.
I'll tell you what it's, I'll pick the ber-
rles. You've no idea what a famous
picker | am. Where shall find them! I"
said Mrs. Jones niece, Lottie Adams,
who had come to spend the summer
months: as she tied a huge sun hat
over her short curls, and took bright
tin pail from the shelf.
That's just it, deary. 'Taint 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 old Denham farm in
the side hill mowin' field. Old man
Denham is dead and gone. Peter Dor
man carries on the place for the heir
that's young Hugh-an' he won't let
q neighbor so much as look at berry
for fear of havin' the grass tangled"
And good Mrs. Jones looked the
picture of despair.
Il think can get them and not hurt
the grass, Aunt Sally, laughed Lottie,
with a determined look in her saucy
blue eyes. "You shall have the short
cake for the sewing circle supper, for
[ am going to get the berries"
81 wisht you could, I'm sure; but
Peter Dorman'H drive you out as
soon as he finds you in the field" an
swered Mrs. Jones, with a nervous
laugh.
Nothing risked, nothing won. I'll
try to get enough for the cake before
he sees me. Wish me success, Aunt
Sally" returned the girl as she ran
lightly down the path that led "across
lots" to the Denham farm
1t was not very far, and soon she
was kneeling amid the grass in the side
hill moving field, searching for the
fragrant scarlet beauties hidden there.
1--WE not tangled the grass a Bit"
she said, half aloud, as she arose and
looked around. "And my pail is full
already. Aunt Sally will have her
short cake, and Mr.. Dorman will never
know that ] have been here"
Vain boast. At that moment two
men came over the brow of the hill.
One, III farmers dress, she recog-
nized as Peter Dorman, whom she
knew by sight, and she almost trem-
bled at the sight of the stout cudgel he
carried; the other was a young man,
neatly though plainly clad, and Lottie
was quite certain that he was stran-
ger in the place, as she had been there
two days and had never seen him.
There, Mr.. Hugh, told you saw
some one in the moWin' grass cried
Pete, exultantly, 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
Denham Farm-the finest in the coun-
try, and she was simply a trespasser
"a thief!
"Hush, Pete! It's lady, and she
will hear you"
Lottie's cheeks burned at the words.
GA lady, is it, sir?" said Pete, in
dignantly. at amt much of lady
as would be a-stealin' berries, take
it. Why didn't she ask if she wanted
'em %
Why, indeed! Lottie felt that she
never wanted to taste another berry.
And-no not even one of Aunt SalIy's
delicious short-cakes.
"Never mind, Pete. Pm sure we
do not begrudge her a few berries
when the whole hillside is red with
them. But will speak to her if you
are afraid for your grass, and tell her
that this moving field is private prop
erty," said the young man.
Then he approached her and began:
'Ah, Miss-ah-were you aware that
this-ah-that this-in fact, that you
are trespassing?"
Lottie bent lower as she picked away
mechanically. She felt that she could
not answer.
"Poor thing-she's deaf, Petep' he
continued, as he touched her shout
der
Then she sprang to her feet and
confronted him, but his words had
opened way whereby to escape utter
humiliation.