Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-18

I Henry nlfnSeM was barren OF entertainments
and her mind roved and craved
1t was q rude affair, its clumsy motiv,
power horse tramping round in the middle
the seats rough and shaky.
1t was ten cents a ride. They climbed q,
when 1t had stopped and refned, and went
swimming round 1t had loud creak, which
sounded above che buster Of the band, ard
their seats Iggbed The groves thickes,
population was here. There were many
spectators, talking and laughing and eating
and the girl bridled with enjoyment Of then
regard She famed herself with her hand
kerchief. and then opened her paper bag and
ate popcorn and peanuts, and when the ma
chine stopped she did not get up.
THAT couple over there's been around two
or three times, she said merely, eating con-
tentedly on. They took three turns. Then
they Jagged back to their tree arm in arm.
Oshar pairs were under surrounding trees,
sitting on shewls or buffalo robes, OF in bug
gies standing empty tbilled.
Mercy I should think twas hot enough
to sit on the ground, said Miss Scott as they
sat down.
So far she had talked necessarily and So
renely, but she suffered now q lowering of
the needless youthful spirits which had sus-
tanned her. She looked at Henry in sudden
curiosity; he was sitting quiet, his green
lined hat on his knee, and looking at her.
She was fiattered by his unremiteing admi-
ration, but she was puzzled by its lack OF
product
you ain's much of a tslker, be your she
said. well, guess l CAB enough for two
Amt you going to eat anythingi / don't
want to eat it al.
He opened his bag and they ate in silence
for a time. Here and there people We're
spreading cloths on the grass and Juggling
heavy baskets from wagons.
AZ spose they'll all be having dinner
pretty soon. said the girl, looking around
'<Our loads going to eat all together. Well,
| I've eat so much stuff now don't believe I
could touch thing" But she turned her
eyes restlessiy about, tnunching What ara
you going to do Tor dinneri" she queried.
Il brought little something, said Henry.
He had brought some bread and meat and a
boiled egg in his pocket.
Miss Scott searched the bags for the candy
without further question. a few moments
back, IN her airy complacence, she would
have asked him to eat dinner with their load.
but the inclination that would have prompted
it was subdued. She chewed her candy in
silent wonder at him, and the displeasure
that comes SO easily to her age and kind,
cycling him covertly down his clean, white
length. Her mind which had wavered be-
tween her first derision and her later respect,
settled itself. She reflected that he could not
say boo to goose. Yet she could not &C
count for his backwardness; no experience
defended it. There YVES nobody within i'm
mediate sight, and guided by her crude ira
ditions, with the matter Of fact conceptions of
them which robbed them Of harm, she had
looked for him to offer 10 hold her hand
''Well, believe l am thirsty again. she
said. "'Tain't much wonder I've ct so
much"
DO you want some water9n said Henry.
Some idea Of her dissatisfaction penetrated
to his dizzied mind and he spoke anxiously.
"Oh, I don't know" said Miss Scott She
got up, shaking the shucks and orange skins
from her stained lap. They've watermelon
up to one of the stands; l saw It,"
He had not much money left, but he took
It out willingly.
II might as wen go long" she said. follow
ing, her eyes roaming widely. "There's
Miny Cone. Well, there's Dave and Gil.
thought 'twns funny where they'd gone to-.
She fingered, flushing and giggling. "Wen,
go on" she said, over her shoulder, 'I1l wait
here"
He hurried back with two slices of water
melon on piece of brown paper. But she
was gone. He was perspiring with his haste
and the extreme heat the moisture rolled
down his face; his collar was wet and wilted
and the melon dripped down his clothes He
Stood his legs close together, and stared at
the place where he had left her, and young
fellow who stood watching broke into GUT
faw. ''Youi' girls lit out" he said
The woman whose horse he had watered
came within range, driving flock Of chill
dren before her. "You had your dinnerw
she called ont Don't you want to come
and set down with uss We got a plenty"
And accepting his refusal, she brought back
to him a cup of cold coffee, some cold corn,
and piece Of cake. He sat down and ate it.
He bad but FIVE cents left, and his thoughts
went back to Mary. A popcorn ball WIS the
most he could buy for five cents, and, paus-
ing in sobered reflection, he made careful
selection of one, smoothed it's red paper
around it and put it safely into his pockst-
He started home late that afternoon, walk
ing at the side of the road down which the
homebound picnickers drove in long pro
cession and a long, dense cloud Of dust, which
choked and covered him One after another
offered him lift, but he tramped on and,
steadily covering the miles, tnrned through
different cross roads and left the last Of the
picnic behind him.
1t was o'clock-S Tie heat Of the day
had gone with the sun, and the evening was
coony cloudy. He went through wild roads, |
meeting nobody, and across fields and |
through lanes, TO shorten his journey; his |
feet and clothes were wet with the heavy |
dew. The chirping Of far of frogs and near |
thickets WAS al the sound, and the darkness |
grew. The stubbled cat fields, q belated hay
stack now and then, and the worn rails Of |
the fences caught the last light, and the !
white heads OF wild carrot came out like |
stars along the wayside.
Three miles from home he heard the slow
tread of hprse's feet and faint rattle, and |
Schraader's peddling wagon stopped as hs |
came in sight. Mary was alone on the seat.
We GOT home kind O. early, Henry she
sad. ''and | thought I'd drive along back .
little ways and meet you
He got up beside her, where she sets4aidly, |
and then, looking at her for a moment, fof
the first time in them lives ne put his arm ON
her shoulders and kissed her; and they drove
on silently in the quiet nigns-Emma A. |
Oppsr III Montreal Star.