Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-16

"You amt muchsof talker, be your she
said. well, guess l CAB enough for two.
Amt you going TO eat anythingi don't
want to eat it ALL"
He opened his bag and they ate in silence
for time. Here and there people were
spreading cloths on the grass and Juggling
heavy baskets from wagons
Il s'pose they'll all be having dinner
pretty soon, said the girl, looking arou/d.
Our loads going to eat all together. Well,
I've eat so much stuff now don't believe
could touch thing" But she turned her
eyes restlessly about, munching. "what are
you going to do for dinnerF' 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 bad wavered be-
tween her first derision and her later respect.
settled itself. She reflected that he could not
say boo to a goose. Yet she could not ac-
count for his backwardness; no experience
defended it. There was 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 to hold her hand.
We'll, believe am thirsty again." she
said faint much wonder I've ct so
much"
Won Na..2f II
Some idea of her dissatisfaction penetrated
TO his dizzied mind and he spoke anxiously.
''Oh, 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; saw it."
He had not much money left, but he took
it out willingly.
Il might as well so long, she said, follow
ing, her eyes roaming widely. There's
Miny Cone. Well there's Dave and Gil. |
thought twas funny where they'd gone to.n
She fingered, flushing and giggling. well,
so on" she said, over her shoulder, ''I'n wait
here
He hurried back with two slices of water
melon on a piece of brown paper But she
was gone. He was perspring 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 a GUT
faw. Your 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 dinnerr
she called out. Don't you want to come
and set down with usi We got a plenty
And accepting his refusal, she brought back
to him cup of cold coffee, some cold corn.
and piece of cake. He sat down and ate il.
He had but five cents left, and his thoughts
went back to Mary. A popcorn ball was the
most he could buy for five cents, and, paus-
ing in sobered reflection, he made a careful
selection of one, smoothed its red paper
around it and put it safely into his pocket
He started home late that afternoon, walk
ing at the side of the road, down which the
homebound plcnickers drove in a long pro
cession and 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, turned through
different cross roads and left the last Of the
picnic behind him.
1t was o'clock-S. The heat of the day
had gone with the sun, and the evening was
coolly 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 all the sound, and the darkness
grew. The stubbled cat fields, a 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 IA horses feet and a faint rattle, and
Schraader's Peddling wagon stopped as he
came in sight. Mary was alone on the seat
We got home kind o. early, Henry. " she
said, and thought I'd drive along back a
little ways and meet you"
He got up beside her, where she sat staidly.
and then, looking at her for a moment, for
the first time IN their lives he put his arm on
her shoulders and kissed her; and they drove
ON silently in the quiet night-Emma A.
Opper in Montreal Star