The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-10-18


| them from lone houses, and hard times
seemed to keep company with a poor
soil. But every foot Of the way led
deeper and deeper into an enchanted
land of lovely blue hills and green val
legs, lovely and sweet with much
waving grass and running water. At
last, on the edge Of broad meadow
with clear brook marked by some no.
BILE elm trees, Phe1ny spied the top of Il
white umbrella above the wild roses
and blossomed elders.
"That's himr she cried exeitedly;
"that's the pictur' mani Oh, oh, obi Do
stop the horse and let's be took in 20
groupr
Agnes face flushed, then turned scar
let. She had just raised her whip, and
inadvertently she gave Selim q smart
cut over the back which the delicately
skinned, high strung animal immediate
" resented by shieing and jumping into
the ditch. Phemy uttered shrill scream
that only frightened him the more. and
the .spictur' MAJ" who at that moment
was seated on a campstool transferring
the likeness Of the scenery to the can
vas before him with paint brush and
colors- jumped up. knocked his easel
into the wild hedge and sprang over the
fence to the rescue.
ssAgnesi Miss Ransomw he cried, not
knowing that he had uttered q word.
The wagon was on its beam ends, with
Seli1n sliding down an embankment on
all TOURS. He seized the horse by the
bit with a powerful hand and forced
him up into the road, backing the wagon
until they stood on level ground. And
then, still keeping hold Of the horse, he
took off his hat and gravely bowed to
the confused young lady, who had drop
ped the reins and whose face was still
covered with an ebbing crimson tide.
"Did you put yourself just there with
your white umbrella on purpose to
frighten skittish horsess" she managed
to say at last. II thought you were in
Europe"
The young man looked slightly dazed
as he stood there in the road with bis hat
off, having forgotten to put 1t on again.
81 came back from Europe as soon az
I heard that you were not"
'sOh." cried Agnes with great show
of vivacity. syou are the young person
who has been wandering about the fields
with Photographic camera, and chance
led you into the neighborhood Of Scrabble
HILL"
1t was now the young mans turn TIC
blush under his coat of tan.
Pardon me for coming here, Mise
Ransom" he said "A a low voice. u
could not keep away"
"Why should | pardon you, Mr.. Fal-
Ion? Are not the roads open to travelling
photographers and all varieties
'sOf tramps," he added quickly.
sit is you, that say it, Mr.. Fallon, not
L Possibly some of these strollers may
be friends in disguise"
He lifted his eyes to hers with smile
like fash Of sunlight.
Where on earth are you bound, Miss
Ransom, if may aslxsD
ITO the poor farm, and incidentally m
quest of the man who takes pictures to
satisfy my young friend here, who de-
sires above all things to be taken in her
best clothes"
ooh, Miss Ransom, if you would allow
me to come to Scrabble HillP
"Why not" said Agnes laughing, and
easily regaining her ascendancy over the
agitated young man. ssHaye not told
you that the highways are all free? And
now if you please you may mount into
the wagon, if you are not ashamed to
ride in market cart, for such it is"
Fellon sprang to the seat beside her,
and as if he felt that little audacity
was necessary at this stage Of the game
(and to tell the truth, audacity was moro
native to him than confusion of face),
he seized the reins and boldly turned the
vehicle at short corners on the narrow
road, scraping the wheels terrifcally.
"Why do you go to the poor farm, to
that discouraging place? Let US drive
off into illimitable space. ] have thou
sands of things to say to you"
Agnes meantime had turned around
to Phemy, who sat on the back seat
with her mouth wide open in utter be-
wilderment, to explain that Mr.. Fallon
was an old friend, and she went on to
hint that the young man was sometimes
afflicted with mild and harmless form
of dementia, in which he went about the
country with a Photographic camera on
his back.
After that memorable drive Fallon
got in the habit of strolling over to the
Scrabble Hill farm with singular punctu-
atty. His Photographic art seemed
speedily to fall into ruinous desuetude,
except as it was practiced on Miss Ran
som and Phemy, on the Burns family,
the horses and COWS and hens. He took
lively interest in the incubator, and
when the first chicks were Matched was
filed with enthusiasm for the process by
which they found their way into the
world. He admired the new henhouse,
and advised Agnes to procure turkeys be-
cause they took well in a sketch, and geese
because possibly the bird that lays the
golden egg might be found among them.
He even undertook the education Of
Phemy, who advanced much faster in
reading with him than under Miss Ram
SONS instruction. He advised her how
to get the best effects out Of her tempest
of reddish hair. SO that it might be in
troduced into picture.
Phemy was vaguely jealous Of him
and yet fascinated at the same time. He
hod alay4 fva ,,hofoore,,he oP i,ar with