The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-17
UNDER THE PINES

- Mary Fenton was turning over the leaves
of the latest ummer novel in a listIess fash
ion. ss she sat on The Tavern" porch. The
glory of an early June day was about her.
Cedar. sugar Pine and dogwood cleaned
fresh In their different shades of green
from the shower of TIE day before. Shasta
lilies. wild roses, yellow viO!ets. and myrlacs
of other flo overs. clustering IN close brother
hood with the timothy grass IN the meadow
beyond. filled the clear air witha penetrat-
ing fragrance. The meadow lark trilled IN
the tall pines, and n small boy reported the
finding OF 8 flock of Young grouse In the
cornieId. The trout were beginning to jump
IN the Sacramento. aud the early anglers
were gathered IN email groups a little dis
tancs from her, discussing with deep intent
ness the respective merits of brown hackel
versus royal cOachman.
Mary Fenton loaihed the tone of the
place. IL reeked of fish; fish that had been
caught or hooked. and fish to be landed.
The atmosphere was mono;onOusly fshy.
IT generally Is on the Sacramento. where
the trout are wary and men are loyal to
flies.
case of nervous prostration was the os-
tensible cause of Miss Fenton's removal 20
the brecing mountain air: If the family
Galen had but known it, she was more
truly suffering from a severe attack oil m
decision of mind. Richard Drake was the
subject Of this wsvering. whereby her
cheeks were paled and her nights made
sleepless.
The hum of the refrain, when / Was on
the McCloud in 20" Dolly Warden Weigh
ing len Pounds" sounded to her ear like
giOberisb, as she LAID her book down In her
lap and fell TO thinking and arguing with
herself the same old story. Mary tenton
ia ess s nc' n ssin 81 20 ' mat tG nonor' OF s aesI hn nd'i b eSn
bred IN q selfish sort or way, with deepest
regard for the great ego. Happiness meant
TO her smooth sailing; a Ilppie on the
stream, unpleasantness: and unpleasant
ness. disaster.
In her trim, tailor-made gown she formed
aEatty picture. as she rocked slowly 10
and fro in a low chair. under the shadow OF
the hop vines that clambered up the pillars
of the piazza. Even the fishermen gave
her q little OF their admiration. together
with the specified bsautles-RDd the usher
men were not young The pucker or
thought on her brow was rather becoming.
In her unconscious pose she presented u
picture of tho best nineteenth-c century
cultivation.
Richard Drake drifted into her life. She
liked him. lie was we'll i~ntrod uced. be-
longing TO the brakes of boston. was hand
some. q tribe unconventional. which she
Tathered censured. and, lastly. was a bank
clerk with no fortune. and cared little Tor
smassing one. q lack of ambition that she
could rot quite comprehend.
AT first he startled her In her quiet,
measured existence. then amused. then IN
terested, and finally was the cause OF the
nervous prOstration and mountain trip out
of the season.
The Fentons had only a fair supply of
this worlds goods. Young sisters were
growing ND. anG with marriage Mary knew
that she had her own way TO make.
Richard Drake grew more fascinating. but
she could not yet decide whether NE was
worth living with poverty constantly In
the foreground; whether things she priced
dearest could DO given up for one mans
sake. This was the problem that troubled
her as she sat In deep reflection. until she
heard some one address her. timidly:
Would yon like some flowers. ma'amf"
Startled. she looked mp and saw d young
girl with hands extended full OF the won
derful pitcher plant that grows in abund-
snce up the slope OF Castle Crags.
"W here did you get themf'
"'Bout five miles from here"
did you 40 yourselff"
Miss Fenton looked curiously at the
young girl. who flushed slightly as she re-
plIed;
the hotel might like to buy some, as the
walks too rough for you"
IL will take them" che said.
The girl was a picturesque figure. tall
aud slender, with q crop of short reddish
cur!s clustering around her head and stray
Cling over the brim of an old cigarette hat.
which was faded into u dull blush gray.
and set we'll back on her head. leaving the
sun q good chance TO tinoe her face with
the rich brown color OF health.
She wore an old navy blue blouse with
collar turned low at tho throat, showing %
superb curve. Her short calico skirt was
dr-nched from scrambling through under
brush. and chung close TO Der figure. Her
old canvas shoes were a tribe large for her.
and seemed relics together with the hat
Mary Fenton's face lighted up with new
interest a. she looked at the 1.-The. we'll
poised young figure.
why. you've been ten miles this morn
ing. and il is so wet. and they say there are
rattlesnakes on Castle Crags."
The girl laughed. "Rattlesnakes." she
exclaimed. scOrnfuIly. Her large, gray
eyes looked at the speaker In indignant
protest. ''You don't suppose I'm such n
baby TO be skeered of q ~rettler. I've killed
many OF 'em round our cabin door in Ore
goD. I've got twelve rattles and q button
down at the camp III fetch up TO show you.
If YOU like, some day.
The fresh voice and honest soul looking
out from her great earnest eyes fascinated
Mary FeDton as she drew out her purse TO
pay for the orchids. and she tried to keep
her fOr awhile. Enthusiasm was not good
form in Miss Fenton's world. but It might
be permitted TO another GLASS. and the
mountains. rivers aud fishermen were 30
1ulI OF ennul 10 nor Just tbeD.
wv hat ~ your nsmeg" che asked.
'Kit-KIt Jones'" she replied. moving
away.
do you live in tho camp across the road
with the campers who came last weekl'
Miss Fenton asked with interest.
''Yes," she answered. in a low tone OF
voice. There's only me-. mother and Bill.
must go now. Pm the head of the She
bang. Bill lie sick" a shade passed over
her merry. childish face.
May / come over and see the ~rettles
some day. and will you bring me some
shasta liliesi"
The white kind that smells'" Kit ques-
TONED. bill likes them best. Yes, i know
the best place for them. NJ the rid ge."
she started away on q quick little run,
then looked back, shouting: ''You might
come this evening: may be company would
do him good"
She was graceful as a young deer az she
ran across the road and disappeared into a
cluinp OF pines. from the midst OF which
nsceEded a blue curl of smoke.
The day wore on and Miss Fenton had
not written the letter that sha had almost
decided was TO send Richard Drake TO his
fate. The long afternoon was coming TO n
close. Mrs. PeDdragon. Mary's aunt and
ohaperon. had repaired TO the spring with
. her chums for her sfteT-dinner glass of
soda water. The fishermen. after stealth
lily watching each others movements. had
skunk OF, one by one. IN different dlrec-