The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-01-28
CHATTER II.

the rear Of the party, and presently the
latter said as she tugged at the White
Gipsy's sleeve, that she might slacken
her pace and permit the Others to forge
ahead.
"Ah say, salome, what a temper Nan
got in when ah spoke Of Hugh Eastwood
being drunk last neot at1the CONNER
cial."
"She did, but II seems you were mis-
taken, Nell" the other responded.
"Dut all wasn't, oh tell thee, Hugh
never seed Nan Crompton last meet,
ahll bet my lahfe, Hoo only said that
to yeX thee, salome"
ITO vex meP"
"What elseP Everybody knows that
Nan is gradely fond O Hugh, an every.
body knows, too, that he Ia very much
ta'en up with q better lookin' lass than
her. Tha knows, Salome, as we'll as
anybody who an what meeun." And
Nelldug her elbow into her friends side.
II know that Hugh Eastwood is moth
ing to me, Mellon my word he isn't.
And | believe that you and all the rest
arc mistaken when you think he cares
| for me-"
"Get off wi theel All tell thee again
that everybody can sec where Hugh's
fancy. lies, an that's what makes Nan
Blackledge SO nasty Mt tahmeS Hoo's
jealous O. thee"
cts without occasion, then, believe
me. Why, Hugh Eastwood never said
q word to me which would lead me to
think he cared for mo one bit"
"But he's said enough to others."
"That means nothing, Nell"
"But, s'posin' he had spoken to thee,
Salome?"
at would have made no difference in
my feelings. like Hugh, but not in
the way you think"
"Tha'art vexed, happen, because o.
what Nan said, All know that Hugh
does not care rap for her, Salome,"
"And know that l don't care rap
about either Of them. Thatll do now,
Nell. Shut up and let's catch up to the
others. They'll wonder what we are
talking about"
Nell saw that it was useless at that
moment tosplead any further in behalf
Of her friend. the young collier, so she
dropped tho subject; and qulckening
their pace the girls soon overlook the
others on the confines of the wood.
"Ah'll tell yo' what, lassos," Nan
Blackledge was remarking as Salome
and Nell came up. III we intend to
pick amy blegberries we shall ha' to
empty eaur breakfasts. What do 20
sey?"
then We con ill eaur things" cried
SThen we'll picnic in the wood
among those ferns there" chimed in
Salome. "If some o. the lads in the
village knew we were hero wouldn't
there be some downright good fun
come on, lassies?"
Salome was hurrying through the
stile dividing the wooded land from the
meadow they were in when Nan Black
ledge's voice arrested her feet. o
"Howd on, Sal Birmingham. We've
gotten nowt but cowd tay in eawr cans,
an ah meeun to ha somethin' better.
S'pose we milk ono O. thoose COWS |?
What do yo' sey?"
There was a chorus Of assent from
all, for the spirit Of mischief was ruiz
running high in the breasts Of the daring
lasses; and without more ado they
made their way toward the browsing
cattle. Some Of the girls emptied their
cans OF their contents, others stood at
the head OF n COW whilst Nan Black
ledge MIXED and Salome held tho ves-
sci to receive the thin, white, squirting
stream.
When two or three Of the girls drink
ing vessels were filled they ran into the
shady depths Of tho wood. There, So
Letting thick bank OF bracken, they
seated themselves and attacked the
food that they had brought in their
baskets; while their merry musical
voices and mufiled laughter pealed out
on the scented air.
"After that" said Nan presently,
when the whole OF them had finished
their meal, "all could do wi some des.
sert. Let's creep into Farmer Hilton's
orchard. There's plenty o pears,
plums, apples an a sorts O fruit theer.
Come on, lasses. Aim game for any.
thin this mornin'." ~
II don't think 1t would BIO wise to do
that, Man." salome remarked gravely.
"a bit OF fun is all right, but that
would be stealing, and might get US all
into very serious trouble"
''Besahdes," another lass broke in,
there's big bull dog at Farmer Hill.
toms. 1t took q lump eaut o. chaps
log last week that was in TIL orchard.
Aim not gooin' theer, Nam"
The thought Of the dog ruined Mans
proposal respecting the fruit. So hav.
ing concluded their repast, and pre-.
pared their baskets and cans for the
reception Of the ripe berries, they scat
tered themselves about tho wood, and
blackberrying began in earneAt,
The wood was two or three miles in
length, but less than half q mile In
width at its widest point. The southern
end Of 1t extended to tho confines Of
Carsland Park, while the other end I'D.
Joined the village Of Appleby, a mile
and half north Of Marsh Green,
The ground inside the narrow belt Of
woodland was very uneven In chasac:
tor rising suddenly in some places
and falling abruptly in others. Here
and there throughout Its whole length
and breadth were rounded hillocks GOV.
cred with olderberTy and blackberry
bushes, oak, bracken and other fern,
aud lush grasses, among which fox.
gloves and many other varieties Of sweet
wild flowers blossomed. Shallow ponds
covered with chick and weed, and ton.
anted by numberless frogs, newts, and
ack.sharps aboundGd In the hollows;
aud around and about these pools the
blackborrios throvo amazingly. Here
and thoro also wore pretty little dells
half hidden by tho thick underground
and trees whore the brambles and
dainty ferns climbed no the steep side
Of bare rock or crulnbly gravel, and
there ono might lie on tho NOISY turf