Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-02
UNDER THE PINES.
From the Overland Magazine.

..Ee:zAM ''N@ ""
TkNAEVHl AIRY FENTON WAS
fENLcNMl turning over th Q
NE tkBNSNN leaves of the lhtest
1s +: =: 9: :: 6: : ::
glory of an early
June day was about her. Cedar, ugar
pine and dogyood cleaned fresh In
their different shades Of green from the
shower of the day before. Shasta lilies
wild roses, yellow yiolets and my;iads
or other flowers. clustering In Close
brotherhood with the timothy grass in
the meadow beyond. filled the clear all
with penetrating fragrance. The meadow
lark trtlled in the tall pines and a small
boy reported the finding OF flock of young
grouse IN the cornfield. the trout were be-
ginning to jump in the Sacramento. and the
carry anglers were gathered i'm small groups
little distance from cher. discussing with
aeep mtentness the respective merits OF
brown hackel versus royal coachman.
Mary Fenton loathed the tone Of the
place 1t reeked of fish; fish that had been
caught or hooked. and fish to be landed
Inc atmosphere was monotonously fishy
1t generally is on the Sacramento. where
flies.
A case of nervous prostration was the
ostensioie cause of Miss Fenton's removal
TO the bracing mountain air; il the family
Galen had but known II, she was more truly
suffering from severe attack Of indecision
OF mind. Richard Drake was the subject of
this wavering. whereby her cheeks were
paled and her nights made sleepIess
The hum of the refrain when / was on
the McCloud in &C." Dolly Warden weigh
ing ten pounds" sounded to her ear like
har oh CHI 1oiA her .a a
lap and fell to thinking and arguing with
herself, the same old story. Mary Fenton
had not been OF the toilers of this life, nor
did she aspire to that honor. She had been
regard for the great ego. Happiness meant
to her smooth sailing; q ripple On the
stream. unpleasantness; and unpleasantness
disaster.
natty picture. as she rocked slowly to
and fro in a low chair, under the shadow of
the hop vines that clambered up the pillars
little of their admiration, together with
the speckled beauties-and the fishermen
were not young. The quicker Of thought on
her brow was rather becoming. In her an
conscious pose she presented picture of
the best nineteenth-century cultivation.
The world was very serene to her when
Richard Drake drifted into her life She
liked him. He was well introduced, belong
ed to the brakes of Boston. was handsome,
trifie unconventional which she rather
censured, and lastly. was a bank clerk
with no fortune and cared little for amass-
ing one. lack of ambition that she could
not quite comprehend.
At first he startled her in her quite
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 up. and with marriage Mary knew
that she had her own way TO make. Rich
ard Drake grew more fascina ting. but she
could not yet decide whether life was worth
living with poverty constantly in the fore
ground; whether things she priced dearest
could be 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 you like some flowers. ma'am?"
Startled. she looked up and saw young
girl, with hands extended full OF the won-
derful pitcher plant that grows in abund-
Where did you get them?
Bout five miles from here"
Ibid you go yourself?"
Miss Fenton looked curiously at the
young girl. who flushed slightly as she re-
"'course. I thought may be you ladies'
at the hotel might like to buy some. as the
walks too rough for you"
Il will take them" she said.
The girl was a picturesque figure. tall and
clustering around her head and straSs,ltng
over the brim of an old cigarette hat. which
was faded into dull blush gray, ana get
well back on her head. leaving the sun a
good chance to tinge her face with the rich
brown color of health.
She wore an old navy blue blouse with
collar turned ION az me 'hrTh s sriv, os
drenched from scrambling through under
brush and chung close to her figure. Her
old canvas shoes were trifie large for
r., ra.ls xx-ffh fha
hat.
Mary Fenton's face lighted up with new
interest as she looked at the 1.-the. we'll
poised young figure.
Ing and 1t is SO wet. and they say there are
rattlesnakes on Castle Crags.
The girl laughed. "Rattlesnakes"' she ex-
claimed scornfully. Her large gray eyes
looked at the speaker in indignant protest.
You don't suppose I'm such a baby to be
skeered of a RATHER. I've killed many of
EN- round our cabin door in Oregon. I've
got twelve rattles and a button down at the
camp I'll 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 Fenton. as she drew out her purse to
pay for the orchids, and she tried to keep
her for a while. Enthusiasm was not good
form in Miss Fenton's world, but IL might
be permitted to another class and the
mountains. rivers and fishermen were so
full of ennui to her just then.
What is your manner" she asked.
"Kit--Kit JONES' she replied, moving
away.
do you live in the camp across the road,
with the campers who came last week %
Miss Fenton asked with interest.
YES" she answered in a lower tone OF
voice. There's only me- mother and Bill.
/ must go now. I'm the head of the she
bang. Bill is SICK" shade passed over her
merry. childish face.
May l come over and see the rattles
some day, and will you bring me some
Shasta lilies?'
THE white kind that smelIs?" Kit ques-
toned. bill likes them best. Yes, know
the best place for them, up the ridge"
She started away on quick little run.
then looked back, shouting: You might
come this evening; maybe company VIII
do him good"
She was graceful as a young deer as
she ran across the road and disappeared
into a ciump of pines, from the midst OF
which ascended a blue curl of smoke.
The day wore on, and Miss Fenton had
not written the letter that she had almost
decided was to send Richard Drake to his
fate. The long afternoon was coming Il
a close. Mrs. Pendra gon, Mary's aunt and
chaperone. had repaired to the spring with
her chums for her after-dinner glass OF
saltwater. The fishermen, after stealth.
lily watching each others movements, had
skunk off, one by one, in different direc-
tons, rods in hand, to whip the stream
Mary Fenton declined all invitations as
she sat watching the blue smoke among
the pines. and resolved to stroll over Il