The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-12
q Story in two partsD
PART |.

"a story IN TWO partSb
PART |.
Dear me-" said Polly Carter pettishly.
''youre always thinking everything IS
Just Ike something else"
81 think Just 'zactys you do, cara,
said little Ned Carter. as he sided up I
little closer to Clara and looked admir-
ingly into her face.
II don't. anyhow; for ! think for girl
that's lived in Chicago and had Clara
Dents 'yantages she ought to Know bet
tern to talk so silly
II don't like cities" declared Clara de-
cidedly, "and that's all there is about 1t
They're dirty and smoky. The sun
doesn't look the same color as II does IN
the country. and the trees don't seem
TO have half so good a time II you'd
always been in the city as | have, Polly,
you'd talk just as / do
81 guess I'd never take things out Of the
Bible" retOrted Polly VirtuOusy. Il
think it's very wicked. The idea Of your
saying you think Californas just as
good as the Garden Of Eden
Il don't care, ] do" persisted Clara
Dent stouuy. and l don't see why us
wicked either, just because IL tells about
it IN the BiDie. God made both places,
ana He thinks just as much Of one as
He did Of the other"
That's So clara" chimed IN little Ned.
God loves California just's well as the
Garden Of Eden"
Children should be seen and not
always jealous Of her brothers prefer
Ned inwardly resented this insult to
his eight years from Polly, who was only
ten herself: but he aid not contend the
point, he contented himself with swing
ING heels very fast and scOwiing darky.
The children had been playing all the
afternoon up in the crows nest" on
grandpa Browns ranch. This nest
was nothing less than cute little room
built up in one OF the big live-oak trees
in the grove back Of the house.
A platform was placed between the
wide spreading branches some twelve
feet from the ground, with steps at the
back leading up 10 it. The place was fur
nished just Ike any other room with a
lounge covered with pretty cretonne and
plenty II pillows. and table with books
and writing material There was 2
pretty rug on the floor. and overhead the
blue sky peeped in between the branches
OF the tree
The girls had been amusing themselves
by ornamenting their hats and dresses
with wreaths and clusters Of wild-iOwers.
The cream-cups and yellow poppies were
IN their prime: for this was in Southern
California. and it was sprngtime.
But the interest I'm the trimming bus
mess had rather tagged, and they had
fallen TO arguing. This was not an IN
usual occurrence. in fact 1t happened
about every day, and sometimes Clara,
who was a peace-lOving girl. wished that
Polly Carter lived a long way off, in
stead of Just across the road. Clara her
self was rather fond Of mOraiizing, ana
il was not pleasant TO have Polly always
on the contrary side and waiting 10
iect might be brOached; but she always
cid, and consequently the discussions Of
ten became quite heated.
To-day Polly had been more trying
than usual, owing 10 the fact Of her
having lain awake nearly ali OF the
night before crying with the tOOthache
Her face was swollen some now, and
she had one Of her fathers SILK hand
kerchefs tied about her head. Her hair
hung about her face in spiteful little
v-icks. and her eyes snapped warningy.
She had been very cross all the after
noon.
Ned had not heard much OF what
the girls had been saying He had been
hobblne about upon the crutch which
I regret 70 say poor Clara was always
obliged TO carry. and wishing that ne
TOO were lame, as she was. In his eyes
Clara was simply perfect, not alone IN
her looks-though he considered her the
prettiest girl he had ever seen-but her
voice was so gentle; and when Polly was
at school and they two were alone she
told him the most fascinating stories OF
the great city and its wonders its parks
and churches, and or the fun the boys
had there in the winter time. But best
Of all she never treated him Ike a very
small boy. as everybody else did; Ned
cago girls looked just like Clara, and
carried one cTutch.
Just now Ned felt that perhaps It
was time for him to come to Ciara's
rescue he was afraid she might be get
ting the worst of the argument. and he
felt very mortified that his sister should
speak TO him In such rude way before
Clara
"If you never want TO see anything
hut hills and sky. OF course its nice
enough up here continued Polly but
for a girl that's seen what YOU have
Why its-its-pre- rCs-ter-cus;" and feel
ing that she must have routed Clara
with that last biz word she crsned her
neck to gel the effect OF the bunch OF
flowers she had fastened on the back OF