Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-10-10

q railway section hand. She WASH
frightened-she laughed. Il woul,
rather have leaves" she said. An,
then she added, Where did yo'
come FROM"
From nearly all directions.
But don't you live in houseP"
Not now. Once I did, but now
live as you do, under the trees"
But isn't it nice to live in a hous
and not have to go away? l hav
seen places where ] would like t.
live all the time and have chicken
and ducks and not have to stea
them. Did you ever live that way?'
Yes, until l was sick of it.
But you didn't got sick of no
having to steal chickens and ducks
did your"
II lived that way until to hav,
stolen anything would have been I
relief"
And do you like to steal?" sh,
asked, shooting n glance at me tina
almost made me dance n jig.
Il shouldn't care 10 steal chick
en-" / answered, but / know of 6
wild berry that ! should like Il
steal"
But you don't have to steal any.
thing that's wild" she replied. She
was silent for moment, and ther
sho asked, Are you going with us?'
A thrill shot through me and made
my fingers tinglo. why do you
ask?" was all could trust myself
to say.
Because father said he wanted
you to write more letters. Will your"
II will write 10, 900 letters for
your father. would even take of
my shirt and cover it with messages
for his friends.
wrote another letter and Lees
olapped her hands with delight.
The Same boy was sent to the post
Office, and this time l did not ask if
it might not be we'll for mo to go
with him. Along toward noon, while
I was poking about to catch q sight
of the girl. Ham fish came up and
asked mo if l knew anything about
horses. was forced to acknowledge
that l did not whereupon he re-
marked: Then don't suppose you
care to go with us. We are going
over here to trade"
He had thought to favor me with
an entertainment. There may be
drearier reoitals than the lies told
during horse swap, but 1 have
never heard them. But even had he
promised the keenest excitement I
should have declined to go. There
was but ono thing for me, and that
was to gorge my gaze on that wild
berry. And where was she? I saw
her standing under tree a short
distance down the stream. A num-
Der of children and smaller girls
were playing about her. They had
pulled grapevine from tree and
were jumping it. AS l approached
Lees turned from the group and be-
gan slowly to walk toward the creek.
overlook her.
How long will they let me stay?"
I asked
Until you write enough letters
she answered, laughing.
But do you know how many they
want written?"
Il don't know, but ever so many,
I should think"
Don't you want mo to write some
for your"
mo, she said after short pause.
II don't know anybody"
But you have friends in England,
haven't your"
mo, not now. had one."
And he died?" / asked.
"She died, ;" was her reply.
Down the stream we strolled. In
the delight of her marvellous beauty
l forgot that there had even been a
civilization. In the shade on a bank
of moss we sat. told her stories of
giants and of beautiful women. She
was leaning back with her eyes half
closed, and through her lashes l saw
the playing of fire like tho light
ming that flashes behind a summers
fringy cloud. Tell me more" she
said when had stopped to gaze in
rapturous silence upon her.
l would have told her more, but
suddenly CHANGING at the sun she
exclaimed: 1--WE must 20 l., men
will be back soon"
! understood her; she was afraid
that her father might see her alone
with me. And wondered that she
had not a similar fear with regard
to her mother. She must have read
my thoughts, for she said: Mother
never soolds me. Father does some
times. One time on the roadside I
stopped and talked to man. Ididn' t
want to stop, but he asked me to
wait moment, and did, for he was
kind man. But father scolded me. "
You didn't fall in love with the
man, dill you?" eagerly asked.
She laughed at me. II wouldn't
know how to do that, she said.
But you could be easily taught.
could teach you"
She poutcd at me and ran back to
the camp That night she sat Just
across the fire from me- Her father
stood near her and talked horse with
a young follow who hung mysteri
ously about in the shadow. Severa
times l spoke to the girl, but sh,
simply nodded and smiled at me
Ham fish began to walk up ant
down, still talking to the man in tn
shadow.
leaned over at the fire to rake
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