The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27

powerful protection. was so strong that all
active criticisms Of johnny, ceased, and only a
this was altogether distastoful to tho child; it
felt at times exalted over this mysterious in
fuenco that he seemed to have acquired
merely hunting black berries in Che brush,
to nTnd' a ready hand offered to help
or tracked down a Wild bees hoard, he Esner.
ally found n smiling face watching him. Pros
Johnny ms u clipper and rar-mindcd hoy,
now whar would you advise us to dig2", |
grieve to say that Johnny was not above giving
the smallest use to the recipient.
And SO tho days passed. Mr.. Medliker's alb
ton and punishment still seemed. far away.
The blackberries ripencd and. dried npon the
boards: tho bees no longer came and went
through the thickot. but. Johnny was still in
goid'!' And then one dayNafter the fate Of aIi
heroic humnnity-his secret was, inperilled by
the Establishments and Vaccinations of the all
Florry Fraser was q little playmate of
Johnny's. Why, with his doubts Of his elder
have selected q child two years younger aud of
singular simplicity was, IKE his other secret,
was equally strange; possibly 1t may have been
his green gooscherry eyes or his warts. but she
s wHs 9ui ssT contsni Si to tS1@ S.rGG MN or !l his I" a {nHnSS
supremciy satisfied to share his woodland
knowledge or his scanter condolences: For no.
body who knew Johnny suspected that she was
privy to his great secret. Howbeit: wherever
his ragged straw hat, matched with his tawny
keen sunbonnet of Florry was sure to be dis.
cerned not far behind, For Two weeks they had
ignorance. dirt, and careiessness, was striking
right and left through, the valleys, of the foot
n ndiis; ana from Eio on a,,N whos9 had slsi been hs seon 1est red
with her. But ono morning, AS Johnny was
bringing his wood from the stack behind, the
house. he saw. to his intense delight. n picket
of the road fence slipped aside by n small red
hand. and a moment after Florry squeezed her;
cheeks were slightly flushed. and there was n
scrap of red flannel around he. plump throat
My" said Johnny. with half real. half af-
fected admiration. , how splendiferoqs "
inc rS Sc iS. ]fF9Gh, her sm" o t1H5bsy' f m a wbn a : ' t5o
bandRge and her chin. " mussent go outer the
garden patch. i mussent play in the woods, for
Outer hed?' repeated Johnny. with intense
that Florry was in a flannel nightgown, with
bare leg. and feet.
Whereupon these two DELIGHTFUL imps chuckled
and wnEged their heads with a sincere enjoy;
mens that irt this III mere his s Torid o6 eS9 s,acR RG tnvs si nnd
hurriedly put them on the infant Flnrry; secur-
ing them from falling off with a thick cord.
This added to their enjoyment.
We car play cubby house in the stone heap"
Whispered Flprry; IN ,,,. rood ', .,,d 1onrnr
You hide till | come back
Johnny swiftly delivered his load with An
played "oubhy house. not nifty feet from the
cabin. with q hushed hut guilty satisfaction.
d Eps p @ss e ior p ~nEid;v, T lk5s 4o@ni Gr %ss too oo
the tree" was impossible, as being visible from
the house windows. Johnny. was at his wits
end. Florry was fretful and fastiaious. Thon a
great Thought struck him and left him cold.
II | show you a show, you won't tell I" he said.
"yyish yer-mA-die"
Got any penny"
Got any slate p~encil2"
Amt got any pins nor nothin'7 You kin go
But Fiorry had none of childhood's f~pctuat-
Ing currency. having, so to speak. no pockets.
Well" said Johnny. Frightening up, we kin
go in for luv."
The child clipped him with her small arms
and smiled. and. Johnny leading the way. they
crcpt on ali tours through ihe thick ferns until
overerown with branhle. In its depths they
could hear the monotonous trickle of water, 1t
~f:srw ysGiIy r ,hG s9grSe S Sf the ya 1pF'nf ne shsr
the road. and %trickled into an unfailinS pool
known as the Burnt Spring. from the brown
water supply of the ranch. and the reason for
Mr.. Medltker'. original selection, of that site.
around. and then lowered himself into the ifs
sure. \ moment later he reached up his arms
10 J. lfTlS, "" u tlsb. hnu " ulsht-
peared from view. Yet from time to time their
voices came family from b~elow-witht the gurgle
' AZ the end OF ten TENN minutes nGtesei they 'T reappeared n
little muddy little bedraGGled. but flushed
and happy. There were tw" pink spots ON
Florry's cheeks. and she clasped something
tightly IN her little red fist.
There" said Johnny, when they were seated
In the straw again: now mind you don't toll"
But here Fiovry's lips began tn culver. and
she gave vent to a small howl OF anguish ,o,
You amt bit. by a t%rnntler nor uothin'y'
said Johnny, auNiously. Hush up"
but what Z" said Johnny.
Mar said | must tell! Mar said I was to fn'
was to get YOU to take me- howled Florry, in
Jimmy sasped. You Iniin" he began.
But | won't. johnny said Florry: clutch.
l amt no Injin!"
Then, between her sobs. she told him how her
to ask Johnny the next time they met to take
her where he found the. truly gold" and she
and n hunk of gingerbread. But w~on't-aud
l shan't!' she said passionately. She was quito
pale again.
Johnny was convinced. but thoughtful. Tell
EN-" he said hoarsely. tell EN- a big ,whop-
guess where" And he briefly rerounted the
w!!!!d-E9o.e chase hg had given the min MS
her Dyes shining through her tears.
I'm course said Johnny. They'll get the
dolly back. but you kin have Gated the cake
nc 1 IL Io'h''A ~ can Ds'ANA NINA NhN.I
eyes danced together over this .heaven-sent in
SEPARATION. Then Johnny took off her shoes and
stockings. rubbed her cold feet with his dirty
handkerchief, and said: Nov you trot over TO
your mari
He helped her through the loose picket OF the
fence and was turning away when her faint
voice again called to him:
Johnny"
He turned back she was standing on tho other
side of the fence holding out her arms to him.
He went to her with shining eyes, lifted her up,
and from her hot but loving little lips tool: u
fatal kiss.
For. only an hour later, Mrs. Fraser found
Florry in her bed. tossing with a high fever and
IA light head. She was talking of johnny"
and gold. !" and had "a fake of the metal In her
tiny fist. When Mr.. staples was sent for. and
with the mother and father. hung anXiously
above her bed, to their eager questioning they
could only find out that Florry had been to u
high mountain. ever so far away. and on the top
OF it there was gold lying around, and II shining
figure Was giving it away to the people.
"And who we're the people. Florry dear?' said
Mr.. Staples. anybody ye know here ~
"They woz angels" said Florry, with n fright
ened glance over her shoulder.
] grieve to say that Mr.. Staples did not look
as pleased at the celestial vision as he might
have, and poor Mrs. Fraser probably saw that
In l,np nhilI'u fupa uLiph lrnrn ntlnr thipra