The news & observer., 1896-12-27

could not give! Johnny slipped or his
shoes and stockings avid hurriedly put
them on the infant Florry, securing them
from falling of with = thick cord This
sdded to their enjoyment
We can play cnbhy house ia the stone
heap" whispered FIorry
'Hol' on till I tote in this wood ~ q
Johnny. You hide till l come back
Johnny swiftly delivered his load with
an aacrity he had never shown before.
Then they played "cubby house" not IF
ty feet from the cabin. with a hushed but
guilty satisfaction. But presently it
Failed Their domain was too circum-
scribed. FOR variety. Robinson Crusoe
up the tree" was impossible, as being vis-
ible from the house windows. Johnny
was st his wits end Florry was fretful
and fastidious. Then 8 great thought
struck him and left him cold.
III show you show, you won't
tell?' he said suddenly.
"No."
Wish ye-na-die?"
"Ess."
Got any penny
mo"
Got sny slate pencilY
mo"
"Ain't got any pins nor nothi: Yon
kin go in for pin"
But F'lorry had none of childhood's
fuctuating currency with her having, so
TO speak, no pockets.
We'll" said johnny. frightening up
re kin go in for luv.''
The child clipped him with her small
f1N ~
the way, they crept on al fours through
the thick ferns until they paused before
a deep assure in the soil half overgrown
with bramble. In its depths they gould
hear the m0not0nous trickle OF watfF. 1t
waa really the source Of the spring that
afterward re-appeared fifty yards nearer
the road, and trickled into an unfailing
pool known as the burnt from the brown
color of the surrounding bracken. 1t was
the water supply OF the ranch, and the
reason for Mr.. Mediker's original selec-
ton OF that site. Johnny fingered for an
instant, looked carefully around, and
then lowered himself into the fssure a
! moment later he, reached up his arms
to Flofry, lowered her also, and both
disappeared from view Yet from time
to time their voices came family from be-
lOw-with the gurgie Of water-as Of fes-
tive gnomes at play.
At the end OF ten minutes they re
appeared little muddy. q little bedrag-
gled, but flushed and happy. There were
two pink spots on Florry's cheeks, aud
she clasped something tightly in her lit
tie red fist
There" said Johnny, when they were
seated in the straw again: NOW mind
you don't tell"
But here suddenly F'lorry's lips began
TO culver, and she gave vent to q small
howl of anguish
'You amt bit by trantler nor moth
"N-o-oi But"
/ ''But what?" said Johnny.
MAR said l must tell! Mar saidI was
to fin out where you get the truly gold.
Mar said l was to get you to takeme, y
howled Florry, in an agony of remorse.
| Johnny gasped. you Injin" he be-
gan.
"But / won't, Johnny" said Florry,
clutching his leg frantically. Il won
and / shan't! amt no Injin"
Then, between her sobs she told him
how her mother and Mr.. Staples had said
that she was to ask Johnny the next time
they met to take her where he found
the "truly gold" and she was to remem-
ber where it was and to tell them. And
they were going to give her a new dolly
and a hunk of ginger bread. but l
won't-and l shan't" she said passion
ately. She was quite pale again.
Johnny was convinced, but thoughtful.
"Tell EN-, he said hoarsely, ''tell 'em
big whopper! They won't know no bet
ter. They'll never guess where" And
he briefly recounted the wild-goose chase
he had given the minister.
"And get the dolly and the cake" said
Florry, her eyes shining through her
tears
"In course" said Johnny. They'll get
the dolly back, but you kin have Gated
the cake first" They looked at each
other, and their eyes danced together
over this; heaven-sent inspiration. Then
Johnny took off her shoes and stockings,
rubbed her cold feet with his dirty hand
kercbief, and said: Now you trot over
to your mari"
lie helped her through the loose picket
osf the fence and was turning away when
her faint voice again called to him:
'Johnny"
lie turned back she was standing ON
the other side Of the fence holding out
her arms to him. He went4o her with
shining eyes. Fitted her mp, and from her
hot but loving little lips took fatal kiss.
For only an hour later, Mira. Fraser
found Florry in her bed, tossing with
high fever and light head. She WAS
talking Of johnny and gold" and
had a fake or the metal in her tiny fist.
When Mr. Staples was sent for, and
with the mother and father, hung anxi
ously above her bed, to their eager ques-