Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-08-19

II was useless to attempt to reason
with him. His rage increased. John
was obliged to obey him and depart.
He humbly asked Patty's pardon, and
received assurance of her continued
friendship even while her father was
ordering him never to speak to her
again. John strode out Of the gate
and down the road, and Patty, her
blue eyes overfiowing with tears, took
refuge in her own room.
Seth Lloyd strobe into the cool,
quaint, old-fashioned sitting-room,
where his wife was indulging in her
Sunday afternoon nap Mrs. Lloyd
was meek little woman, who always
managed to fan the flame of her hus=
bands anger by her ill-timed efforts to
extinguish it. When his story was
told she said, tearfully:
"Oh, Seth, jest wouldn't. Like as
not, the Manchesters will go to law,
and how it would sound for folks to
say you was arrested"
This only made matters worse. Mr.
Lloyd brought his hands together with
a resounding slap, and shouted:
81 wish they'd try 1t. I'll show
Dick Manchester who's got the most
money, him or mel"
ooh, father, don't talk So" and Mrs.
Lloyd wiped a tear from her cheek. Il
most know Patty likes John, and l
wouldn't have our girls heart hurt for
all the hedges in the country"
This remark was the one thing need
ed to raise the passion of Seth Lloyd to
white heat. Notwithstanding his
long trusteeship in the little church
near by, he swore, with an awful oath,
that Patty should have nothing to do
with the Manchesters.
AS for John, he also acted unwisely.
He went straight home, and finding his
father lying under the great walnut
trees which shaded the lawn, he told
him the whole story.
:, Richard Manchester was much
younger man than his neighbor. John
was an only child, and as the boy had
been motherless since his birth, there
was little his father had denied him.
But as he listened, the face of the elder
man grew hard and stern. This was
mot the first trouble between Seth Lloyd
and himself. Manchester's more pro-
gressive ways of farming had always
been ridiculed by the old man, and
more especially had this been the case
in the last few years since these very
ways had begun to bring in large re-
turns. The hedge had already been a
source of dispute, as it took the place
of line fence, and had, when small
often been passed over and trodden on
by Manchester's cattle.
81 think I've stood enough from Seth
Lloyd" Mr.. Manchester, senior, said
firmly. II believe I'll test the matter
of the hedge in the courts, although
am opposed, on general principles, tc
lawing. You kept Professor Lutz'E
letters, didn't you, John?"
"Yes, sir, but"
But what?" the father asked i'm
patiently. II hope old Lloyd did moi
frighten you?"
81 don't think am afraid" John an.
swered, smiling a little. ''But there's
Patty"
Patty? Oh, yes, see. Well, John
I'll go a little slow for your sake, but
Seth Lloyd will never overlook what
happened to-day"
Time proved the truth of Richard
Manchesters words. Seth Lloyd let nj
opportunity of annoying his neighbol
go unimproved. Several times no
words passed between the two men.
John and Patty met at church an(
In various social ways. There wal
little chance for conversation, anC
John determined to see the girl alon,
and come to a definite understanding
with her. Fortune soon favored him
One sunny afternoon he was drilling
wheat. AS he turned his team h,
caught a glimpse of trim little igur,
in dark blue strolling leisurely aloni
the road only few rods from him.
John tied his horse to a convenien
tree, hurried across the field leape,
over the fence, and stood leaning
against the trunk of a beech whel
Patty approached.
She started, but the look of joy il
her eyes did not escape Johns notice.
Come, Patty, and sit down here,
= he said, imperatively. 81 must tall
to you, and there's no telling when
can see you again"
Patty obeyed unquestioningly, an
he took his place at her side. Tn
sunlight peered down at them throug
4 the screen of silver-gree leaves, bring
ing out glints of brightness in Patty
hair, and in the goldenrod in her laI
i and a squirrel paused to eye them cur
5 iously; but they needed none of thesC
= There, once more, the story of Low
was told, the story each retelling G
! which is the crown of some life.
! "Yes, love you, john" Patty sai(
her cheeks aglow, but papa will nevel
e never consent, and dare not oppos
s him"
s They talked for a long time. job
: wished to go straight to Seth Lloyd an
tell him of the engagement. but Patt
Il would not consent.
y I'VE must wait" she said. "An
It more trouble would break mamma
a heart. l don't know how it will com
out, but, John, will always be tru
d to you"
o With this John was obliged to /
content. Patty bade him a tearfl
i farewell and went on her way. H
l sighed as he went back across til
field. Surely it was hard that tW
], young lives should be overshadowe
IT by-yes, by barberry hedge. Joh
d smiled and threw hack his shouIde,