Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-08-07
That has loved us all the while,
\ BARBERRY HEDGE,

The front porch OF the Lloyd farm
house faced the east. Therefore, at
.iiree O'Clock on Il Sunday afternoon
in Jny, it lay in the cool shadow OF
the great white house Seated among
the gray cushions of the hammock was
Patty Lloyd, the only child and the
hcIress of the broad acres. Patty was
a pretty dimpled blonde of twenty. In
a soft. white lawn. with her chestnut
hair curling away from her low brow,
she made a charming picture
The other occupant OF the porch was
John Manchester. the sou of Richard
Manchester whose well-tilled fields
joined Lloyd farm. He was tall, stall
wart and dark, while his thoughtful
face betokcncd a mind alert and cul-
turrG
TN" air was heavy with the scent OF
the neliotrope growing on a flower
stand at Johns right. The beds Of
scrannms and nasturtums made
glowing bits of color on the velvety
grccl sward In the branches of a
greai appe-tree Il mother robin chirp-
cd dr'iwsily to her brood. All was
pea ef.ll and free from discord.
But there was serpent even in
Eden AS Seth Lloyd, the father OF
Patty, came stroling around the
house. coatless and his face flushed
with he heat. he bore little rescmb-
lane" % the traditional tcmpter OF our
cnmn',n mother. Still. his entrance
upon The scene was almost as fatal 10
peace and harmony
Mr. Lloyd sat down upon the steps,
flaming himself with his straw hat.
LEY! Hot weather this, John"
Yes. it's good for corn John IT.
piled. atfahly lie did not particularly
enjoy The society of Mr.. Lloyd, but he
was Fatty's father
Yes. but somehow it don't seem to
bling on that air piece of yourn over
tAere. pointing off to the north where
corn-held belonging to the Manches-
tiers was III sight. Poor lay for crop,
tlat. What ails it? You progressive
farmers don't seem to have very good
crops after all your talk"
The hot blood colorcd Johns cheeks.
Mr.. Lloyd was always sneerng at his
and mis- fathers farming. Perhaps 1t
would he as we'll to speak out concern
ice the corn. In the young mans
vrXa:ion he forgot that this disagree
mile neighbor was the father of the
pretty girl opposite
oh" he said. defantly, that's plain
enough AS long as that hedge of
yours stands there we can't expect
nnch OF crops in the field next to it.
iour own suffer some. but the wind
farors YOU"
"Eh. what's that? What do YOU
1ncan:" and the old man sat Dol, IN
right and slared at John. 1T must be
your college learnin' has gone to your
head
'rI!i- thrust did not quiet John Ills
attendance upon the state Agricultural
College had before been riliculeu Nv
Mr. Lloyd.
Il CONT think it has. 1t may have
opened my eyes TO the cause Of what
y3H are pleased to call our failures.
You may not know. sir, that research
haa proven that the pollen of the bar
h":ry bush is hnrtful to many growing
III hSS Professor 1-utZ touched on
W" subject while | was at college and
have this summer correspondent with
hem about this very hedge. lie as
s'lres me that it is n damage 70 NV
Ih.her'S farm. and could be SO proved
III court Botanisls claim that this
variety OF the barberry, the Berberiaa-
eve Vhlgalis. is"
Here strange noise interrupted
him. 1t was a cross between a snort
ana Il stowl. Only astonishment had
kept Seth Lloyd quiet thus far The
Latin words. however. restored his
power Of speech. He sprang to his
feet with remarkable agility, consider
ing Eis sixtyfive years.
You fool!' he shouted. you
planned IDIOT! You never had any
more brains than your father, and that
air schoolin' has spilled 'em. 1t is a
llie. every word of it,"
John. too, arose. Before he could
speak Pattys soft voice recalled him to
himself
oh. papa, how can you, and on Sun.
day. too! lie don't mean it, John. |
nv" IIe dOl L.
John hesitated. Yes. ii was-well
lnJ1uicious to say the least to anger
Patty's father. He bit his ips and
turned half apologetically to the old
man. but the mischief was done
You keep still miss" to Patty. "a.
1or you. young man. you walk. DoL1
you never put foot on my farm ag'in
Hedge hurt your corn, That hedge
has always been an eycsnrc to your ia
Their. I'll defend 1t, you scoundrel.
Yes, sir. defend it with the last cent
Of my money and the last drop OF my
blood"
1t 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 strobe out OF the gate
and down the road, and Patty. her