The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-06-21
4 BARBERRY HEDGE.

house faced the east Therefore, at
three o'clock on a Sunday afternoon
in July, 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
heiress of the broad acres. Patty was
a pretty dimpled blonde Of twenty. In
soft, white lawn. with her chestnut
hair curling away from her low brow,
she made charming picture.
The other occupant of the porch was
John Manchester, the son Of Richard
Manchester, whose well-tilled fields
Joined Lloyd farm. He was tall, stall
wart and dark. while his thoughtful
face betokened mind alert and cul-
tured
The air was heavy with the scent Of
the heliotrope growing on a flower
stand at Johns right. The beds Of
geraniums and nasturtiums made
glowing bits of color on the velvety
green sward In the branches of g.
great apple-tree mother robin chirp-
ed drowsily to he: brood. All was
peaceful and free from discord.
But there was a serpent even in
Eden. AS Seth Lloyd, the father Of
Patty, came strolling around the
house, coatless ard his face flushed
with the heat, he bore little resemb-
lance to the traditional tempter Of our
common mother. Still, his entrance
upon the scene was almost as fatal to
peace and harmony.
Mr.. Lloyd sat down upon the steps,
tanning himself with his straw hat.
"Hew! Hot weather this, John
Eyes, it's good for corn" John re-
piled, affably. He did not particularly
enjoy the society of Mr.. Lloyd, but he
was Patty's father.
Yes, but somehow it don't seem to
bring on that air piece Of yourn over
there" pointing off to the north, where
a corn-feld belonging to the Manches-
ters was in sight. Poor lay for crop,
that. What ails it? You progressive
farmers don't seem to have very good
crops after all your talk
The hot blood colored Johns cheeks.
Mr. Lloyd was always sneering at his
and his fathers farming. Perhaps it
would be as we'll to speak out concern
ing the corn. In the young mans
vexation he forgot that this disagree
able 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
much of crops in the field next to it.
Your own suffer some, But the wind
favors YOU
"Eh, what's that? What do you
mean?" and the old man sat bolt up
right and glared at John. 1T must be
your college learnin' has gone to your
head"
This thrust did not quiet John. His
attendance upon the state Agricultural
College had before been ridiculed by
Mr.. Lloyd.
Il don't think it has. It may have
opened my eyes to the cause of what
you are pleased to call our failures
You may not know, sir, that research
has proven that the pollen Of the bar
berry-bush is hurtful to many growing
things. Professor LutZ touched on
the subject while was at college, and
have this summer corresponded with
him about this very hedge. He as
sures me that it is a damage to my
fathers farm, and could be so proved
in court Botanists claim that this
variety Of the barberry, the Berberida-
cae vulgaris. is
Here a strange noise interrupted
him. 1t was cross between a snort
and a growl. 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 his sixty-fye years.
You fool" he shouted. YOU
blamed idiot. You never had any
more brains than your father. anu ;hat
air schoolin' has spilled 'em. 1, is :.
lie, every word of it.
John, too. arose. Before he could
speak Patty's soft voice recalled him to
himself.
'Oh, papa, how can you, and en- Sun
day, too He don't mean it. John.
know he don't"
John hesitatei. Yes, it was-vell,
injudicious to say the least. to anger
Patty's father. He bit his lips and
turned half apologetically to the old
man, but the mischief was done.
You keep still, miss" to Patty. 'As
for you, young man, you walk. Don't
you never put foot on my farm ag'in.
Hedge hurt yoIr corn. That hedge
has always been az eyesorc to your IA
ther. I'll defend it, 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, anc
received assurance Of her continued
friendship, even while her father was
ordering him never to speak to hel
again. John strobe out Of the gate
and down the road. and Patty, her
blue eyes overfowing with tears, TOOK
refuge in her own room.
Seth Lloyd strobe into the cool:
quaint, old-fashioned sittins-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