Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-28

take nocturnal rambles in cotton robes
She rose to her feet and answered him
calmly: No, l am not a bit hurt. but 1
don't in the least know what to do
Trueman stepped over to the wagon and
saw that the whff1e tree had broken and
had released one of the traces
us there a rope in the wagon?" said he.
Yes. the tie line" she answered.
THAT will do. I'll fix you up you
can get the wagon home. and if you don't
care to ride in it I'll drive it and you can
walk. It's such little distance
Oh. how pretty she did look So fresh,
That little wave of hair thai had loosed
itself from its fellow locks was ravish-
ing: What an inspiriting thought that he
could he of real service to such a beautiful
girl: If he could be sure that she was fond
of flowers.
He took the rope and with the help of
his now truly valuaple feather buster he
fashioned a new end to the whiffie tree
and slipped the traces end over the handle.
While he worked at it and she watched
him with an a.mring interest for he was
singularly deft with his hands. he suddenly
said
Miss Grayson l meant to ask you the
other night If you were fond of flowers.
Il adore them she replied with fervor
Have you ever seen my garden?''
Not near to. l noticed it l driv-
ing by on Friday. 1t is beautiful. And
Mrs. Harding says you laid it out yourself
Il always do. I'd like you to come and
see it-not now-with Mrs. Harding
Then he remembered what the oxen had
done for his garden. and he stammered.
on. L forgot. It's ruined. The oxen ate
1t uD.
The oxen ate it up?" said she. after him.
1t now struck her for the first time that
perhaps he was crazy. He certainly had on
very crazy costume. If he had not been
the Adonis that he certainly was this cot
ton robe and the lonely looking carpet slip
per OF venetian red would not have been
becoming to him. But even his touseed
halr became him. and he would have looked
handsome in anything. But why was he
out so late on so cool night with such in
adequate clothing?
There, that'n last until you get home"
said he. He took the reins and climbed into
the wagon. He stubbed his bare toe on the
step. ana the pain was excruciating for a
moment but his face did not show it,
Il II drive slowly and you can walk /
don suppose you to ride" said he
Mold rather walk said she.
How kind he was but how peculiar She
dld hope that no one would be looking out.
1t would seem queer.
lie gazed at her fondly from the seat as
me Old horse began to walk slowly along
he drew the lap robe over his knees. 1t
was getting cool.
Miss Grayson. have you-have you ever
thought seriously about marriage?''
Not since | was child said she, laugh
ing, she knew not why.
Then you haven't ceased to think of II
he said, and realized that it wasn't exactly
what ne had meant to express.
mean-why. Miss Grayson. we have so
much in common-you love old furniture
and so do l. and you love flowers and 7 do
too. and II adore you. and you
Really. Mr.. Newberry, l don't know how
to take you
Take me as I am-tbat ,J;ss S,ro,
what is your first name?''
Ruth, said Miss Grayson, almost before
she knew it,
, He had clasped the reins in his hands. and
and said: ~ MS iieef'
Ruth | am not man to shilly-shally.
hhe" Ia marry when the right woman
came along, and here-here YOU are Don,t
say no. have comfortable house and I
can restore my garden in spite of the oxen
that are cursed or blessed according ae
YOU answer h me. Come, we are almost at
your mouse l will leave the horse and
wagon here and halloo for Mr. Harding if
you VIII but say the one little word that
want isn't ruling me better than ruling
lot OF unruly children? | know What
that school is. ! went there myself and M
teachers lot is an easy one"
ne stopped the horse and Miss Gray
son stopped mechanically. He wound the
reins around the whipstOck and cIanhorad
out OF the wagon on the side oppnsita Inc
school teacher This time his exposed toe
escaped injury "
w ny are You here in your-in white?"
chased GoodWin'S oxen from nv he'd
rom my garden bed-to the graveyard. I
VIII go home and get something else on
anything to please you Miss-er-Ruth If
s'' WIN oi4iS MAKE NE happy by little
word VIII you share my furniture and
my flowers? ''''
can Mr. Harding and then go away and
come to see me after school tomorrow and
l will tell you
irueman made a horn of his hands and
called Harding in his resounding bass AT
the third call there was an answer from
the house.
Now. do go" said Miss Graysou.
Irueman put his hand up to lift his ran
ana MS myers met in a lock of disheveled
mar he waved his hand gracefully as
ne could and turned and hurried home
disappearing just as Mr.. Harding came out
10 see what was the matter Trueman took
lIEser to get home than he had taken to
come with the oxen as pacemakers. but he
was strangely happy-he knew not why.
But the next day he knew, and now. if
you were to visit Mr.. Newberrv's house
ne ana Mrs. Newberry would be very likely
10 snow you among their treasures An old
lealher buster laid as an ornament above
snother treasure, painting by Horatio
walker or pair of oxen. which bears the
odd title. The Home Makers