The St. Louis Republic., 1900-12-09

The girl shut her lips. III thar's the devil
to pay. reckon them as owes him'H nave
to do It. amt never had no dealins with
him." she said.
But that's the trouble with the old boy.
Cynthy" the foreman explained. "ie JUS
collects whar he has a mind TO, without
loolIin' at his books. An that's another
| thing-thoush It amt easy for man To
name It to a honest girl that he's seed
CROWN UP right out OF the shadder OF the
vines. the way you have: even II the wilder
didn't Jump on you with a knife sono time
when you wasn't lOokin' thar's nothin' like
a fieldful of long-tongued berry-p.ckers to
blacken a girls name"
Cynthia set her hand-crats down very
slowly under the bushes. and her hands fell
by her sides. "Oh. Mr.. Twiddy." she said
do you think kcer? II they can make me
black 90 easy, Ia rIther be made black
and have II Gone. don't reckon such kind
o. tall; as theirn'sll be heard at the judg-
ment seat ;no:c'n the rattlin' OF dry ole
las years simlin fun o seeds. You know
what the Bible says about them that have
not charity-they are become as soundin'
brass an tinklin' simlins What DO l keer
if all their round simlin heads bob up an
rattle together across the feld?'
II was nfter Buck Anderson had died. aft
er Cynthy had watched with him. that
Tweeiy said to Cynthy. as they stood in the
que, dawn alone:
Il spoke hard TO you-uns yesterday.
more'n once. Cynthy, but want YOU to for
git It all. II you can. l was only wantin'
| to see you happy as you had chance
TO be: bat now that See how much deeper
\ hg~ In
| nothin but sorrow for you in my heart
an love"
Tho last word was spoken so gently. so
much as an added tenderness. that It could
not have pained or offended the deepest
sorrow. yet Cynthy was startled by it. She
| looked at him curlously "You-uns does we'll
to pity me- she said. Il don't keer what
all the others says an thinks but 1 want
you-uns to know the truth. cause you won't
| he oncharitab.e. even 10 Buck. l amt
never loved him. II was him loved me"
Tweedy passed his hand across his brow.
'You-uns did ii all FOR n man You didn't
| love" he exclaimed. you dared all them
tongues"
She nodded. II owed it 20 him without
KNOWN. ] had led him on
Tweedy looked off over the hushed, OK
pectant earth. My Godr' he said slowly.
what would you do for the man you
lovedo'
The girls breath came in an unexpected
sol', "oh. Mr.. Twidiy." she faltered. II
might have to tell him so. He nightn't
know Il for hisee'f"
Tweedy turned. Her face was tremulous.
but consecrated by the love which she had
hidden so long: and as their eyes met they
forgot that there was anything but love IN
all the world. The glory frightened in tho
cast, and the air stirred like an awakening
along the fields. One after another the
sleepy pickcrs came out of the barracks
saw the two figures below them on the hill
side. and whispered back and forth with
Frightening eyes:
At last Tweedy put her gently away from
him. Il had ought TO go an call the gang.
an tell them that pore Buck is gone"
Cynthia glanced over her shoulder and
laughed as she saw the p!ckers bending
discreetly to kindle their morning fires
'"The simlins has been watchin'," she said.
'an' they'll be 'ticklin' peartly to-day. Do
you kerr
Tweedy shook his head. Before them
sunshine and shadow flashed like a smile
across the earth. as the sun rose over the
distant hills.