Evening star., 1902-03-08
'ut OF your wits, know. How I did hate

out OF your wits, I know. How did hate
your
Wicked girl! Well, you know, when
saw you all coming into the barnyard-l
at the shadows-I did think there was going
to be trouble. It's too bad l spoiled your
plan; But, after all, isn't it much better as
he sighed comfortably. leaning back on
the sloping turf, an, looAing up through
the trees.
Mella Harrison at the same time sat up
and took a long and penetrating Look at the
bearce. face she could just see in the beam
of moonlight before answering.
4 don't know. Let me tell you some
thing. When you were hiding behind that
hedge with your rifle making all that game
Of US, could have klll.- you!"
You couldt l thought it was the other
way about"
You know what I mean. I hated you
And when you did begin to feel better?''
She got up. Il wish you'd tell me one
thing for sure. But l suppose, with your
European notions. you think it too horribly
vulgar-our poking into Mab's affairs this
way. Come, we must be getting ready to
start.
She began walking up the road to join
the rest Of the party.
mo more buttermilk?" Charlton called
AH right then. But your remarks are ra-
ther sketchy, aren't they? What did you
want to tell me for Sure?'
Nothing. 1t won't do. About Mab-be-
sides 1t isn't necessary-I'm afraid"
Once more Charlton enjoyed a jubila mt
laugh, ending in a kind Of warwhoop. But
l thought You were going to tell me about
her.
20. no, take it back Nobody in this
world knows Nab as well as do. 1 ought
to have known it was all over. / did know.
II you had ever written she would have
told me. even II she didn't tell any one
else"
did she seem to mind?''
Mella shifted scorn that was beyond ar
ticulate utterance.
ITO be candid, she never seemed to care
row of pins" She stopped a moment and
then went on, "only Nab isn't like some
girls-somehow. She has her lovely, deli
cate. tea-rose notions about sacredness and
all that-hates all those silly love jokes
more like your ideas Of delicacy."
Thank you. 1 didn't know 1 had any
ideas OF delicacy. By the way, it's time
for you to make UP your mind who is to
drive you back to Yellowbanks. l must
send Chapultepec to hitch up and go In
and dress. 1t won't take me more thar
And ride horseback in your dress
clothes?
Unless you choose to change your MIND
and let me drive you"
She turned her head aside, as she said
timidly. ''Of course, you must drive me
please"
How many quarts of buttermilk have
you two had?" the voice of Gale Quinn
asked from the ghostly group under the
Usage orange hedge. Its close on to IL
o'clock, and we've all got to dress when we
get back"
We'll. I've got to dress before we start,
said Charlton. You fellows can wait ten
minutes. can't your
Hurry up. then" said another ex-white-
cap. And. as Charlton picked up his rifle
and ran off toward the house. the same
speaker added. "Melia, that must be a
wonderful mana great man.
Ought to have been a general in the
United States army" said Ralph Desmond
IF he'll quit paintin' pictures. well
make him governor OF Kentucky, another
I'm afraid I don't quite know what
you're all talking about said Mella.
haughtily. How many juleps have you
had? Buttermilk would have been much
better for YOU"
'Oh, you needn't tell us you like butter
milk. Mella," said Gale Quinn. But IL you
want to know what we're talking about,
stand up to you. that's ALL
Except Queen Mab." Ralph Desmond
put in.
80. I mean any man. Melia, honey,
you've lost your grip. You can't boss us
any more now"
I'm sure don't want to-" said Mella,
with an alarmingly distant air. "I may
as well say at once. that I'm very sorry
about all this
"Whew!"-from Ralph. the extremely ju-
venile.
Don't be vulgar, little boy. see now
that the whole thing was in horrid bad
taste. And-and look, what q position
= She stopped there. something in her
throat apparently interrupting her speech.
YES" Gale Quinn took her up. humane