The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1902-05-09

and went away only with the falling of
the leaves. She was city girl and
wealthy beyond the imagination of
Ryeboro. Her beauty and her
clothes were the theme in three
towns. Joe had bowling .ac-
quaintance with her, but he would as
arule sooner have thought ofapproach-
ing star than accosting her with any
ordinary remarks.
Tonight, however, reckless impulse
made him pull up his horse at the
sight OF her.
"Good evening"" Miss Loring," he
said.
And then he heard himself as if it
we're some one else saying
'.All the folks in. our town have been
hopin' to see you at our Sunday school
picnic. May l call for you next Thurs
day mornin'.
It seemed to him he must be dream
ing when the girl answered with a
charming smile:-
"Why, thank you, Mr. Blair, should
be delighted. Your neighborhood
gatherings are always so PLEASANT
Joe drove home in kind of daze.
He hardly saw Simon at the toll gates.
Visions danced before him in the dark
OF the covered bridge. He saw him
self driving along the road from West
Lennox with. Miss Loring beside him.
What would Serena say? He could
imagine how Kitty Tompkin's black
eyes would open, and Mimy and the
town clerk wouldn't be worth looking
at. And Irene-well he had feeling
that it would be serving Irene right.
At least she could see that he was able
to look out for himself. He would be
firm with Irene for once and show her
that he was not to be fooled with.
During the week that preceded the
picnic, the conduct Of Joe Blair was the
talk of the town. He lived at the east
end of the toll bridge all by himself in
a small ill-kept house. just beyond
lay Ryeboro Center with it's church
and two stores. Irene Benton came
past every morning on her way to buy
her small supply Of groceries. One of
the most familiar sights at the Center
was Joe Blair carrying a market basket
for Irene while she made her purchases.
But this week he pretended not to see
her as she went past his house, and he
did not bring over his weekly mending
for her to do as was his custom. In
stead he went walking with Miss Lor-
ing, joining her boldly in the high
road. He accosted her calmly in the
postof1ce or store and invited her to go
rowing with him in the hearing of
prominentl citizens. Miss Loring
smiled and went,-and the sensation
overlooked the boundaries of Ryeboro
and inundated West Lennox and
Thompson's Hollow.
The night before the picnic the most
brilliant inspiration of all came to Joe,
Covered carriages were rare in those
parts, but there was one owned, as it
was impressively stated, in Ryeboro
Center 1t could be hired for a good
round sum per day and to drive
through the town in it was the summit
of the ambition of the Ryeboro
youth. The popular idea of extreme
elegance in Ryeboro was to drive in a
top carriage. Joe counted his money
anxiously. He had the price Of the
carriage hire and just 20 cents besides.
He had been extravaganza the past
week in the matter Of toll.
"Sho, guess I'll risk it," Joe said to
himself. "Old Morgan allus wants his
money for the team in advance, but
the 20 cents III pay the toll both ways
and what more do want? She said
she'd stay all night at the Center with
Name Fellows, so l shan't have to
carry her back to West Lennox. There
won It be nothin' to spend money for
after we git to the picnic; the vittles
is free.''
On the morning Of the picnic Irene
was at the toll gates when Joe drove
through on his way to West Lennox to
fetch Miss Loring. He paid his 10
cents with the air of a capitalist, but
he felt In the bottom of his pocket to
see if his only remaining dime was safe.
He nodded condescendingly as he
drove away.
s'Nice day for the picnic" he said,