The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-06
FOR FEST IN THE GAME.
BY SARA LINDSAY COLEMAN.
 (copyright. 1908. by Daily Story Pub Col

Copyright 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Col The laurel was pink on the mountain aide as Philip waded up stream. He whipped his line into . still pool and a few moments later, the short. mad conflict at end stood breathless and motioniess, looking down at the speckied beauty he held in his hand. And. suddenly the laurel parted to let a slip of . girl through and waved back. framing her in with its pink beauty-a slip of a girl with soft. untidy hair blowing across brown cheeks and eyes that held the gypsy glint.
 She looked at Philip. in mid-stream. with the sunshine on him, c little shook of surprise in her glance.
 In spite of the fact that he was in search of hshy and not feminine things. Philip re- turned the look with interest. And. mysteri- ousiy, for there no perceptibie wind. the little winds fell to gossipng of this meeting in Arcady's lonely green heart. Fell to laughing. too. for the girls eyes traveled on and restee with something of dismay on her shabby calico gown and rough little shoes. But suddenly she laughed. her merriment the abandon of c child.
 Philip reddened-the world of women didn't laugh at him.
 ''IIit's . main big un. mister" The girl in- dicated the fish and giggied. as though land ing . biz un was the merriest fact in exist ence.
 Like . bad fairy she perched herself on . messy rock .You ain't Q livin' in these p8ItS, 8ne 16iu, knoWlnEIy. I am uettnof. run off up here" She leaned forward in a little gust of confidence. My mar tried ter marry me ter e man couldn't abide. I'm ter ribie pestered with no count men wantin' ter marry me-jes weak hghtin' agtn 'em-so cleared out" She locked her slim ankles and gurgled in reminiscent siee at her escape.
 Philip smiled at the young egotist indu- gently. Mighty big fools, these mountain eers," he said. Why don't one of them do the running act. with little thing like you tucked Hxx ktu AA AAA AA ~to tA the parsonage"
 Come a little nigher.' she said, dimpling ''an I'll tell ye why"
 Philip waded out of the stream and climbed to her side.
 My pas got a-a sort O company store down in the valley" with a sweep that took in half the world. "an' jest because he's richer than some l." signing. "am so pestered. But." brightening. "rii never give in.''
 Good for you!'' said Philip. Some day a fellow will come along who won't care hang for the company store-''
 ''rd love hit" the girl interrupted. 'Hit ud be great, but" dejectedly. nobody will hits jest the contents O that store men love-" She loked over her shoulder as though she might be meditating a flight as abrupt as her arrival.
 Don't go." said Philip. in alarm.
 There was q wicked glimmer in the girls eyes. 'I war jes a-thinkin' we might have game O duck on the rock" she said innocently. Hits a harmless kind O game-an' old one I have played hit all my life"
 ''But what is itf" asked Philip. T never heard of it."
 For answer the girl stopped, picked up pointed rock. set 1t on the large one. backed some distance. bent again with a quick move- ment to gather up a little stone and let it fly. It struck the duck fairly and squarely and spun 1t some little distance.
 Philip set up the target ,shied at 1t vio- lently, and missed. He tried it 6 second time with no better result The girl laughed as he picked up q rock for his third attempt.
 Hit leads a body on don't it?' she asked. T jes play for love O the game. Most folks play soon or late; an some's that awkward at hit" with a mutinous crinking of her face. ''but somes jes born ter win-I win"
 But what if win?' eagerly.
 ''You won't" she said. With little back ward movement she stepped into the laurel and instantly. 1t seemed. the forest engulfed her.
 Philip hshed in the same pool next morning The morning after he sat on the big rock and stared into the laurel. On the third morning the stiffness of the forest closed down on him oppressively He remembered the closet that disciplined his little boy days the gleam of the instrument that took out his first tooth inc ache of his heart when his dog Fido died She meant to stay away. 1t was premeditated cruelty. Having reached this conclusion he