The Washington times., 1903-08-02

He glazed disparaEingly down at his
shabby black clothes and dark trousers.
frayed at the ends. but carefully pressed
and cleaned. She shook her head. She
was a little bewildered. q am sure
that your clothes are very nice" she
said. and you were wrong to throw
away your hat. What are you going
TO do without one"
I have no idea" he answered. But,
then I have no idea what am going TO
do with myself, so it really does't mat
ter, does it,"
II think" she said, deliberately. that
you are the very queerest person I ever
met. Do go on talking to me! Tell ne
some more about-yourself."
There is nothing interesting to tell"
he assured her. a little YEARLY. q would
rather listen TO you. Tell me some more
about the birds"
She shook her head impatiently.
What is your name. please?" she
asked.
stephen Narwood." he answered. Il
am an orphan and a clerk in a ware
house. I get twenty-five shillings
week and I add up figures and make ont
invoices from till IN a cellar with the
gas burning all the time. l live in q
long. ugly street, surrounded by miles
Of other streets. : am just one of
million I work and I sleep, and I work
again, and all the time my lungs are
choked with fog and smoke and bad
smells"
1T doesn't sound very nice" she ad-
mitted.
1T isn't" he assured her
And yet" she added. with a little
wistful sigh. lit is London"
1T is certainly London" he declared.
1T might as well be hell"
She looked at him wonderingly. Aft
er all. he must be a little mad.
And WHERE she asked, revertfng
once more TO the practical, ARE you go
ing to sleep?'
Il don't know" he answered, dream
lily. and I don't care, If only I can smell
this honeysuckle all night"
"And your tea and supper" she ask
ed. scornfully. will the scent of the
honeysuckle satisfy your hunger as
weIl?"
He closed his eyes for a moment. Re
moved from all distractions he was fore
ed to admit that he was hungry. I
shall go down TO the inn" he decided.
4 suppose there is an inn here? But
you?''
She pointed downward TO where the
gray smoke rose in a straight. thin line
from a red-tiled cottage. There is no
inn" she told him. but my aunt viii
get you some tea, if you like. We often
have parties"
1--WE will have IT together. then" he
begged eagerly.
A month afterward they met almost
in the same place.
Let US climb to the top and watch the
reapers," he begged. There is q field
on the other side where the peoples are
all in clusters. like spots OF blood in
waving yellow sea. I was watching
them all this morning. BY tomorrow they
will be gone. The men seem 10 creep
like insects, but all the time the grain
falls"
She sighed She was dressed in black.
She looked thin and there were tears in
her eyes. But more wonderful still was
the change in him. He carried himself
like a man: a healthy tan had burned
his cheeks. his eyes were bright with
health Even his voice had acquired
new frmness. The drudge was no more
The yoke Of his servitude was cast aside.
Tomorrow he might starve. His small
savings. IN fact. were almost spent. To
day. at least. he was a man.
What strange fancies you have" she
declared. The farmers hate the pop
pies and these overgrown hedges which
you admire so much ought all to be cut
down and trimmed"
He laughed. Give me the honeysuckIe
and the creeper," he declared Il have