, 1903-09-02
HOW IT BEGAN
(Original.l

NAAA
pap say how his potatoes air comm
Out this yearT'
They're all little and mighty few in
a hill"
Henry put out one hand and rested
it on the top rail very near Jenny's
elbow.
ours is pretty good" he said.
"Reckon We'll have "A fair crop of EN-"
~ hope y will"
Henry put his other hand on the rail.
His position was face to face with
Jenny, his hands inclosing her elbows.
"Air v afeerd of fallin' backward?'
she asked.
"Waal, IFS kind o. humpy underfoot
here. A plowed field $ no PLACE to
stand 'thout holdin' on ter somep'n."
Notwithstanding Jenny's covert. init
nation that Henry was edging raeher
close she stood her ground.
''They say Mabel Haines is a-goin' to
be married" she remarked.
"Waal, that's material. I'd like to find
some gal willin' to marry me-"
~ s'pose any of EN- would suit w
NO, tnty OulbI II 6oi "'H'
has blue eyes, yaller hair and n mighty
trim figure"
"Half the gals bout here has blue
eyes and yaller hair"
"There's only one got the right shade
for me-"
Henry continued 10 pull himself for
ward at intervals, each time drawing a
trifle nearer to Jenny's face.
"Y' better stop that" she said.
"WhyT
"'Cause."
Although Jenny spoke very mildly,
she frightened the bashful swain. He
leaned as far back rs his arms would
let him and looked at her obviously.
He saw no encouragement. 1t did not
occur to him that Jenny might stand
farther from the fence. But Jenny's
mild admonition was her only effort
to prevent his touching her rosy lips
with his whenever he had mustered
the necessary courage.
Jenny" he said, Il b'lieve y're
Altered Pm goin' to kiss y"
"No, l amt. V wouldn't dare do
that"
"Would y mind?'
"Henery Dorm, y jist stop talkin'
bout sich things"
Henry started. He wondered how he
could have been SO bold. He let go his
hold on the fence and stood back;
"Our brindle cow" he said, Mad a
calf last night"
nv Ait. III 81 g,nr
made no reply. She dropped her arms
on to the top rail and looked far be-
yond the easily discouraged Henry.
"Y're mad at me fer talkin' about
kissin' y" he said.
Il amt mad about y're talkiD' about
kissin' me-" she replied.
"Y're mad from somep'n. l reck-
oned that was It."
What y say?"
Henry repeated.
"Oh, y're standin' so fer away l
couldn'tshear y"
Henry pondered upon this remark,
and a glimmer of encouragement pene-
trated his sluggish brain. He APP
preached the fence and after Il few ir-
relevant remarks put his hands on the
rail again, inclosing Jenny's round
arms, though his were unbent, keep
ing him at a distance from the lips he
coveted.
"If v think y kin drive me away
from this fence she said, Tyre
mighty mistaken"
II amt a-tryin'."
Henry began a process of swinging
backward and forward. Several times
he approached within a few inches Of
her lips. She neither moved nor spoke.
Finally the temptation was too great
for him, and as u bit of metal placed
too close to a magnet will suddenly
s1stible attraction, and their lips met.
Henry drew back abashed.
THAT was an accident he said. Il
wouldn't "a, done 1t fer a quarter Sec
ton O. land if l could "a helped it."
And 1 wouldn't "a had y done it
fer another quarter section" replied
the girl, %coloring. by think l want
anybody to kiss me as feels that
away"
"Alr v goln TO forgive me, JennyY'
NO"
The word was spoken In n very non-
committal tone. but Henry did not SC
understand it. He stood very neal the
pouting lips that had tasted so sweet,
and a bit of recklessness came to him.
Jenny" he said, Il reckon that if v
air not goin' to forgive me fer takin'
one l might as well have a Dozen"
To this Jenny made no reply. She
looked out toward u barn that loomed
up on the crest of a distant hill and
waited.
"How much madden would y be II
I took a dozen than If l took one?" he
asked.
Lots"
Henry was beginning to discover
that the penalty he must pay for q kiss
was not very severe. Jenny's lips were
still nOI,finO x.rffh;D Co. 4.ahon