Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-04-16

| less UangLe.
At last, goaded by hints from his
mother, he essayed to put one Ofthess
long-studied methods to the trial.
Everything was propitious. He
sat with Barbara on the front steps
without a sign of another human be-
ing nearer than half mile Not a
breath stirred the leaves on the elm
over their heads. A crescent moon
with its attendant star was just touch
ing the tops of the oaks on the hill
The crickets were chirplng Now,
now, now"
Neither had spoken for some min
utes.
Zachariah cleared his throat.
Barbara gave scarcely percepti-
ble start and clasped her hands.
"B-B-B-Barb
The color mounted in Barbara S
cheeks. She gazed iutently at her
hands in her lap.
"Barb-Barb-Barb-arb wire
hain't no good for fencin if you're
tall perticklar bout your stock.
A wave Of despair went over him
There was an awkward pause while he
stared fxedIy into bis hat in cOnster-
nation. The opportunity that he had
worked up so carefully had come and
gone, and he had accomplished moth
ing
The next Sunday, reinforced by
the brightest neck tie he could buy in
the village, he sauntered over his us
ual course.
Again he sat with Barbara on the
front steps and watched the color lie
out Of the western sky, and again he
sought to put IN practice one of his
many plans.
Conversation was 6tful and Barbara
was not helping to fill up the gaps
Barbara, Zachariah felt his throat
begin to tighten.
Barbara eat up straighter and looked
away to the willows across the brook
Barbara, " Zachariah repeated sol
emily, a want to tell youh-h-h-
h-how m-m-m-m-much the
corn is growing down in the back lot.
Clearly no advance had been made
this time, and Zachariah went home
more discouraged than ever, dreadiue
to meet his mothers searching glance
from over her glasses.
The next morning thesun was play
ing hide and seek with Barbara through
the grapevine that spread itself out
and clung to the lattice around the
stoop. Now, it hit the coil OF dark
hair on the top of her head as she bent
over the washtub, and nowit cleaned
or the firm pink flesh of her bare arm
Mechanically she gave the white
garment a deft turn that sent the wa
ter trickling back into the tub and
then add d it to the heaped basket by
her side. Now and again there wat
little shake Of her head as she bowed
over her work which BODIED miscbie
to someone.
Good mornin', Barbara. Ain
you powerful busy? I've been waitin
bout half an hour for you to look ~
and speak to a feller."
Barbara gave a little start and Z
conscious flush swept over her face a
she turned and looked down on tn.
tall, broad-chested young man stand
ing on the grass near her, his much
battered straw hat pushed back from
his bronzeJ forehead, and bis large
strong face beaming with pleasure.
"Wby, Zach Plympton, what or
earth ye doin down here this time o
day ? I thought your plowiD' over il
the south lot.
"Well, I did mean to, but mothe
wanted me to do an srrant for he
fore I hitched up.
He put basket carefully down 0.
the edge Of the steps.
"She wants to know if you don
w-w-w-w-wsnt to s-s-s-s-
set -
He stopped. The shadow of a smil
lowered among the dimPles on Bar
bara's face and most bewilderin
mirth shown in her saucy black eyet
"She wants to know if you don
w-w-w-w-wanttos-s-s-s-
"Set the day? Why, Zach, you
dredtful sudden. I'll have to as