The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1903-08-21

tumbled upon the broad face Of
a burdock leaf too overladen with pol
len to fly; interlocked branches traced
a lacework pattern on the ground, and
the September sunlight shimmering up
on the bank and water was like bene-
-diction.
Ringold lay at length beside the foot
path fat upon his back, one leg over
the other, thus thrusting a very trim
and well shod foot into the air, and
with his hands clasped behind his head
pillowed on a hammock.
He watched a spider busily spinning
a thread so fine that as 1t was carried
further and further out over the water
on the bosom of the breeze its end was
finally lost to sight. Such busy little
creature as that spider was, too! 1t
positively made Ringold feel a desire
to be doing something himself, just to
see the spinner at work. SO he Lit an
other cigarette and puffed steadily.
man can always find something to do
when he's in the country on a vaca-
ton.
BY and by the spider, evidently be-
1ieving his aerial ship, or kite, or what
ever he was making, Of sufficient
strength, cut himself loose and went
flying away at the end Of his thread.
Up and up the spider scared, and
away over the river; and having seen
the ascension Ringold was able to fol
low the track of the cunning insect at
the end of his floating thread for some
yards.
That's a fine way to cross river"
lie said to himself. "Wish | could do it
as easily"
Simon Sholes, the storekeeper, came
tro,ting along the path. Hi, Bobby!
What are you doing thereY' he asked,
casting a rather suspicious glance at
the recumbent figure.
Saving wood, Mr.. Sholes," respond
ed the lazy one.
ShOles chuckled rather doubtfully.
and went on. Ringold knew he would
go down to his store and report that
Bob was just as lazy as ever. Three
years in the city hadn't changed him
a mite!
DR.. Newell hove in sight a moment
later. Really, the river path seemed q
favOrite way to the village today
THAT you Ringold? Taking it easy"
''Oh, no, sir! I'm blowing for oats"
81 reckon you would plow for oats
this time o. year, Ringold. 1t would bt
just like YOU" said the old physician
.dryly, as he went on his coattails flap
ping over his locked hands.
Makes these folks jealous to see {
man resting" declared Ringold to him
self.
"Humph Working just about a.
you useter, hey?" was old Peleg Mar
nays sharp remark as he passed {
minute later. And he scowled down a
the man of ease. He remembered
when Ringold had stolen his colder
russets.
Harder" was the reply. "I'm max
ing hay while the sun shines. I'll sci
you a ton at a discount Peleg," sat
Ringold. He knew the old mans fail
ing.
BY and by there was another step o,
the path. Ringold had been waitin
for it, but he did not raise his head.
81 thought l would find you here,
said a voice scornfully. you are, Rot
.ert, the very LATEST man in the world!
Think SOP
81 know sou The girl tapped tn
patent leather toe of her shoe with tn
tip Of her parasol. "And you mean I
say that they pay you $1,000 a year /
New York.
"Thats the figure"
"What for?"
For thinking"
"And l suppose you have been thinl
Ing all this livelong afternoon that 20
have lain here?"
"No; I've been doing better"
what, prayY
"Watching spidersv exclaimed RIM
old, laughing and getting lazily upo
his feet Then he walked along by Il
girls side. But she kept her face tur
ed loftlly from him, and that eveniI
she went TO the church sociable wit
young Sholes, the storekeepers son.
Il like a man who does things" 81
told Ringold when he complained.
The last week of his months vac
ton conceded with Ringolds hope
To say the least the weather was u
certain. Most of the time it raine
When it did not rain it poured. II
river rose enormously. The water h'
not been so high these be the wor
of the oldest InhabitanD since t
great storm in 80. The meadows we
afood. Where Ringold had lain al