Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1903-01-30

swelled up In her breast; tears filled
her eyes. The years of her life, with
their simple tasks. their ambitions
hopes and dreams, came to her like
some vast tidal wave upon a sunny
shore, withdrawing In a long resound
ing sigh at the absence Of some I'M
known Joy. She stared through the
warm darkness toward the edge of the
woods outlined against the evening as
though one should try to read the soul
of silhouette Then she dropped her
face I'm her hands for a single minute.
At O'Clock In the morning Mary
was in the garden picking the vegeta-
bles for dinner. The sunshiny, dew
fresh day. the beans and cabbages In
their prim symmetry. the tall scarlet
hollyhocls nodding against the fence,
made the experience. Of the night be-
fore very remote and visionary.
AS Mary reached the end Of the row
Of peas she pushed back her sunbonnet
and looked up; then her song stopped
and she knelt silently.
A young man was standing on the
other side of the garden wall looking
at her. He blushed ss he met her
steady, smiling gaze ''T'ickinR peas2"
he asked. You've got a lot. haven't
your
Eyes, indeed; plenty this year. Have
your ".1
"All we can eat and more too. Get
ting old, though. How are these2" He
crossed the wall and stood beside her
Yours are pretty tender yet" He tore
on another pod. "Shan't help you?
Two can work better than one"
"Oh. thank you: you needn't bother"
Yet she smiled at him.
"Oh, | like to do this. I'll take the
inside of the row."
ITS very kind OF you" she an.
swered. looking up Mt him sweetly.
How brown and strong and sinewy
he had grown since he had begun to
work In the harvest fields She had not
seen him for n long WHILE not since
they were In school together. She was
looking at him again when he glanced
up and caught her eyes This time
they both blushed. They said nothing
for some time. Mary picked busily,
and the boy whlstled half to himself.
They were beside each other, with
nothing between them but the slender
trellis Of pea vines. enough to give the
boy courage to say. did you hear the
whlppoorwill last nlghtT'
Mary felt n fash that made her
nerves tlnglc.
ooh, did you. too2' she exclaimed,
then stopped, abashed at her own
eagGncss How could Alvy under.
stand the confession She had made 20
IA whlppoorwill just because II was IN
seen? Where was ~" she asked,
with all the carelessncss she could
summon.
Down In the wood lot about half
past s. ! was coming home cross lots
back Of your barn; been up at the 9th.
or farm all day"
They were picking slowly now. How |
pretty Mary was with her braided vel. |
low hnlr, her rose pink ears, her |
smooth lidded. down dropping eyes! |
The rufile of her apron, with Its crisp |
curves. seemed meant TO hedge her |
cheeks from kisses.
Alyy felt his heart thrOb dizzily. SO |
many words aud thoughts went round
and round In his head that he could |
not say one. And there was the screen
Of brush and vines between them.
The delicate film of green was strong
as prison grille through which the
serene face OF the girl glowed upon
him. Somehow their hands met upon
the same pods. Mary's trembled, then
lay still IN his.
u saw you up on the roof" whis.
pered the boy. You were listening,
weren't your
Mary nodded.
"DO you-dO you like to hear II,
Mary1 DO you like the whIppoorwillT'
Mary's lip trembIed. 81 don't know.
guess So"
Because he-he loves you, Mary"
MARY. Mary, where are your
The two In the garden sprang up as
the shrill voice called from the kitchen.
As the boy leaped over the fence into
his own orchard Mary looked aflor
him. From tho trees among which no
came clear, low and sweet
the Gull OF the whlppoorwIll.