The Jersey City news., 1903-12-15

tCopyriEht 1903, BY <T. g. McClure.l
They had been standing beneath the
plum tree when they quarreled, or,
rather, when they parted
They had set out for the plum tree
with the full intention Of gathering the
great purple damsors which weighted
rs branches, but when finally they
stood in the long shadow which the
tree made in the afternoon sun dam
sons were the last things Ia the world
of which they thought.
Betty. scarlet to the roots Of her cop
| per colored hair. withdrew all censor
ship from her tongue and said things
which she would have Indignantly dis
claimed had any one repeated them to
her an hour later. Jerrold listened
silently, but in his eyes was strange
look which she had never seen before.
When in the midst Of the TRADE she
paused for breath, he had turned sud-
denly on his heel, and with a curt
"goodby" cast over his shoulder much
| as a bone would be thrown to a stray
dog, Betty thought-he had vaulted the
1oo ASASS aAu Sohs UAdthiuiiy dSIOoS
the pasture.
Betty watched him until clump of
scrub oak hid him from view. Then
she sat down with her back against
| the trunk Of the plum tree and thought
| it all over. As she thought angry
tears came TO her eyes, eoursed down
her cheeks and splashed impudently
on the hands claspcd tightly in her lap.
She sat there until the shadow of the
tree had reached the fence, and the
breeze coming in from the water made
her shiver. She rose and turned her
face toward the scrub oaks behind
which he had disappeared.
You left rather abruptly, Mr.. Jer-
rold Neil" she said between her white
! teeth, land you may stay away as
long as you please. You're hardly
| worth crying over" she added as she
brushed away her tears.
Neil next morning sat on the veran-
ua Of the casino, solemnly rolling and
smoking innumerabie cigarettes, which
utterly failed to bring him the peace
of mind he sought. Catboats with
trim white sails were darting to and
| fro in the bay, and each one suggested
the joys Of a morning sail with Betty.
But the memory of the parting at the
plum tree was still strong within him.
A wretched hour dragged past, and
he gave up his vain attempts to inter-
est himself In the columns of the morn
dng paper. He flung away his ciga-
rette and, getting to his feet, strolled
down the gravel path.
"I'm fool,o he nused ..and brute.
needn't have left her in that fashion.
BY George! I'll go over to the plum
tree and get some of those damsons.
I'll send 'em up to der by Tom. She'll
understand
Mr.. Jerrold Neil strode across the
fields whistling ngay aria. He emerged
from the clump Of scrub oak in the
pasture and made straight for the
plum tree. As he spied the tree one
note of the aria was prolonged into
whistle of surprise. Against the base
of the tree was stepladder, and
among the branches be caught mo-
msntary flash OF white muslin. Then
he resumed the aria, quite as if this
delightful bit of information had not
been vouchsafed to him.
He took down the stepladder, folded
1t up and calmly sat down on it. Some
thing suspiciously like gasp of dis
may came from the branches above his
head, but to this he gave no heed.
I With his chin in his palm he sat on
the stepladder and sighed ponderously
before he began to muse aloud.
"'Tis strange" said Mr. Jerrold Neil
beneath the plum tree" tbs passing
strange how the human heart will al
ways seek the scenes of its afiiction.
1t was here we euarreled" smother
sigh. "She said-O Lord, what didn't
she say? If I'm all she made me out
she's well done with me''-sighs ad
ibitum.
He drew out pipe and filed end
lighted it. By vigorous putting he
managed to send Quite respectable
cloud of smoke up among the branches.
A little choking cough rewarded his
efforts, and 1t was with difficulty that
he restrained chuckle. Presently
wee, small voice crept down from the
branches
Mr. Nei,!v
Neil started violently.
"Ah,' he said. my trouble has
brought on hallaclnatio Aiethought
! heard my own name. Twas Betty's
voice, but far too small ana weak
Mr.. Ne;lr' This time the voice was
loud and clear.
There 1t goes again. cried Neil.
Surely Betty's, yet she always called
lie Jerry, with such a pretty accent
Jerry, youyou wretch!p came the,
voiee, accented to the queens taste.
"oho!' said Neil. 80 it's really yod.
rn?'
Yes-no. Don't look up. Jerry.
please put the ladder against the tree,
then walk across the pasture, and don't
look back.
Don't look up, don't look back" said
sa mockin@ly. Suppose comply.
What do get for 1t ~
What do yen want. you haggler?'
~ half hours talk under the tree"
ycu-you've cot nc cornered," she
I'D I II haze to capieu,ate''
4 few minutes later Betty sat on the
iS'pladder, and Neil sprawled comfort