Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-11-18

ride into IlEca with the Becrafts on
the following morning. although
some were planning 20 take the even
ing train for Hintonville.
By four o'clock the last box had
been emptied, the last pole stripped
and stacked. 1t was announced that
Mr.. Merton was to be found in his
little room in the barn. and fhither
all the pickers focked for their pay.
When the grateful farmer came to
settle with Rossiter he endeavored to
make him accept much larger sum
than that due him, saying he wished
IN some way to show his appreciation
OF his many services, and knew no
other manner of making clear such
appreciation. 1t was frankly yet by
no means indelicately put, and though
the pole-puller would not listen to
the proposal, he was gratiHed rather
than offended. Mr.. Merton then
asked him if he would not like to re-
main in his employment upon the
farm, saying that Jack Parmelee had
suggested it. For this further mark
of kindness Rossiter expressed his
thanks, but replied in the negative.
whereat Mr.. Merton's regret was ap-
parently genuine.
AS Rossiter emerged from his inter
view with Mr.. Merton, and was
standing in the door of the barn pom
dering upon how he should effect his
interview with Miss Densmore, a
young man, trinity clad and neatly
gloved, drove briskly into the yard
in smart dog-cart. He pulled up in
in front of the porch and Miss Dens-
more and Miss Merton came out to
meet him.
''Hullo! There's young Wolfe, a
friend of Sylvia's from Illica,'' said
Jack Parmelee, who was sitting upon
the barn threshold whiting ener-
getically at a splinter of pine. ''Hey,
Dick Whittlesey! Run and take that
hOrsei"
Il came down from the woods day
before yesterday" the newcomer was
saying to Miss Densmore, land yes
terday l met your father, who told me
you were up here, so 1 thought I'd
drive OUT
AS Rossiter viewed the greeting be-
tween the two, the lovely girl and
this tine-looking, handsomely dressed
young man, the little fabric of dream
which he had allowed to grow grad
TALLY since his struggle in the dip
crumbled into dismal ruin. He strobe
away into the orchard cursing him
self for his mad presumption. Yet
hope died hard, and by the time the
sound of the supper bell rang out he
n L.. Al
of this unexpected arrival should not
deter him from pleading his cause.
Curiously, in all his thoughts of Miss
Densmore the probability that her
affections were engaged was not u
thing that had received from him
much consideration. Now he won
dered why.
The evening meal was earlier than
usual, that those of the pickers who
desired might catch the train at Hin
tonvllle. After he had eaten Rossiter
again sought the orchard. He had
decided that he would wait and watch
to see when Mr.. Wolfe took his de-
parture, and then perhaps the oppor-
tunity he sought would offer itself.
Eagerly he marked the shadows
gather, and saw the evening star be-
gin to glisten beyond the purple out
line of the distant hills. He was lust
upon the point of returning to the
proximity of the house when he
caught the faint murmur of voices.
He had found seat upon a wide rail
in corner of the snake fence where
tall elderberrybushes formed par
tial screen, and fancying it was some
of the pickers wandering by the path,
half dozen yards away, to the edge
of the orchard, he concluded he would
let them pass before making a move.
He sat there inattentive and passive
until suddenly he was conscious that
one of those speaking was Miss Dens-
more. Without looking he knew who
her companion must be. What should
he do? As yet he had heard no word
OF their conversation, and he had no
desire to play the unwilling caves
dropper. As noiselessly as possible
he tried to shift his position so that
he might slip into the bushes on the
other side of the fence and thus steal
away unnoticed. He had half accom-
plished his purpose when what Wolfe
was saying became clear to him
1t isn't matter of one hour in
the day, Sylvia, but of every hour"
his words ran. Indeed, it seems to
me that you are never absent from
my thoughts. 1 can't put you away
from me. Why, up there in the woods
l heard your name in the song of
every bird, in every breeze that cried