Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-03-05

KSZA III ICDSE bNiSOOE grim
E3 ly and leaned on his shotgun
k$%sX% in the moonlight by the We
$3.50 randa. He and William Todd
had been kicking down the elder bushes
ana. returning to the house. found Min
ME alone on the porch. "Safe?" be
said TO his daughter. who turned an
anxious face upon him. They'll be
safe enough now. and in our garden"
Maybe I oughtn't to have let ther
GO"
~Pooh! They're all right That seal
awag,s half way to Six Crossroads by
ibis time. isn't he, William?'
He tuck up the fence like scared
rabbit" Mr.. Todd responded. loolinr
INTO his hat to avoid meeting the eyes
OF the lady, land didn't have no cal,
90 fo'ter. He knowed how to run.
reckon. Time Mr.. Harkless come ort
the yard again we see him take across
he road to the wedge woods. near half
mile up. Somebody else with him
shen-sooked like kid. Must "a cut
across the field to join him. They're
Fur enough toward home by this.''
did Miss Helen shake hands with
ysu four or five timesY asked Briscoe.
chuckling.
no WhyT said Minnie.
Because Harkless did. NV hand
aches, and 1 guess Williams does too.
He nearly shook our arms OF when we
told him he'd been a fool. Seemed to
dc him good. I told him he ought to
Ssre somebody to take a shot at him
every morning before breakfast-not
ehat It's any joking matter" the old
gentleman finished thoughtfully.
Il should say not" said William,
With deep frown and a jerk OF his
heed toward the rear OF the house.
He jokes about 1t enough. Wouldn't
evoc promise to carry a gun after this.
Said he wouldn't know how to use it
never shot one Off since he was a boy,
sa the Fourth OF July. This Is the
shird time he's ben shot at this year,
bnf he says the others was at a.
what d he call it7"
"A merely complimentary range"
Briscoe supplied. He handed William
cigar and bit the end Off another him
sclf. minnie, you better go In the
house and read. expect, unless you
want to 50 down to the creek and Join
those folks"
Mel she exclaimed. 81 know when
- stay away, 1 guess. Do go and put
MAT terrible gun up"
mo-" said Briscoe lighting his cigar
deliberately. Its oil safe; there's no
question Of that; but maybe William
ana better go out and take smoke
In the orchard as long as they stay
Auwn at the creek"
I'm the garden shafts of white light
p5erced the bordering trees and fell
where June roses breathed the mild
night breeze, and here, through sum-
ner spells, the editor OF the Herald
and the lady who had run to him at
Gse pasture bars strolled down q path
trembling with shadows to where the
creek tinkled over the pebbles. They
walked slowly, with an air OF being
well accustomed friends and comrades,
and for some reason it did not strike
either OF them as unnatural or extraor-
dinary- They came to q bench on the
bank, and he made a great fuss dust
t,s the seat for her with his black
siouch hat. Then he regretted the hat
1t was a shabby old hat OF a Carlow
county fashion.
1t was a long bench, and he seated
himself rather remotely toward the
end opposite her, suddenly realizing
that he had walked very close to her
coming down the narrow garden path
Neither knew that neither had spoken
since they left the veranda, and II had
taken them long time to come
through the little orchard and the gar
dec- SIC rested her chin on her hand,
seaning forward and looking steadily
Ex the creek. Her laughter had quite
gone; her attitude seemed a little visit
foi and a little sad. He noted that her
hair curled over her brow In a way he
had not pictured in the lady of his
creams. This was SO much prettier.
He did not care for tall girls. He had
not cared for them for almost half an
hour. 1t was so much more beautiful
% be dainty and small and piquant.
He had no notion that he was signing
Ia way that would have put 3 fur
nace to shame, but he turned his eyes
from her because he feared that II he
locked longer he might blurt out some
speech about her loneliness. His