The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-08-12
Over q
HOneySuckle
Hedge BY A. NJ.
DAVIES
I"t ~ W. Won, ,v,@' ~ OGDEN
COpm-ight, 1904, bB
4. &. Mcclure

4 4. L. Mcclure ]
The afternoon was sunny and warm,
and the young man lying beneath the
oak tree let the book slip from listless
fingers and his eyes wander idly to the
tangle OF green above. Thus it hap
pened that he did not see slender
white figure which came down the hill
TO the fragrant hedge dividing them.
Aroused by IA slight sound, he thrust
back his hat. For an instant he gazed,
bewildered. Then, meeting the girls
surprised look. he sprang up.
II hope that | am not trespassing,"
he began doubtfully. IF l am intrud-
ing
mo, | believe not" she responded.
"Our land stops at this hedge, | fancy.
If you care to stay, Of course came
to look at the view she added with
some irrelevance. The man nodded.
1T is great" he agreed. Il have
rarely seen anything more beautiful"
He was still looking straight at her,
and the girl gave him a suspicious
glance. Il often come here to read
Omar he went on calmly. 1T fits in
somehow"
Really" with polite if vague inter
est You care for Omar them"
Immensely. \ book of verses, I'M
derneath the bOugh; loaf of bread,
jug of wine and thou beside me- sing
ing in the wilderness-ah, wilderness
were paradise noww
The girl gravely unfurled her fluffy
parasol.
Il must not longer interrupt your
reading, then" she said. "Goodby."
"GoOdby! But you have only just
come. Please don't CO." he begged.
1--WE read enough for today"
But l don't know you" she objected.
The man held out the Omar.
'My name is on the title page" he
suggested tentatively, and the girl.
after a moments hesitation, ruffiing
over the pages, read the name aloud
Gordon Lenox Maxwell. Are you
really Gordon Maxwell" The man
looked surprised.
What do you know of me?'
"Who has not heard of the great ten
mis- champion" she laughed, half mock
ingly. Here is your book"
But you were only a child then"
he persisted. And l have been abroad
ever since"
"Sure, but children have good mem
cries, you know"
You must have been a lovely child
he murmured refectively. The girl
frowned.
Il really must 60" she repeated
Maxwell took a hasty step forward.
please don't. And forgive me. And
won't you tell me who you are?' The
girl shook her head decidedly.
81 only tell my name to my friends"
And are not we friends|'
She opened wide eyes. Not yet
surely"
"Well. let's pretend then" he urged
The girl, gazing at him with more APP
proval, relented little.
Lets pretend by all means. I will
therefore introduce myself as the
Princess of the Blue Forgetmenots,
who lives in yonder enchanted castle"
waving her hand toward the hill
Maxwell sighed contentedly.
what a lovely name. 1t exactly
suits your eyes. And is Mrs. Cory
your aunt. them" hurrying on at signs
Of danger. "Why haven't / met you
before? l will come and CALL" reflec-
lively. II love Mrs. Cory" The girl
flushed.
mo, no, you mustn't" she cried alb
ruptly-"that is, my aunt is ill.," half
confused Then, at MaXwelrs puzzled
stare. she broke into persuasion. Don't
you see how the whole thing would be
spoiled?' she cried eff we were to
meet at teas and chatter inanities as
people do, if you were to meet me out
as plain Miss Smith-cant you see,
don't you understand"
"But''-objected Maxwell. The girls
eyes flashed.
"Oh, very well, them do It," she de-
clared. "What does it matter anyway?
l should not have come here, should
not have spoken to you at all. You
have shown me that quite plainly.
Therefore in any case | think the ac-
quaintance had better stop here and
now"
But" interposed Maxwell again.
cant you see it's only because l want
to meet you again somewhere, any
where" recklessly what do / care
for Mrs. Cory? You will come back
here?' he implored. The girl smiled.
"You will promise to stay on your
own side OF the hedgeY
"If | must" obediently. "But-am
/ never to cross itY Her face changed.
Before | leave / will myself break
the spell, and then perhaps"-she hest.
tated. But until then, no."
you are going" in alarm. She
laughed again.
Surely you cannot expect me to re-
main foreverT'
II could remain here-forever," he
answered.
ION the other side OF the fence?" with