Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-11

&;S3SS8 randn He and William Todd
and, returning to the house. found Min
ME alone on the porch. safer" he
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 them
60"
Pooh. They're all right. That seal
awag's half way to Six Crossroads by
this time, isn't he. WiliamI"
"He tuck up the fence like n scared
rabbit" Mr.. Todd responded. looking
into his hat to avoid meeting the eyes
Of the lady. land I didn't have no call
to foller. He knowcd how to run.
reckon. Time Mr.. Harkless come out
the yard again we see him take across
the road to the wedge woods. near half
a mile up. Somebody else with him
then-lookcd like kid. Must "a cut
acvoss the field to join him. They re
fur enough toward home by this
Did Miss Helen shake hands with
you four or five times?" asked Briscoe,
chucklng.
NO. Why said Minnie.
because Harkless did My hand
aches, and l guess Williams does too.
He nearly shook our arms off when we
told him he'd been fool. Seemed to
do him good. told him he ought to
hire somebody to take a. shot at him
every morning before breakfast-not
that it's any joking matter" the old
gentleman finished thoughtfully.
Il should say not" said William,
with deep frown and jerk Of his
head toward the rear Of the house.
He jokes about il enough. Wouldn't
even promise to carry gun after this.
Said he wouldn't know how to use it
never shot one off since he was boy,
on the Fourth of July. This is the
third time he's ben shot at this year,
but he says the others was ut u
what ii he call it,"
"a merely complimentary range"
Briscoe supplied. He handed William
cigar and bit the end off another him
self. Minnie. you better go in the
house and read, l expect, unless you
want to so down to the creek and join
those folks"
"Mc." she exclaimed. II know when
to stay away, l guess. Do go and put
that terrible gun up
NO" said Briscoe lighting his cigar
deliberately. ITS all safe there's no
question of that but maybe William
and | better so out and take smoke
in the orchard as long as they stay
down at the creek"
In the garden shafts of white light
pierced the bordering trees and fell
where June roses breathed the mild
night breeze, and here, through sum
mer spells, the editor Of the Herald
and the lady who had run TO him ut
the pasture bnrs strolled down n path
trembling with shadows to where the
creek tinked over the pebbles. They
walked slowly, with an air OF being
well accustomed friends ana comrades,
and for some reason it did not strike
either of them as unnatural or extraor-
binary. They came to bench OIL the
bank. and he made a great fuss dust
ing the seat for her with his black
SLOUGH hat Then he regretted the hat
it was a shabby old hat of n 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 vsranda, and 1t had
taken them a long time to come
through the little orchard and the gar
den. She rested her chin on her hand,
leaning forward and looking steadily
at the creek. Her laughter had quito
gone; her attitude seemed little visit
full and little sad He noted that her
hair curled over her brow in way he
had not pictured in the lady of his
dreams. 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