Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-03-01

,ESS3 randa. He and William Todd
had been kicking down the elder bushes
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 oughtn't to have let them
60"
"Pooh! They're all right. That seal
awag's half way to Six Crossroads b!
this time. isn't he. William?"
He tuck up the fence like scared
rabbit" Mr.. Todd responded. lookin
into his hat to avoid meeting the eyes
OF the lady. land l didn't have no Cal
to foller. He knowed how to run.
reckon. Time Mr.. Harkless come on
the yard again we see him take acros
the road to the wedge woods. near hal
a mile up. Somebody else with hilr
theu-looked like kid Must a 80
across 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,
chuckling.
mo. Why?" said Minnie.
Because Harkless did. My hand
aches, and l guess Williams does too.
He nearly shook our arms of when we
told him he'd been fool. Seemed to
do him good. l told him he ought to
hire somebody to take shot at him
every morning before breakfast-not
that it's any joking matter" the old
gentleman finished thoughtfully.
81 should say not" said William,
with a deep frown and jerk Of his
head toward the rear of the house.
HE jokes about it 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 a boy,
on the Fourth Of July. This Is the
third time he's ben shot at this year,
but he says the others was at a
what d he call it?'
"'A merely complimentary range"
Briscoe supplied. He handed William
a cigar and bit the end off another him
self. Minnie, you better 60 in the
house and read. l expect, unless you
want to go Down to the creek and join
those folks"
"Me!" she exclaimed. II know when
to stay away, l guess. Do go and put
that terrible gun up"
NO" >aid Briscoe lighting his cigar
deliberately. Its all safe; there's no
question of that; but maybe William
and I better 60 out and take a 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 at
the pasture bars strolled down 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 bench on the
bank, and he made great fuss dust
ing the seat for her with his black
SLOUGH hat. Then he regretted the hat
1T was q shabby old hat Of Carlow
county fashion.
1t was q long bench, and he seated
himself rather remotely toward the
end opposite her, suddenly realizing
nlncn tn hpr
coming down the narrow garden path.
Neither knew that neither had spoken
since they left the veranda, and it had
taken them 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 quite
gone; her attitude seemed little wist-
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
to be dainty and small and piQuant.
He had no notion that he was signing
in q way that would have put fur
mace to shame, but he turned his eyes
from her because he feared that If he
looked longer he might blurt out some
speech about her loveliness. His
glance rested on the bank, but It's
diameter included the edge of her white
skirt and the tip Of little white, high
heeled slipper that peeped out from
beneath, and he had to look away from
that, too, to keep from telling her that
he meant to advocate law compelling
all women to wear crisp white gowns
and white kid slippers on moonlight
nights.
She picked long spear Of grass
from the turf before her, twisted 1t
absently in her fingers, then turned to
him slowly. Her lips parted as If to
speak. Then she turned away again.
The action was so odd, somehow, as
she did it, SC adorable, and the pre-
served silence was such bond be-
tween them. that for his life he could
not have helped moving half way up
the bench toward her.
what is it?" he asked, and he spoke
in a whisper such as he might have
used at the bedside Of dying friend.
He would not have laughed if he had
known he did So She twisted the spear
of grass into a little ball and threw 1t