The Van Buren press., 1904-08-20

was evident from the alert way in WL1ci
he speed down through the new pasture
taking a round about course, so as &C
come up Unexpectedly on the oeprecaty'
So he did not rise up until he was almo7'
opposite. and then he suddenly stood up
right.
Joshna's face redeemed, and his Ja"
dropped The fence was there-ye eS-
he could get a glimpse Of the rails mere
and there-tut IL was fence mace o
sweet peas. They had been plaLtsl "
both ides-following the homely Z1s
gag Of the fence, anC curling JAeIE i4.''
tendrils around every splinter and hLo.'
and reaching through cracks to emD'd. q
one another and climb higher, arm III
arm. Every inch OF space, II seemed u
him. was gay with bloCm-pnk and Id'-
ender and white and purple anG cream
he had never seen-at least-not IN loL=
years. he remembered now-such mas
of bloom as that which yelled the renee
over which he and Abner had quarreIed.
Somehow. the redness in his lace reeg-
ened-and he looked with embarrassed
eyes at the girl in the white sunbonnet
who was going along the line on ADneT 5
side of the fence. shipping away at th1
flowers and filling big basket WA'oI
hung on her arm.
She did not see him until she hAl
come opposite, and his shadow fell on
her, and then she looked up, startled
You must be Mr.. Long, she said re-
covering herself at once. She did not
l.ugh-indeed, she spoke very Gemurely.
but he caught a trace of dimple in her
cheek, as though she had almost smiled
80 it's you that's fixed the fence!
he said uneasily. 1t had not been IN the
least what he had meant to say, but
somehow, the sight Of that dimple hao
forced it out of him. You must be Bes-
sic, he added, as an afterthought.
"Yes-I'm Bessie she replied, look
ing at him from beneath the shade Of the
white sunbonnet.
so see Abner had the good sense = o
leave my fence where put it, he sag-
gested, remembering that he must make
a showing for himself. 1T was a gcod
thing for him. wouldn't a stood any
more foolishness.
Uncle Abner hasn't been out Of sle
house yet, said Bessie. He turned the
management Of the-the war-oyer to
me-and don't you think | have IN
proved the fence?'
The dimple was unmistakable this
time Joshua's voice shook as he re-
piled:
Il dunno but what you have. But how
the come to be-things-planted on my
side-but give me them shears, an II!
cut ye a few posies from over here. My
mothers garden use to have blossom
like these in it, She use to have EN-
trained up alongside Of the porch,
"Oh, Will you cut some over there
cried the girl I've been wishing could
get to them. Sim generally cuts them
for me- but he haQ to 90 after wood this
morning He's been 50 hnd-made the
bed for the seeds on that sde-the very
morning after you went away-and once
when 1t was dry he carried water and
watered the whole row.
well III settle with SIM" said
Joshua in his heart; but the next mo-
ment he asked IN s,S,den amazement
what dye Go with all these bios,
soms?"
"1've been sending them up TO the
childrons ward in the hospital said the
girl. across the fragrant fence, Il UseC
to visit II very often-and ] thought II
would be so sweet for them TO have the
flowers and for me to give them-espe.
cially as they were raised along th..
fence"
She flashed a demure glance at him
from under the pretty lashes, and thI.
time he was watching for the dimple an.
caught It at its best He turned with
the heaped-up basket
"Ye reckin | could git through them
vines somehow he asked, looking du
bously al their unbrokcn ranks 81
b1lcyc-I sort O thInk-ld Ike to &c
over and Jaw bit with Abner"
"Oh, there's a thin place right dowr
here" cried the sir, with a joyous thrill
in her tones Slr ran down the fence.
and at the place she pointed outJoshua
stepping carefully lest he should crush
a single tendrl, alightcd beside toe
pretty girl
81 don't know why We shouldn't have
A gate in here-about here-so's yoN
could pick on both siGes Of the fonc"
he said. shamc.faccdly, as he looked Al
the ferce and his heart began TO warm
"Stan's 10 reason, II the sick chIIeri
likes 'em so well the sick grown folk
might Ike a blossom or two, along WIN
'cm. It might be with them Ike It wa
with me- " he added, wisuully "Itmlfh
make 'cm think o their mothers OIL gar
den at home
The mothers old garden at home auD
thofwcct peas that were trained MP pa,oul
the side Of the porch went with joEhu
as he walked beside Bessie through lh'
orchard whore the birds we're sinEin'
rIccfuly over their neV-made nests Il.
found Abnor hohblinp painfully th
length Of the room, with The aid of
stick and all at once thcteud had mcltoD
away and was as though II had neyo
been
ollcro lean ON me, Abner" he cr,'0
burrylnp 10 his old friend aud throw.,'
an arm around the STOPPING shoulder
And before the astoundcd Ahnor ooo0'
have time 20 push him away II he ha.
meant 70 do so=loshua hurried on