The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-09-28

of me. Never mindl She's shcwn
herself in her true colors. It's not
fair, after me saving up and buying
her that nice lace collar. Those were
sweet words Dan said TO me last night
as came from the well. My word,
wouldn't she be in a tantrum II she
knew?'-
But even the remembrance of past
delights could net extract the sting
from present sorrow; and Margery's
song. sounding from the stairs with
note of defiance in 1t, drove the love
lorn damsel out of the house, hands to
ears. she fairly ran until she reached
the stackyard, where she paused,
breathless.
The place was deserted, for the men
were all off at the village, as is GUS
tomary on Saturday nights. Lookinog
around for a secure hiding place, she
presently espied a haystack from
which a huge piece had been taken
away at the top. Whoever 1t was that
had been last engaged there had left
standing the ladder by which he had
pose, for she ascended, TO find herself
the sole inhabitant of snug and lofty
little world. With a sigh of relief, she
crept into the heart of the stack, and
lay there warmly sheltered and COM
fcrtable. At first the tears, held back
hitherto by pride, rained down her
cheeks, but presently, worn out by
/ el,n fnll a,,l afn al
blissfuily unconscious until aroused by
the sound of voices Immediately be-
meath the haystack.
Meanwhile Margery returned to the
| kitchen, and the song died en- her lips.
| The girl was warm-hearted and gener-
Gus, and soon became a prey to re-
morse. No doubt Alice had been exas-
perating, but still there was much
blame due to herself.
1T was not kind of Alice to take
things that way" she said, as she got
doyn the milk pals preparatory to go'
| ing milking; "she knows ! mean no
harm, if | have a sharp tongue. Silly
girl! But I'm terribly sorry, all the
same. She's not as strong as |, and
like enough she'll cry herself into a
fever tonight. Oh, | wonder if Dams
worth all this bother?"
She wondered still more when old
! Dolly Wardle told her how he'd said
he could have either of the girls at
the farm for just holding up his little
finger, and was having a fine game,
playing one off against the other. This
q q. sA1I - .vt1
for Dan boasted when in liquor; and
Dolly. an old servant at the farm,
thought it was high time some one
opened their eyes.
AS Dolly trudged off with her even
ing's supply of milk, Margery looked
thoughtfully after her. The milking
was over, and the wide pans in the
dairy stood brimming with rich, fra
grant milk, yet Alice, who was rarely
neglectful of her duties, returned not,
while Margery wandered round dis
consulate. eventually reaching the
stackyadd.
Just then figure leaped over the
gate and hastened to her sne. The
very man she had been mentally
weighing and finding wanting; for
Margery was a high-spirited damsel,
and could not brock the idea of her
name and that of her cousin being
banded at the village inn. She turned
to say something sharp to him when
she suddenly deserted CLEAN of white
on the ladder below the haystack, and
recognized 1t at once for Alice's apron,
which had caught on a nail and clung
there, unheeded by the maid in her
upward flight.
Aha! So this was where the truant
had hidden herself; Margery jjcTaed
1t free in a moment and tied 1t around
her waist. Her quick brain had in
stantly evolved a scheme by which to
test the reality of her-or rather their
lovers protestations. If he were
really what he had been depicted
false, liar and boaster-why, the
sooner they both recognized this the
better for their happiness.
''Why, Margery, this is luck" cried
the young farmer, eagerly, yet not for.
getting in his eagerness to cast
glance around in order to make sure
that they were alone; ITS not offer
I've a chance of getting you all Il
myself, my bonny Margery."
Chances are like game, they've go
to be closely followed" said the girl
demurely, yet with q coquettisl
glance.
"Ay, and like game. they're bes
poached, especially If they're nice
plump little partridges like my Mar
gerry"
3 He attempted to draw her to him a
he spoke, but she held him off.
4 mo nearer, Dan, If you please
Ye're rather glib with your tongue I,
be quite honest. | fear. And what
' sport to you may be death to us. a
( the frogs said to the boy who threy
4 stones. Tell me, Dan, how many girl
have you made love to since saw yo
a last?'
What? Is 1t me ye're upbraiding
J. Margery, woman, II you could jus
| int "a -