Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-03-08


bush. Then their tongues were
loosened, and they sang and told
stories. Sometimes they pretended to
see wolves sneaking to cover, but this
merely for the pleasure of frightening
themselves. 1t was the loveliest pilgri-
mage ever invented. There was peril
in it too, for in the wooded field of
wild brambles the thick-mottled rattle
snake or objects resembling him,
caused many a start and shrek.
Once little Jane Rutledge got a fat
grasshopper down her back, and yelled
for deljverance from-"a snake! a
snake!"
"Oh, run home, Jane! Run home.
quick!" cried Mahala Cameron.
But Ann tore the child's clothing
open and freed the grasshopper, cling
ing with all his feet to the tender white
back; and they all laughed at Mahala,
who would have sent her three miles
for help.
Sometimes the girls swan grass to
their waists, as in sea Of dew, Peggy
dividing her way with her crutch. The
rising sun showed glittering in the
brambies, blackberries and luscious
dewberries half as long as ones thumb.
melting ripe to keep that very morn
ing's appointment. To go blackberry
ing late in the day was not to go black
berrying at all, but to hot and weary
search of rifled fields.
When the party trailed homeward
with heaped baskets they could see
along the ridge of the Sangamon
tents and camps of farmers who had
come long distances to mill. Each man
was obliged to wait his turn to have
his grain ground. 1t was like fair.
Quot pitching, wrestling matches,
Insensibly the season changed. Su-
mac leaves began to burn around scar
let fruit yelled in white, the oaks were
family tinted, and the first September
days had come. - 81 ..-ee
Antywine's reading lessons at the
stone ended, for Lincoln was taking
up surveying and going out to distant
parts of the country, and Antywine was
to 60 with him as his chain-bearer.
Il put the book in my bundle" said
the Canadian while he and Peggy were
stone. "Sieur Abe will help me-"
Peggy's hand and feet became cold.
She felt as if autumn were driving the
the blood back upon her heart.
"viane Rutledge told at school the
other day that you are the best-looking
young man in New Salem"
Antywine expanded with satisfac-
tion. He always carried his chin up,
SO that people called him high
headed.
II am tau.'
Don't you think viane Rutledge is
a pretty girl. Antywine?"
yes"
"She's the prettiest girl that goes to
school. isn't she?'
YES"
Tears sprang into Peggy's eyes; she
winked them back, ashamed Of being
grieved.
But Viane Rutledge is not a good
reader" she honestly declared.
me, am not good reader, either"
observed Antywine.
You don't want to put yourself
alongside of Viane Rutledge as poor
reader" spoke Peggy, sharply-'do
your
II don't know" returned Antywine,
with a teasing winsomeness specially
his own. He smiled on the landscape
and lifted his chin higher, a look Of
concern replacing the smile.
"Why you cry, sweetheart?"
my foot's tired" said Peggy, drying
her tears.
you been trying to walk without
the crutch?'
"a little"
Then l carry you up to the house"
Il don't want you to. If Mahala
Cameron's brother was here he could
help you make saddle and carry me.
He takes hold of hands with one of
the Clary boys, and they lift me up
on the saddle and run with me when
we play Indian"
He have no business!" exclaimed
Antywine. full of indignation. "They
will fall and hurt you!"
20, no, they won't. He is nice boy,
and has such red cheeks"
me, if l have those red cheeks
strip the skin of my face!" said Anty-
wine, disgusted. You like those red
cheeks, eh?"
well, I think they are about as
pretty as Viane Rutledge."
"Viane Rutledge," spoke Antywine,
sincerely, "she not have that charm
like you, and those manners"
DO you think 1 am learning man
ners%
"You have improve every day"
"Antywine, I've got the best apple
in my pocket! Don't you want bite
of it?'
Did those Cameron boy give you
that apple?'
NO
'You have it, then, from that Grove
feller, who is behaved SO bad the
master whip him?"
mo. Mahala gave it to me-"
Then will take some bite"
Peggy drew forth the apple and they