Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-10-28
A CASE
OF
KIDNAPPING.

Dora pushed back her sunbonnet,
and looked up, with furtive admira-
ton, at the stalwart figure giving the
finishing touches to the huge load Of
hay.
Ethel had to help about dinner and
couldn't get away, but she made me
come. She said it was too bad for you
to have no company for the last lead"
Il am sorry you were compelled to
come" he replied, little stiffly.
"Oh, | wanted to; wouldn't have
missed it for anything. l was never
on load of hay But mercy, how
shall l ever get up there?'
He glowed at her warmth, but with
brief ''Tll help you up" he slid tc
the ground, placed short ladder
against the load, preceded her, and
reached for her hands.
With little shrieks of alarm, and dec
larations that she never could do it,
Dora at last gained the top of the
ladder and put her hands in his. His
heart leaped fiercely, and he paled
little under his tan, but made no sign
Of the tumult her touch aroused within
him.
But she was as we'll aware CT it as
he, and with malicious intent, chung
to him in affected fright, noting, with
pleasure, his suppressed agitation. 1t
was short ride from the field to the
hay barn; besides, he had the horses
to attend to, so there would be no
chance for him to go beyond the limit
she had set for him, and ask the
question she had been fencing for
weeks. She was not sure that she was
ready to be bound; but she was GER
tain that she did not want to give him
negative answer; she wished to post
pone it; besides, there were Others"
and she being born coquette, was en-
joying herself and did not want def
mite change.
With much skill she had played him
and evaded his efforts to obtain an OPP
portunity to bring matters to crisis
She meant him no HARM she reasoned
that little suspense would perhaps
do him good, and she loved the excite
ment of the game and reveled in the
narrow escapes she contrived to ex-
perience.
This is the last of the hay, now
there is nothing to prevent you join
ing our tennis party this afternoon"
she said, cuddling down in the hay at
his feet, while he stood easily and
firmly, guiding the team through the
gate into the road.
IF you will be my partner" he re-
piled, sitting down beside her, letting
the horses, now they were through,
go their own gait.
But I've promised Harry Payne;
and Jessie Carpenter plays much bet
ter than besides, she is always try
ing to get you," she insinuated, de-
murely.
Hang Harry Payne, and Jessie, too,
for that matter! See here, Dora
ooh, there's Ethel on the porch wav-
ing to u.s. she interrupted hurriedly.
Harvest home! Harvest home!" she
shrieked as they passed the house,
scrambling to her feet, with one hand
on his shoulder. The wagon lurched,
and she dropped down again, flushed
and laughing, and began scattering hay
over him. He did not respond, but sat
with averted face.
"Crosspatch,' she said, lightly. He
wants his dinner, so he doesl Well. it
will not be long now. Dinner is to be
unusually early on account of our
party; the men are going to the
house"
He was still silent, and she pouted.
Suddenly she shrieked again: why.
Nat Drummer! you've passed the gate
its away back there! Didn't you see
it?"
Il didn't want to see it," he said,
shortly.
What do you mean?" she cried.
Il mean that you're not going to get
away from me this time till I've had
my say! s.
81 won't listen! | won't listen!" She
thrust back her bonnet and put both
hands over her ears.
He drove on quietly, with no at
tempt to coax or compel her attention,
down long hill, up the other side and
around a corner
Its all right, boys he said to the
horses, as they turned their heads.
with an inquiring look, when the noon
whistle blew at the village. Its all
right" and they plodded along sober
ly, perhaps rejecting on the unreascn-
ableness of master whosset off to a
market from hard forenoon in the
field, without dinner
Dora sat, obstinately stopping her
ears, and watched the long mile slip
by, then lother, and hs showed no
sign of relenting.s Once he turned, say
ing politely, Il am afraid the sun is
making it rather uncomfortable for
YOU I am sorry l have no umbrella. ;"
Though she did not hear, of course,
she scowled an answer
They made several turns, and she
noted, hopefully, that they seemed go
ing in the direction of the farm. He
was giving it up? f.ot So To her
CONSERVATION, they finally came out
in the broad road, headed for the VIII
lage.
You're just scotching me- she COM
planned.
well, you've scotched me often
enough" he growled
| Being SO near lie noon hour they
had seen few people. but now, down
l~vhe road crowded wagonette whirled
toward, the tennis party from the vii
Ial She jerf I'd her bonnet over her
face end tumbled fiat on the hay,
r oaning:
"0h. wouldn't have them see me
for million dollars" x.
When they had passed, with gay