Amador ledger., 1904-10-28
Over a
'HOneySuckle
Hedge By A. NJ.
v "A. III.
DAVIES
OGDEN
Copyright, 1901, by
Z. c. Mcclure


The afternoon was sunny and warm,
and the young man lying beneath the
oak tree let the book slip from llstless
fingers and his eyes wander idly to the
tangle of green above. Thus it hap
pened that he did not see a slender
white figure which came down the hill
TO the fragrant hedge dividing them.
Aroused by slight sound, he thrust
back his hat. For an instant he gazed,
bewildered. Then, meeting the girls
surprised look, he sprang up.
81 hope that 1 am not trespassing,
he began doubtfully eff 1 am intrud-
ing
mo, 1 believe not" she responded.
"Our land stops at this hedge, 1 fancy.
If you care to stay, of course-I came
to look at the view," she added, with
some irrelevance. The man nodded.
at is great" he agreed. 'T have
rarely seen anything more beautiful"
He was still looking straight at her,
and the girl gave him suspicious
glance. 81 often come here to read
Omar" he went on calmly. at fits in
somehow"
REALLY" with polite If vague inter
est. "You care for Omar, then?"
Immensely. A book Of verses, un-
derneath the bough; q loaf of bread, a
jug of wine and thou beside me, sing
ing in the wilderness-ah, wilderness
were paradise nowp'
The girl gravely unfurled her fluffy
parasol.
II must not longer interrupt your
reading, then," she said. "Goodby."
"Goodby! But you have only just
come. Please don't CO." he begged
I've read enough for today"
"But don't know you," she objected
The man held out the Omar.
my name is on the title page" he
suggested tentatively, and the girl
after a moments hesitation, ruff1ine
over the pages, read the name aloud.
Gordon Lenox Maxwell. Are you
really Gordon MaxwellT The man
looked surprised.
What do you know of me?"
"Who has not heard Of the great ten
mis- champions" she laughed, half mock
ingly. ''Here is your book"
"But you were only child then,''
he persisted. "And 1 have been abroad
ever since"
"Sure, but children have good mem
ories, you know"
"You must have been a lovely child, "
he murmured reflectively. The girl
frowned.
II really must CO." she repeated
Maxwell took hasty step forward.
"Please don't. And forgive me. And
won't you tell me who you are2" The
girl shook her head decidedly.
81 only tell my name to my friends
"And are not we friends?"
She opened wide eyes. mot YET
surely"
'Well, let's pretend then," he urged
The girl, gazing at him with more ap.
proval, relented little
Lets pretend by all means. 1 will
therefore introduce myself as the
Princess Of the Blue Forgetmenots
who lives In yonder enchanted castle,
waving her hand toward the hill
Maxwell sighed contentedly
"What a lovely name 1t exactly
suits your eyes. And is Mrs. Cory
your aunt, then?' hurrying on at signs
of danger. "Why haven't 1 met you
before? 1 will come and CALL" refiec
lively. 81 love Mrs. Cory" The girl
flushed.
mo, no, you mustn'tw she cried alb
ruptly-"that is, my aunt is ILL., half
confused. Then, at MaxwelPs puzzled
stare, she broke into persuasion. Don't
you see how the whole thing would be
spoiled?" she cried. "If we were tc
meet at teas and chatter inanities as
people do, if you were to meet me out
as plain Miss Smith-can't you see
don't you understand"
But objected Maxwell The girls
eyes flashed
"Oh, very well, then; do it." she de
clared. what does it matter anyway
I should not have come here, should
not have spoken to you at all. You
have shown me that quite plainly
Therefore in any case I think the ac
Quaintance had better stop here and
now"
But" interposed Maxwell again
cant you see it's only because 1 want
to meet you again somewhere, any
where" recklessly what do I care
for Mrs. Cory? You will come back
here?" he implored. The girl smiled.
"You will promise to stay on youl
own side of the hedge?"
"If 1 must" obediently. "But-an
never to cross it? Her face changed
Before leave 1 will myself break
the spell, and then perhaps"-she hest
tated. "But until then, no."
You are going" in alarm. She
laughed again.
Surely you cannot expect me to re
main forever?"
II could remain here-forever," he
answered.
"On the other side of the fenceF' will
tilted chin.
"On the other SIDE" emphaticalIy
Would I were there nowV'
ALREADY wishing for my departure,
murmured the girl in exaggerated re
proach. "Goodby, then; this time really
goodby."
"But you will come back?" eagerly.