Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-03-25
DAILY SHORT STORY
IOriginal.l
THE POAcHER,

| pale green, which too soon deepens into
| the ordinary summer shade. A young
| girl sauntering along a road was cast
| ing covetous eyes over a stone wall in
| among huge trees, at the base of which
| grew clumps Of violets. Going TO the
wall, she leaned her arms on ii and
| Toasted her eyes on the flowers. There
was no sound of any one near or com
| ing, only the birds singing. Climbing
| the wall, she slid down on the other
! side and began to gather violets.
1t was very pleasant in there. The
suns rays poured through the tiny
leaves and fell pleasantly warm on her
shoulders. She sat down on the root of
a tree and, putting the violets in her
lap, was culling them when from the
road she heard a voice:
'POacher!'
Turning, she saw a man leaning on
the wall as she had leaned on it, look
ing at her.
Il beg your pardon" he said, raising
his hat. Perhaps you belong in the
place"
The girl rose, with a guilty look,
stood without reply, her eyes cast
down at the yiolets, and then threw the
flowers on the ground
Might as we'll be hanged for a sheep
as lamb said the man. The sin of
committing a robbery is not atoned for
by leaving the plumber in u ruined con
dition."
The girl cast Il hasty glance at the
wall to the right and left of her tor
mentor. She wished TO get out of the
place, but not to pass him.
You may just as well make your
exit where you made your entrance"
he said. I'm not going to hurt you
or inform on you. You'd better take
the violets too. They'll soon be wiIted
lying there"
Now, the girl was but,seventeen and
had never been i'll such fix before.
Had she been older or of a different
temper she might have retorted. AS
it was, she concealed her;pent-up feel
ings by keeping her mOuthAshut.
With faltering step she, started to-
ward point of the wall considerably
to the strangers right, but when he
moved in that direction also she turned
and went TO his left. He Also changed
his direction. 1t was evident he in
tended to head her off The girl looked
indignant, but through rising tears. In
an instant the man vaulteR the wall
and Joined her.
Il didn't think you would ltake me
SO seriously" he said, and. picking
up the violets she had thrown down, he
handed them TO her.
Il see no more reason why l should
take them from you" she said, than
gather them myself. You have no
right to give them"
Il can pay for them"
80 can J." tF-
"If you will not accept them from
me 1 shall know that I'm not forgiven"
He gave her an appealing look which
she could not resist, and she took the
violets.
IF you will come with me-" he said,
Il will take you into the house, know
the owner well-and show you some of
his treasures"
He had a winning way with him that
she could not resist. He escorted her
to the house, opened the front door
without ringing, left her for a moment
in the great hall and then returned.
Come with me-" he said. It's all
right"
He led the way to the conservatory,
she following, wondering at his asSur
ance thus to make himself at home in
another's house. In the conservatory he
plucked flowers right and left and
whenever he had a handful would give
them to her. She took them. suppOsing
she was to carry them for him. When
she was we'll loaded he led her to the
entrance to the place.
The owner begs that you will ac-
cept these flowers he said. He also
wishes you hereafter to take all the
violets you like and call for flowers
from his conservatory whenever you
feel inclined"
But how did he come to take so |
much interest in me?" asked the aston |
ished girl.
"Oh, 1 told him that you were very
fond of flowers
She left him at the gate and went |
home to dream of the adventure.
-Four years later she returned from
college. A fete was given by the own
or OF the place on which she had tres
passed. and invitations came. including
her. She accepted, DESTROYS of seeing
he owner who through his friend had
given her such beautiful flowers. On
coming down from the dressing room
the host, assisted by an elderly lady,
WAS receiving his guests. The moment
ne girl saw him she knew him for the
man who had caught her stealing VIC
cts.
She had never been quite satisfied
With his interference or his explana-
ton. She was not now an innocent
schoolgirl, but n young woman Of the {.
world, and was considered a very
attractive one She resolved on max
ne the gentleman pay for his amuse-
nent She was much pleased TO dis
over that he did not remember hay
ng ever seen her before. and she did
lot remind him that he had. She laid
very snare for him OF which she was :
apable, and they were many and of
treat variety In six weeks he was