Evening journal., 1905-03-31
THE POACHER
Iorlglnall

4
tho ordinary summer shade. A young
girl sauntering along a road was cast
ing. covetous eyes over stone wallNin
among huge trees. NJ the base OF which
grew clumps Of violets. Going to the
wall, she leaned her arms on it and
feasted her eyes on the flowers. There
was no sound Of any one near. or com
ing, only the birds singing. Climbing
the wall, she sid 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
tree and, putting the yiolets in her
lap, was culling them when from the
road she heard voice;
"Poacherl''
Turning, she saw a, man leaning on
the wall as she had leaned on il, look
ing at her.
Il beg your pardon" he said, raising
his hat Perhaps you belong in the
place"
The. girl rose, with guilty look.
stood without reply, her eyes cast
down at the violets, and then threw the
flowers OF. the ground.
Might as well be hanged for sheep
as a lamb" said the man. 'Srhe sin Of
committing robbery Is not atoned for
! by leaving the plunder in a ruined con-
dltion."
Tie girl cast a 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 we'll make your
exit where you made your entrance p
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 in such fix before.
Had she been older OF OF a. different
temper she might have retorted. AS
1t was, she concealed her pent-up feel
ings by keeping her mouth shut.
With faltering step she. started to
ward point of the. wall considerably
TO the strangers right, but when be
moved in that direction also she turned
2 and went to,his left He also changed
a his direction 1t was evident he in.
Il tended to head her or. The girl looked
, indignant, but through rising tears. In
? an instant the man vaulted the wal
, and Joined her.
81 didn't think you would take me
so seriously" he said. and, picking
E up the violets she had thrown down. hs
handed them to her
IT see no more reason why 1 should
take them from you" she said. thar
gather them myself. You have nc
q right to give them"
''I can pay for them"
n $50 can l."
"If you will not accept them from
me I shall know that I'm not forgiven
He gave her an appealing look which
she could not resist, and she took th'
violets.
'Tf you will come with me-" he said
= 'T will take you into the house, know
the owner well--and show you some o
his treasures"
He had winning way with him tina
she could not resist. He. escorted he
? to the house. opened the front doc
D without ringing, left her for momen
in the great hall and then returned.
8 "Come with me-" he said. "It's al
e right"
+ He led the way to the conservatory
n she following, wondering at his assur
e ance thus to make himself at home Il
e another S. house. In the. conservatory b
e plucked flowers right and left AM
'e whenever he had a handful would Civ
% them to her She took them. supposin
she was to carry them for him. Whe
she was well loaded he led her to tn
W entrance to the place.
'e ''The owner begs that you will az
1t cept these flowers" he said He ais
{. wishes you hereafter to take all th
Ia violets you like and call for flower
le from his conservatory whenever 20
feel inclined"
Il "But how did he come to take s
i much interest in meY asked the astol
4 ished girl
i "Oh, l told him that you were yer
fond OF flowers"
i She left him at the gate and WEI
4 home to dream of the adventure.
4 Four years later she returned frOI
II college. A fete was given by the owl
Il er OF. the place on which she. had re
4 passed, and invitations came, includin
II her. She accepted. desirous Of seein
4 the owner who through his friend ha
N given her such beautiful flowers. o
q coming down from the dressing roo
2 the host, assisted by an elderly lad
was receiving his guests. The momeI
the girl saw him she knew him for Il
M man who had caught her stealing vi
% lets.
She had never been quite Statistic
"a with his interference OF his explain
ne ton. She was not now an innocel
a. schoolgirl, but a young woman Of Il
NJ world, and was considered vel
Sc. attractive one. She resolved on ma
ing the gentleman pay for his anus
ment. She was much pleased to di
cover that he did not remember ha
lS- ing ever seen her before and she d
ne not remind him that he had. She la
soT every snare for him of which she WI
'pt capable, and they We're many and
great variety In six weeks he WI
ne at her feet, but she condemned him
remain there n suspense for S
10 months. Then she accepted him.
ne On their return from their weddil
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