The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-02-17
and tumble in the wire, and we'll So

Il double tWiStCr turned.
Sunday evening supper WAS Il matter
Of individual vagary and caprice - far
as the Norton family was concerned.
Molly went home after dinner. Mrs.
Norton went upstairs for Il coy nap
about twilight. and tie girls usually
took iced tea and salad sandwiches out
on the porch. where they could lie IN
the haumoclis. ii book in one hand and
4 sandwich i'll the other. safely screen
I'd from pryin@ eyes by the wistaria
| vines. Tie Sunday following the put
ting up of the wire the hammOcks were
occupied, when some one came along
| the sidewalk with Il quick. firm tread
and deliberately walked through the
broken place in the hedge and across
the path.
kit gave Il smothcred exclamation
and sat up, but before she could speak
there was the sound of Il fall ut the
barb wire guard and the girls rose
with frightened, yet half laughing,
| faces
Hello" called Kit gently. Are you
hurt"
There was 10 response for a minute,
then some one answered in Il strange
voice:
Il beg your pardon, but would you
mind ringing our bell and calling the
boys: My foot is twisted, and l can
not stand up
An hour later KIT stood guilty at
the head of the steps as her mother and
| Nell came slowly from the house next
door
'NEill lie be sick long,"
about Il month before lie can walk"
said Mrs. Norton. 1T is too bad. And
he is Il very delightful person to meet;
| not ut all eccentric. He takes the
blame entirely and says he is worse
than the boys and that VIC were per
fectly right in putting up the wire"
THAT'S what he said to you, moth
erie, darling" interposed Nell discon-
| solatcly. He probably thinks that Kit
| and are heathens.''
"Barharous heathens," Kit smiled
wickcdly.
This is far from being joke, Kath-
crime" said Mrs. Norton. II am afraid
You must both do penance by being as
kind as possible. OF course he is
a-a''-
Crank"
a celebrity" corrected her mother.
I'VE may find him odd. but after this
| misfortune we must do our best to
make him comfortable. l told him you
would take turns in bringing him flow
erS'
We'll, l won't. motherie," said Kit
fatty. I'm sorry he hurt himself, but
I'm not Il bit sorry | put up the fence,
and l don't want to be forgiven"
In the days that followed they could
see the strong. patient figure sitting
in the shady corner of the veranda next
door. Nell carried the first propitiatory
bunch of roses over TO the enemy's
country. She brought back good re-
port and after week of diSinterested
Indifference Kit suddenly announced
her intention of being flower bearer to
his majesty. She found him IL totally
disabled, rather sarcastic majesty.
80 you're the young woman who
set the trap, are you, Miss Kit! And
you're not bit sorry
I'm sorry | came over to see YOU
Kit stood erect very naughty, very
sweet and very young. 4 only
brought the flowers"
and you didn't expect TO be Scold-
ed:" She knew he was laughing at
her. please sit down. Don't you
know I've been hoping every day to
have you visit me and beg my par
dom"
Il won't do any such thing" She
met his eyes dcfiantly. You hadn't
the least right to cross there, only
! only meant it for the boys, of course"
Her glance fell TO his swathed foot.
I'm sorry you were hurt
THAT will do very we'll" lie was
laughing openly now. 1T covers the
personal side for me, you see. You're
not sorry you hurt me, but you're sorry
I'm hurt. Please sit down and talk
to fellow, won't you:"
Kit hesitated. flushed warmly under
his teasing gaze and took seat on
the hickory settee.
Four weeks later Mclean took his
first walk 1t was a slow, tedious one
from the vcranda to the hedge
Il came halfway for my roses to-
| day" he said to the figure in white
beside the roScbushes. May l come
over III" hedge
kit did H"' even turn her head.
Are You Hngry:' His voice was low
and eager After last evening l was
afraid you might not come again, Kit
She turned and walked toward him
slowly, the bunch of roses held close
! to her face At the hedge she looked
| up at him, and the mcrriment had died
from her eyes.
Al was just coming" she said softly.
His hands closed over those that held
| the roses.
ITO say Yes sweetheart:'
Look out for the barbed wire, Mr..
Mclean" called Nell from the sitting
room window. Kit still guards her
| forbidden path
"All wires down. called Mclean.
Its the path of roses now. l claim
the right of way"