The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-06-22

| nope now we shall meet 0ften.' Then
she beat an honorable retreat down the
gravel path. leaving the enemy angry
and puzzled.
Il believe. after all. she didn't get
hold Of my meanin' about them straw
berries, and put it all down to dys-
pepsyw ruminated Miss Webb, wrath
fully.
Young Mrs. Trafford waited until the
protecting fence shut out the red cot
tage before she gave way 70 her laugh
| ter.
Poor woman she said, at last. 81
don't wonder she hates us. 1t must be
hard enough to have Mr.. Trafford's
house and stable planted in her very
dooryard. without having that hideous
fence added. 1t shuts off her entire
view, but suppose that is just what
he wanted. He is such vindictive
old man if any one crosses him.
wonder if in some way l could get
some vines planted on her side of the
fence as they are on ours. That would
go far to hide its ugliness if Mr.. Traf-
ford insists on keeping it up"
On Saturday afternoon, when Miss
Webb returned from the weekly sewing
circle, she found line Of trelliSwork
running the entire length on her side
of the fence. and. saw the Traffords'
gardener working busily at one end
of ii.
Mrs. Trafford's orders, MISS" he
said, touching his hat, as she strobe
across the grass toward him. "She
hopes you'll like it, miss, and I'm to
finish it up on Monday"
Miss Webb folded her long arms and
surveyed his work in contemptuous
silence.
I'm to finish Monday, miss" repeat
ed the man, uneasily, ana then he
shuffied out of the Hard.
Il took him an hour 20 ci:ar away the
heap of broken trellsworh and vines
which, he found the next morning, had
been flung ruthlessly over the fence
into Mr.. Trafford's YARD.
Mrs. Trafford grew little discour-
| aged at the failure Of her friendly at
tempts, but she would not give it up.
why, Mr.. Trafford," she said, few
! evenings later, at the end of one Of
| their discussions on the subject, mo
wonder the poor old woman feels bit
ter toward us. I heard through the
minister's wife yesterday that she
thinks you put up that fence to keep
her out Of your grounds. She has
always been in the habit of going to the
village by the path through the
meadow; now she has to go by the
road, quarter of mile farther. I
wish you would allow Benson to make
a gateway at that end, if nothing
more"
"Well, well. Have it your own way,
Lucy grumbled Mr.. Trafford. "Cut
the gateway, but don't let me hear any
more about it."
So Mrs. Trafford sent q note to Miss
| Webb, telling her that she would be
glad to have her make use Of the gate
which Benson was making at the
farther end Of the fence.
She received no answer. but the day
after the opening was completed she
| saw Miss Webb come out Of her
kitchen door with box Of nails and
a hammer in her hand.
1 She listened to the sharp, vindictive
blows of the hammer, and reluctantly
acknowledged to herself that her last
effort, like her first, was failure.
That afternoon, as young Mrs. Traf-
| ford walked in the garden with her
father-in-law, he stopped in front Of a
newly completed trellis, behind which
the rejected gate was hidden, and
smiled derisively.
Your friend, Miss Webb, keeps Ben
son quite busy" he commented. But
| Mrs. Trafford pretended not to hear.
Three months passed without further
intercourse between the great house
and the red cottage, and old Mr.. Traf-
ford had nearly forgotten his neigh
bor's existence. Not so with Miss
Webb. AS the days grew colder, and
|
leaves of the oaks and naples to bril-
liant reds and yellows, she felt more
keenly than ever the loss Of her once
extensive view.
1--WE read somewhere in some book
that country people don't care for the
beautiful scenery, because they're so
used to it,r' she muttered. Some city
folks wrote that, I'll be bound. 'Tain't
so. The trees in the valley ali flamin'
and yellow used to make me feel so
clipper! It's lonesome and smotherin',
bein' boxed in like this
She locked the back door Of the cot
taGe, and set out for half-day's visit
to her sister in South Daneville. AS
she walked down the frozen road and
passed the end of the fence, she gave
. sudden start. and stared hard at the
last post. At its foot Il little pile OF
leaves and shavings was smoulderlng.
4 An expression came into her face OF
mingled triumph and hesitation. Then
her features settled into hard smile.
"Traffords' folks is all away to-day
and it's none of my concern. 1t won't
blaze up. anyhow, l guess" she said
half-aloud, and setting her lips firmly
| together. she moved away.
Mrs. DAVIS noticed that her sister
) was strangely absentminded that af
ternoon. Susy DAVIS made cross
nificantly with her two forefingeI