CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1905-06-08
POACHER

Goe OIuluhIy suiuDcT suaue "A youHS
girl sauntering along road was cast
ing coyetous eyes over a stone wall in
among huge trees, at the base Of which
grew clumps Of vioIets. Going to the
feasted her eyes or 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 violetss
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
q tree and, putting the violets In her
lap. was culling them when from the
road she heard q voice:
"Poacherr'
Turning, she saw q man leaning on
he wall as she had leaned ON 1t, look
ing at her
Il beg your pardon" be 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 violets, and then threw the
flowers on the ground.
might as well be hanged for a sheep
- lamb said the man The sin Of
committing robbery is not atoned for
By leaving the piunder in q ruined con-
dition-"
The girl cast 4 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," !"
b said I'm not going to hurt you
or inform on you. You'd better take
the vioiets too. They'll soon be wilted
lying there
Now. the girl was but seventeen and
had never been iE such a fix before.
Had she been older or Of different
temper she might have retorted. As
It was, she concealed her pent-up feel
ings by keeping her mouth hut
With faltering step she started to-
ward a point of the wall considerably
to the strangers right but when be
moved In that direction also she turned
and went TO his left BE also changed
his direction u was evident he In
tended to head her OF. The girl looked
Indignant. but through rising tears In
an instant the man vaulted the wall
and Joined her.
Il didn't think you would take me
20 seriously be said. and. picking
up the vfolets she had thrown down, he
handed them to her.
II see no more reason why / should
take them from you" she said. than
gather them myself. You have NO
right TO give them"
Il can pay for them"
$50 can L.
.Tf you will not accept them from
me l shall know that I'm not forgiven"
He gave her an appealing look which
ahe could not resist, and she took the
violets.
IF you will come with me-" be said,
IT 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
abe could not resist. He escorted her
to the house. opened the front door
without ringing. left her for moment
In the great hail and then returned
.-Come with me- he said ITS 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 10 carry them for him. When
she was well loaded he led her to the
entrance to the place.
The owner begs that you win ac-
cspt 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 meY' asked the aston
ished girl
.'Oh, I told him that you were very
fond OF towers
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
er OF the place ON which she had Tres
passed. and Invitations came. Including
her. She accepted. desirous OF seeIng
the 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
the girl saw him she knew him for the
man who had caught her stealing vio-
Dstn.
Ne had never bssn Quitp snk1sAed
With his intsrfsrsnes - ~ sKp,Ana-
~. she was nU< n0W - 0nocoot
olAeolgi-l. but ys1ng vonAn - -
Wgrsd. and was eoosa1eRo1 . vsry