The daily Alaskan., 1905-06-19
THE POACHER
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NulNuk uukt AANNes "N NhN eN'F> VI ' grew clumps of Niolets. Going Co 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 slid down on the other side and began to gatGer violcts.
 It 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 ciolcts tn her lap was cullmg them when from the road she hcarl a voice;
 'poacherr
 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 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 as a lamb" said the man, The sin o' committing robbery Is not atoned for by leaving the plunder in a ruined con dltion."
 The 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 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 wilted lying there"
 Now, the girl was but seventeen and had never been in such 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 shut.
 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. It was evident he in tended to head her Of. The girl looked indignant, but through rising tears. In an instant the man vau,tcl the wall and joined her.
 'T didn't think you would take me so seriously" he sald and picking up the violets she had thrown down. he handed them to her.
 Il see no more reason why should take them from you" she said, than gather them myself You have no right to give them.'
 q can pay for them" "So can |"
 of YOU will not accept them from me shall know that I'm not forgiven.
 He gave her an appealing look which she could not resist, and she took the yiolets.
 "If you win come with me" he said, q will take you Into the house-l 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 moment in the great hall and then returned,
 Come with me" he said. "lts 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 ieSt 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 well 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 mey" asked the aston lshed girl
 ''Oh, 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 CT of the place on which she had tres passed, and invitations came, Including her. She accepted, desirous Of seeing the owner who through hls friend had Siven 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 hlm for the man who had caught her stealing vio- lets.
 She had never been quite satisfied with his interference or his explana- ton. She was not now an Innocent schoolgirl but a young woman of the world, and was considered a very attractive one. She resolved on mak- ing the gentleman pay for his amuse- 1 ment. She was much pleased to dis cover that he dld not remember hav- Ing ever seen her before, and she did "A .-.,,.t,,s hl,,, that bn hCl Chp lnii