Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-12-01
CHAPTER TIT

do you belong, may l ask. to the
genus ape, bird or pixie?" said Brian
Desmond, as he stood looking up into the
branches of the cherry tree.
1t was o'clock in the morning, a
-creditable hour for him to be abroad,
perambulating the garden. The birds
were shouting their morning paeans to-
.gether, in a glorious chorus of confused
sweetness. The dew lay fresh and heavy
upon the grass under his feet, the flow
ers opened wide their starry cups to
greet their lord the sun, and Brian Des-
mond stared up into the cherry tree,
where, among the crimson drops of ruddy
fruit, was perched a small, elf-like crea-
ture, with yellow hair, white garments
of indistinct formation, and preternatur-
ally large blue eyes that gazed down
gravely into his.
Neither" answered the creature ser-
ously. Genus man-sex feminine. |
am woman"
"lndeedT" dofing his hat with mock
politeness. 81 am glad to have been in
formed of 80 important fact; had you
not told me, l should never have OWNED
it. Why did you not say 'babyY"
Because l am a woman" she repeat
ed seriously.
Brian laughed. This, of course, must
be Miss Laybourne, his future charge,
aged 10.
Indeed, seen from this lower level,
crumpled up over his head, into small
twisted form between the arms Of two
branches Of the tree, she might certainly
have passed for 10 years old.
What is your name, you odd little
girl"
Upon my tombstone l shall be de-
scribed as Catherine Elizabeth Lay
bourne. As l am not yet placed beneath
it l have been hitherto called Kitten"
You are very amusing kitten, at
any rate" he said laughingly. Come
down and talk to me-"
"Why should l? You get up her and
talk to me-"
Good gracious! Do you know my
age"
Thirty eight" replied Kitten prompt
1y, being we'll informed upon this par
ticular point.
''Why, you seem to know everything"
answered Desmond, in surprise.
Things are not what they seem, then
There is something 1 don't know yet.
If you come up here l will tell you"
Upon my life" he began, but
He swung himself lightly up on to the
branch, and landed himself by Kittens
side
What is it you don't know?' he asked
her, noting that on nearer inspection
she certainly must be over ten.
Il don't know whether you like cherry
tart or not" He forebore with wonder
full self-command to express his disap-
pointment at this apparently irrelevant
remark.
"Hum-that depends" he said medita-
lively. "On the cherries to begin with {;
they must be ripe. On the crust, which
must be 1aky. And upon the condi-
ment served with it, which must be
cream"
''Then you had 1t all last night" she
cried triumphantly. Ibid you like it;
was it niceW
So 1t was not an irrelevant catechism,
but a trap to catch him, after all. He
owned with confusion that he had not
tasted any of the cherry tart In Ques-
lion.
"Oh, what shame! and had thought
of 1t so much. Why didn't you eat it?"
81 really don't know"
"It must certainly be as l said to
Daddy" she remarked surveying him
refectively with those grave infantine
blue eyes; "it must be because you are
too DID,"
"As you are on the subject of age,
perhaps you will kindly favor me with
yours?' he said.
"Certainly. I am sixteen"
"Sixteen!'' he cried in amazement.
"Why, thought you were only ten."
"Then you were very stupid to think
So" she replied, in perfectly tran
quill voice.
He looked at her attentively. He be-
gan to perceive that she was no child,
but lovely girl Of the most fairy-like
type, flower bud just emerging into