The Monte Vista journal., 1906-06-16
A Couple of
ScarecrOWs
Dy PHILIP VERRnL McHILs
Copyright, BY Joseph y. Bowlss.)

- V~ANsSsA~ SSbsNshAASS i
Copyright, BY Joseph u. Bowlsa.)
Leslie Forrest went to bed peaceful
Ixnomad, and awoke a rebelliOus farm
er. At nrst he knew nothing at all OF
! the germ OF war that slumbered under
4 the ample folds Of his yellow pajamas.
He lay in his bed rejecting. a letter
! in bis hand, and his knees upheav.ng
the coverlet to form two rival fugi-
yamas.
- Your uncle James Is dead, and you
, are his heir to the Black Oaks farr,-"
was all he had read OF the letter.
+. Visions Of meadow and stream. OF
hillsides cool beneath majestic trees
n the gray OF Manufactured wall
o'ergrown with berry brambles. the
wids-spreading house. outstretching
arms Of hospitality. and the curoinG
path that skirted the ancient well on
its way to the veteran gate-that never
shut, but merely stood knee-deep in
the grass-came over his mind from
barefoot" time OF long ago.
This mood was merely reminiscent,
however. and not at all to be con-
strued as n consent to become the own
er Of farm.
"On the whole" he Illuminated,
scratching at the bottom Of his Not,
and thereby causing n fearsome COM
, motion among the coverlet fugiyamas.
"the place is good to have. II oni.'
for home--a sort OF retreat. And then
II ever should get married. Well.
N!et's see what the rest OF It says"
He resumed his letter:
Heir to the Black Oak farm. includ-
in the Hilltop addition and a legacy of
$4,000. provided you marry Abigail
Umatilla Smeethers. much-removei
family connection. In the event OF your
refusal TO wed the said Abigail, etc.
you TO inherit the Black Oaks ana 5he
TO have the Hilltop addition and leg.
acy-
Now. hang Abigail Utility Smither-
eens!" calculated Forrest, bounding
out OF bed and sweeping the coveilc;
= fugiyamas into space In a tidal wave
Of blankets and sheets. Its perfectly
idiotic! It's the kind OF stun you read
about! Abigail Curlpapers Gildy-
, green's! No. you don't. uncle Jeans.
rot on your daguerrotyps. She can
have the Hilltop addition. and Nov
why In thunder did he have to give
her the whole bank! twenty-five
thou think I'D like-but no!-ao:
with Abigail. No. Abby. 20 Thy
Smeeihers ways. In peace and curl
papers!" le rfl
He danced the prelude Of 4 marvel
Gus snakentine gyration. and sat him
/. down on the edge Of the bed to scratch
At the bottom OF his foot again. The
rebellion vas started and working
we'll.
"HeiEho!" he unused, A. with HANDS
on bis knees. he looked With vinl:.ess
eyes on the common design OF the .ar-
pet It's Just the iuck-it always goes
about that vay-and just M q TEL
low u actually taking an iaierest In
the loveliexi girl In the universe. and
begtns 10 thiak he'd like to settle
down.
Here he erew quite a. sentimental
and retrospective n Is possible To any
man In pajamax.
Wasn't the charming" be ~x-
claimed. IN delight ''Such dear biova
eyes! SucA hatf-it looked like VIA,
Like raven colored skeins of silk
Surh spirit and genius Of expressing
herself. And yet touch Of sadness
too. wonder Why she vouidn':
dascs-she said she liked u. Well.
perhaps We. made better progress n,
gettiag acquainted n II was''
He vas silent . moment.
Miss Rockiand-rather Hne. Won
der what her first name is! And |
don't know where she lives, or any.
thing about her. That's the trouble
with . formal Introduction ut a nop.
anyway"
Slowly investing himself In cunvsn
tionai nttire. and nuctuating beiwcc,.
rhapsodies on hts unknown queen. ana
raillerics on Abigail. Forrest wen; oil
70 his breakfast at last. Later he .ooK
the boat for cornhcid and the Black
Oaks farm.
I'm look tho place over for coupl.
A OF weeks" said he. and then I'm q, ing
10 hunt Miss Rockinnd up. or sQus nict
my youth and fortune In the effort
Three large crows were staIk,p.
about and cawink In a field that oe.
lonsed TO tho Hilltop addition one