The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1906-07-27
THE POACHER


"a
the ordinary summer shade. A young
girl sauntering along road was cast
ing coyetous eyes over stone wall IN
among huge trees. at the base OF which
grew clumps of yiolets. Going 10 tne
wall. she leaned her arms on 1t and
Toasted her eyes on the flowers. Inere
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 gather violets.
It was very pleasant In there. Inc
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 violets In her
lap, was culling them when from the
road she heard voice:
"Poacher!"
| Turning, she saw a man leaning on
| the wall as she had leaned on 1t, look
ing at her.
II 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 sheep
as lamb" said the man. 1.-THE sin OF
committing a robbery Is not atoned for
i by leaving the plumber In ruined con-
dition.'
The girl cast 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
J aal 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-
D ward point of the wall considerably
to the strangers right. but when he
moved n that direction also she turned
= and went to his left. He also changed
! his direction. 1t was evident he in
G tended to head her of. The girl looked
indignant. but through rising tears. In
an instant the man vaulted the wall
and Joined her.
: II didn't think you would take me
o 20 seriously" he said, and. picking
. IN the yiolets she had thrown down, he
: handed them to her.
II see no more reason why l should
take them from you." she said, thar
: gather them myself. You have M
). right to give them"
II can pay for them"
80 can t.
1T you will not accept them from
me I shall know that I'm not forgiven
II He gave her an appealing look which
she could not resist, and she took TIN
violets.
III you will come with me-" he said
- II will take you into the house, know
the owner well-and show you some o
his treasures"
He had winning way with him tina
she could not resist. He escorted hd
to the house, opened the front doc
d. without ringing, left her for momen
~. in the great hall and then returned.
= "Come with me-" he said. ITS al
" right"
t. He led the way to the conservatory
s. she following, wondering at his assul
,el ance thus to make himself at home l
!. anothers house In the conservatory b
- plucked flowers right and left an
II whenever be had handful would Civ
al them to her. She took them, supposin
b, she was to carry them for him. Whe
she was well loaded he led her to tn
entrance to the place.
- "The owner begs that you will a
cept these flowers" he said. HE ais
wishes you hereafter to take all Il
yiolets you like and call for flower
. from his conservatory whenever yo
feel inclined"
'But how did be come to take |
much interest In me?" asked the asto
90 tshed girl.
"Oh, told him that you were vel
so fond Of flowers
She left him at the gate and we
home to dream of the adventure.
% Four years later she returned fro
IL college. A fete was given by the ow
90 err Of the place on which she had tire
passed, and invitations came. includil
- her. She accepted, DESTROYS of seeil
" the owner who through his friend hi
given her such beautiful flowers.
coming down from the dressing roo
the host. assisted by an elderly lad
was receiving his guests. The nome
the girl saw him she knew him for t
man who had caught her stealing V
30 lets.
90 She had never been quite satsfi
80 with his Interference or his explar
ton. She was not now an innoce
schoolgirl, but young woman Of t
world and was considered We
is attractive one. She resolved on ms
30 ing the gentleman pay for his anu
IS ment She was much pleased to
cover that he did not remember hs
SO Ing ever seen her before, and she {
not remind him that he had. She Il
every snare for him OF which she "
- capable. and they were many and
IL h. -