Middletown transcript., 1906-02-17
THE LITTLE GIRL IN BLACK
BY REGINALD WRIGHT Kaufman

devoutly started after the ball.
I flung down my bag of clubs
they're utterly useless things
in golf, anyway-and as devoutly
followed her.
You're not playing? she asked,
with only half turn Of the pom
padour.
On the contrary. said |, | was
never more in earnest in my life.
I didn't mean-
But we had reached the first
fence, and I had to help her over.
She had a pretty hand, firm and
cool. l found the second fence
much longer job. Then of
course we had to look for the
ball. Ordinarily, I consider this
the most tedious portion of the
game, but now | found that it
was not without its compensa-
tions.
1t did not take me long to find
out-not nearly SO long as it took
me to find the ball-that if she
was fancy-free, her liberty was
the return for eternal vigilance.
However, I made some progress,
and the fact that the next drive
would take US by delightful lit
tie clump of boulders sustained
me.
She made an excellent drive
and stood there, an arrested dry
ad, with her eye following the
ball.
didn't object to the dryad
part, but had my own reasons
for wishing to get her eye away
from that ball.
That bug! | cried. A June bug!
The dryad became a human
woman. She turned to me, an
Instant picture of horror.
Where? she gasped.
There, said I, on your neck!
-
No, the other side! Here, I'll get
it! It's only a June bug, and
they don't sting. Don't be afraid.
But she was afraid, which in
convenienced me not a little. Her
hair, just where head and neck
joined, curled in delicate little
tendrils. Observing them, al
most forgot what was therefor.
Oh, can't you find it? she quay
cred, wriggling.
Steady, steady! There! All
right now.
She wheeled round Immediate
ly. Where is it2 she demanded,
staring at my empty hands.
l let it go, of course.
She flushed a little. Are you
sure? she asked.
You wouldn't have had me kill
it? I answered. What says the
poet?-
II would not number midst my friends
the man
Who needlessly sets foot upon a June
bugs wings"
The poet didn't say that, and l
don't believe there was any June
bug.
Well, it was a moth, then.
But you said it was a June. bug.
"a moth that was not to be slain for
seeking the candle that bnfned brightest"
At that her anger vanished and |
she laughed outright. She had |
pretty teeth.
That is the first time, she de-
clared, Strengthening her rebel
lious blond pompadour, that any
one ever called it red.
Such locks by any othername-I
Arc you going to help me look
for the ball?
That girl was a chronic inter-
ruption. However, this was an
instance where rocks ahead
those rocks in the next field
happened to be a consolation, SO |
l didn't so much mind. Besides, |
there was another stone fence
between, and in the social out-of- |
door multiplication table, know |
no other-one fence makes an ac-
quaintance, two fences make a |
friendshipand three fences. prop |
erly attacked, ought to make an
engagement.
But the little girl in black ran |
ahead and jumped this one unas-
sisted. I'm sure it must have
gone just about here, she said.
Here" was about two yards |
ahead Of where It had gene. The
ball was shining just behind her
literally crying out to be found. |
Before she could turn, I had
stopped and pocketed it.
We searched for that ball for a !
half-hour It is remarkable how
long a naturally liberal person
will look for fifty-cent golf bull. /
That ball was simply not to be
found, and by the time this con-