The Somerset reporter., 1906-10-11

tree She sat beside him, with hen
slim, brown hands folded In her lap
and the wild rose buds whitening In
somehow stolen to her cheeks. She
was happy today In spite of the fact
that Campbell was Gliding her.
''See here. young lady" he was say
ing half seriously. half playfully, ''if
you continue to evade' me as you've
been doing for the past few days I'm
going to pack up my trunk and leave
next week. What possible pleasure do
you think find in a lot of staid ladies
who knit on the porches and children
who squabble"-
There's Jane" suggested the girl
demurely, watching the fash of bird
through a rift in the foliage. "She
likes to be with you, Mr.. Campbell.
I'm sure. And I'm sure"-here the
pearly teeth caught the scarlet under
lip-"Jane's neither a staid Uniting
should you miss me? I'm not beauti-
full like Jane. I'm just
Just Miss June" finished Campbell
simply. But there was a world of
quiet pride in his voice
June trembled beneath his words and
knew not why she trembled. But there
was sufficient dramatic force in her to
go toward the making of great
actress. She spied a spray of scarlet
columbne on q gray rock oyerhanging
a dark pool Unconsciously the con-
trast of colors struck her artistic eye,
and she made use of it all to hide her
sudden emotion.
"Will you fetch me those columblnes
that wave from the rock and throw
colored patches on the pool, Mr.. Camp
bell?" said she quietly.
But when he had gone her hand went
for support to the column Of the beech,
her bosom rose and fell and her wide
| eyes dilated, then half closed.
"Oh. dear God" she prayed inward
| ly, 1--WE never had any one In my
whole life really to love me. And he is
SO big and SO knightly. Don't let me
imagine a vain thing that would break
my heart. Let me remember that |
am plain-and that he Is just kind"
Here" cried Campbell cheerfully,
coming back with a bunch of the
columbine and handing it to her. 1.-THE
scarlet just matches your lips, little
maid" 1t was not alone her lips that
were scarlet now; flame spread holly
| over her cheeks.
| In a few moments she jumped up,
| laughing, smoothing out her blue ging-
ham frock IF ever l come to regard
myself as n bewitching fairy princess
| III hold you responsible, sir But
must be going now. I'm still Cinderel-
Ia" she added Il promised mother
to make the salad dressing for lunch
con-"
And SO the fragrant summer month
drifted irresponsiOly on.
One warm evening when the air was
| filed with the gold of firefiies, a maze
! of spangles, now darkening, now
! Frightening, Mrs. Austin came out on
her side porch. which, for a wonder
was vacant and swung her portly
weight none too gently into the ham
mock. The silver OF the moon was be-
ginning to tremble through the leaves
Of the trees and to show patches Of
the garden path that wound toward
the front gate.
"Those locusts sound awfully shrill"
thought Mrs Austin, trying Intellectual
! ~ to put the hammock in notion
| Then she lay there inert, yielding to
| the droWsincss of the air.
She must have dozed off a bit, for
suddenly she started as is the way Of
/ -,-Iy I'll, - inc
wits.
and you know, dear, that l love
you. guess Eve been loving you right
from the first, but l didn't realize it
till
Two figures had just passed the
moonlit patch In the path and were
emerging into the shadows that
stretched toward the gate, so Mrs,
Austin couldn't exactly see who they
were but she recognized Campbel's
rich, deep voice.
"At lastw she cried, smiling broadly.
"Well, Jane deserved 1t - and she'll
have a good husband" She raised her
self up in the hammock. Sleep had
fed.
Now, just at that moment Sarah,
the cook. who had been buying some
ribbon and ruching in one of the vii
lage shops, happened to enter the front
gate. AS she came abreast Of the wide
porch Mrs. Austin leaned over the rail
ing.
Sarah" she whispered. with mater
nal pride In her voice. was that Miss
Jane who went out of the gate then
with Mr. Campbell2" 1t was state
ment ather than a question.
Nom" said Sarah, looking up quick
ly; "that wasn't Miss Jane, ma'am; 1t
was just Miss June"
Precise, but Acid.