The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-07-05
Darrell Of THE
BLESSED ISLES
BY IRVING BACHELLER,
Author Of .Eben Holden" l." Etc.
copYpIcHr 1905 PUBLISHING COMPANY
BY IRVING BAcHELLER.
uthor Of "Eben Holden" "D'r

fun had been thing far from their
thought.
"Play checkersT he inquired.
"Afraid we couldn't" said Miss Le-
titia, answering for both.
"Old Sledge?"
She shook her head, smiling.
IL don't wish to lead you into reck-
lessness," the teacher remarked, "but
I'm sure you wouldn't mind being
happy"
Miss S'mantha had startled look.
'Tn-in a-proper way" he added.
Lets be joyful. Perhaps we could
play I spy"
"Y!" they both exclaimed, laughing
silently.
"Never ate chicken pie like that" he
added In all sincerity. "If I were
poet I'd indite an ode written after
eating some of the excellent chicken
pie of the Misses Tower I'm going to
have some like II on my farm"
In reaching to help himself he touch.
| ed the teapot. Withdrawing his hand
quickly.
"Burn yer" said Miss S'mantha.
Eyes, but like It," said he, bit en-
larrassed. 81 often go and-put my
hand on hot teapot IL I'm having too
much fun"
They looked up at him, puzzled.
Ever slide down hill?" he inquired.
looking from one to the other after a
bit Of silence.
"Oh, not since we were llttle," said
Miss Letltla, holding her biscuit dain-
tlly after taking bite none too big for
bird to manage.
"Good fun" said he. "Whlsk you
back to childhood In jiffy. Folks
ought to slide down hill more'n they
do. 1t isn't a good idea to be always
climbing"
"'Frald we couldn't stan It." said
Miss S'mantha tentatively. Under all
her man fear and suspicion lay fur
tive recklessness.
"Y, MOI" the other whispered. laugh
ing silently.
The pervading silence of that house
came flooding in between sentences.
For a moment Trove could hear only
the gurgle Of pouring tea and the faint
rattle of china softly handled. When
he felt as IL the silence were drown
ing him he began again:
"Life is nothing but q school. I'm a
teacher, and I deal in rules. If you
want to kill misery load your gun
with pleasure" ------r-~'~~~s>.-''
"Do you know Of anything for in
digestion?" said Miss s'mantha, charg'
ing her sickly voice with a frmness
calculated to discourage any undue
familiarity.
"Just the thing-a sure curer' said
he emphatically. -
"Come highT she inquired.
"No; It's cheap and plenty"
"where do you sendT
"Oh," said he. you will have to 60
after itr'
"What is II calledr'
.Fun," said the teacher quickly, "and
the place to find II Is out Of doors. II
grows everywhere on my farm. ia
! rather have a pair Of skates than oil
the medicine this side Of China"
J She set down her teacup and looked
up at him. She was beginning to thinh
} him a fairly safe and well behaved
; man, although she would have beer
more comfortable II he had been shut
IN cage.
: "If l had a pair O. skates" said sh'
family, with a look Of inquiry at heI
sister, II dunno but I'd try EN-"
Miss Letitia began to laugh silently.
"I'd begin with overshoes," said the
: teacher. "a pair of overshoes and I
D walk on the crust every morning be
; fore breakfast; increase the dose grad
! ually." Sc ...--s~-.---.,n,-.4s-..a.. 80. =
: The two old maids were now NOR
at ease with their guest His kindl,
manner and plentiful good spirits hat
begun to warm and cheer them. Mis-
S'mantha even cherished secret re
solve to slide II the chance came.
= After tea Sidney Trove. against thei
i protest, began to help with the dishes
Miss S'mantha prudently managed Il
b keep the stove between him and her
A fire and candles were burning In tn
parlor. He asked permission. however
$ to stay where he could talk with them
J. Tunk Hosely, the man Of all work
= came In for his supper. He was an od'
I character. Some. with finger on thel
= foreheads, connded the opinion that h
7. was "a little on" All agreed he wa
!. no fool, In a tone that left 1t open I
/. argument. He had small figure an
r q big squint His perpetual squint an
% bristly, short beard were great inJus
q tice to him. They gave him q look ss