The daily Alaskan., 1907-02-15
THE POACHER
IOrlginal.l


 grew clumPs of yiolets. Going to the wall, she leaned her arms on it and teasted her eyes on the flowers. There 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 vlOlets.
 It was very pleasant in there. The suns rays poured through the tiny leaves and fell pleasantly warm on her shoulders. She sat down on the root of q tree and, putting the violets in her ] lap, was culling them when from the road she heard q voice:
 "Poacherw
 Turning, she saw a man leaning on the wall as she had leaned on it, look Ing at her.
 T 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 thS flowers on the ground.
 Might as well be hanged for a sheep as lamb" said the man. The sin ot committing robbery is not atoned for by leaving the plunder in ruined cor. dItion."
 The girl cast a hasty glance at ths wall to the right and left of her tor mentor. She wished to get out of thR place. but not to pass him. You may just as well make your exit where you made your entrance" !" be 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 had never been in such fix before. Had she been older or of different temper she might have retorted. AS 1t was, she concealed her peutup feel lngs by keeping her mouth shut. With faltering step she started to- ward a point of the wall considerably to the strangers right. but when he moved in that direction also she turned and went to his left. He also changed bis direction. It was evident he in- tended to head her off. The girl looked indignant. but through rising tears. In an instant the man vaultcd the wall and joined her.
 T didn't think you would take me 90 seriously" he said. and, picking up the yiolets she had thrown down, he handed them to her.
 "I see no more reason why l should take them from you" she said, than gather them myself. You have DO right to give them"
 ''I can pay for them"
 So can l"
 "Tf you will not accept them frnn ue shall know that I'm not forgiven
 He gave her an appealing look which she could not resist, and she took the Siolets
 If you will come with me- he said, '.I will take you into the house. know the owner well-and show you some of | his treasures.
 He had winning way with him that she could not resist. He escorted her to the house. opened the front door without ringing. left her for moment in the great hall and then returned.
 Come with me" he said. Its all clght'
 ! He led the way 10 the conservatory she following. wondering at his aSsur' ance thus to make himself at home in | another's house In the conservatory be plucked flowers right and left and whenever he had handful would give them to her. She took them, supposing she was to carry them for him. When she was well loaded he led her to the | entrance to the place.
 The owner begs that you will ac' | cept these flowers" he said. He alsc wishes you hereafter to take all the violets you like and call for flowers from his conservatory whenever yor feel inclined"
 But how did he come to take SC much interest in me- asked the aston Ished girl.
 "Oh. told him that you were yer! fond of flowers"
 She left him at the gate and wen home to dream of the adventure.
 Four years later she returned iron college. A fete was given by the own CT of the place on which she had tres passed, and invitations came, including her. She accepted. desirOuS of seein! the owner who through his friend ha( given her such beautiful flowers. Or coming down from the dressing room the host. assisted by an elderly lady was receiving his guests. The mOmen the girl saw him she knew him for tn man who had caught her stealing vio lets.
 She had never been quite Satisfe, with his interference or his czplana ton. She was not now an innocen schoolgirl. but young womau of th , world. and was considered yer. attractive one She resolved on mak ing the gentleman pay for his amuse ment. She was much pleased to dis cover that he did not remember hay ing ever seen her before, and she di, 2 not remind him that he had. She lai ] every snare for him of which she wa I rsnahIs and they were many and O