The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-08-02

ana went Dack 10 lne house 10 Seu,s
Sam over with the fruit. Sam regard
ed him reproachfully when he had told
his tale, but the darky went down the
road to the next house and. after a
long delay, returned without the pan.
but he laid a shining half dollar in
Morningto!fs palm.
"Dey wouldn't take EN-" he explain
ed. 81 shuah had t. tax de money"
Mornington flung the money from
him with q gesture of DISGUST and went
in to breakfast feeling out of joint
with the whole world.
But there was worse yet to come.
for in the forenoon Terrence, former
owner Of the farm, made his appear
ance with the chapeTon from the
house next door. With many a "hem'
and a "haw' Terrence confessed that
finding q chance to clinch the lease OF
the adjoining farm through the straw
berry bed he had told the women that
1t was Il part of the land they had rent.
ed. 81 honestly meant to speak to YOU
about it, because I knew that you had
more berries than you wanted. was
going to pay for what they ate out OF
the rent" he concluded.
Mornington rose to his feet, and
Terrence backed through the door.
More than once he had witnessed the
city mans hasty temper. and he had
no desire for an exhibition.
Mornington watched him go and
then turned to Mrs. Surrey.
81 don't know what l a say to You
to excuse my conduct" he began. y
missed the breakfast berries and want
ed to pt.t Il stop to it, but | did no:
knew t,c:.t "~a..-c-&e had claimed my
berry patch for bis 81 May bee
that my apology lie the freedom Of the
berry patch? There are plenty for lie
both. l nm not always Il bear, so you
need not be afraid to gather them"
When he so wished, Mornington
could be very charming, and now he
was cxerting himself to the full. Mrs.
Surrey became gracious, and the up
shot was that Mornington accepted an
invitation to tea, when he might make
his apology in person to Nancy Rich
mond.
So successful was he that the next
mornin~ when he went to pick his own
berries he fingered to help her fill her
pan. The berry season passed all too
quickly, but there We're other fruits,
and soon there was a well 'trodden
path from Mornington's porch to the
doorway of Studio farm. He went
with the girls on field trips, and
in the pleasant summer evenings he
took his guitar and, spent the even
ing on their porch.
Nancy remained his favorite, and the
day before they were to break up and
return to town he volunteered to help
pack.
"Come down to the orchard" he sug-
gested to Nancy. "and get some apples
to take back. They will help you to
think Of the old place While they last"
Nance caught up her s%unbonnet.
The basket they carried was soon filled
with rosy checked fruit, but Morning
ton showed no disposition to return to
the house. He leaned against the tree
and looked over the strawberry beds.
Pm going to put up Il sign" he
said, with u smile. $50 that Terrence
cannot rent my property or I accuse
some one else Of theft"
You We're awfully cross that morn
ing she said. With Il reminiscent smile.
II remember l rushed back to tla
house md declared that l would not
stay in the horrid place another day"
Were 0 sorry o changed your
mind?" he asked softly.
"Not after you found that l was not
a thief"
"But you are" he persisted. You
stole my heart
81 might say the same of you,' she
declared as he took her hand.
set a thief to catch q thief he
quoted. Have l caught you, dear?'
81 guess you have she confessed,
Though YOU don't deserve to-"
"And next season we will share the
stra wberies," he declared. 1T will
be joint ownership then"
She smiled into his eager eyes, and
then the s%unbonnet eclipsed his face.