Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-04

Ine nOOCluS Suldll DOyS cOulu lloL Iudhe that COW run. She even stretched heI neck toward Red, as though saying
 Hurry up with your foolishness. have q cud to chew and can't stand here idle all day" So Red golloped by and threw the moose over her head as an exhibition of how the thing was done rather than how it ought to be done. Nevertheless picnic parties are not hypercritical in the matter of amusement, and the feat received three encores. The last time he missed his cast through overconfidence, where. at the old COW tossed her head and tail in the air and tore off at an elephan- tine gallop, with bawl that sounded to Red nightly like derision.
 "Durned if she ain't laughing at me"' he cried. But as a matter of fact it was a hornet and its unmistakable sting that injected this activity into her system.
 It was all very pleasant to Miss Mat tie, as ones first picnic ill many years should be. She enjoyed the crisp green sod. the great trees standing around, parklike, with the sunlight falling be- tween their shade like brilliant tat ters of cloth of gold, while from the near distance came the tiny shouting of cool waters. They had camp fire at night, making the moonlight still more mysterious and remote by con rfo of ctrir, r,lo for the ears of those who cared to listen and for the legs of those who chose to take chances on tripping their light fantastic toes over tree roots in the grass.
 Red loved music, and he loved the night The poetic side of his memo ries of watching the Dipper swing around Polaris while he sung the COWS to sleep came back to him. In his mind he saw the vast prairie roll on to infinity. saw the mountains stand out, world of white peaks, rising from a sea of darkness. Again he heard the plaintive shrilling of an Indian whistle or the song of the lad down creek, made tuneful by the charm of dis tance
 Having a good time, Mattie?" he asked, with smile.
 "The best I ever had, Will" she an- swered, smiling back unsteadily. Poor lady, The size of an occasion Is so many standards, whether the stand nrd be inches or feet or miles. Miss Mattie's events had been measured in hundredths of an inch. and it took a good many of them to cover so small an action as a successful picnic on q beautiful night. Her eyes were hu- mid; her mouth smiled and dropped at the corners alternately. Red felt her happiness with keen sympathy, and, as he looked at her, suddenly she changed in his eyes. Just what the difference was he could not have told, nor whether it was i'll her or in him. sudden access of feeling, undefin- able, unplaceable, but strong, pos sessed him. There is a critical tenn perature in the life of man, when no amount of pressure can ever make the more expansive emotions assume the calmer form of friendship. There was something in Miss Mattie's eye which had warmed Red to that de- gree. but he didn't know it. He only knew that he wanted to sit rather un- necessarily close beside her. and that he would be sorry when it came time to go home And he was very silent.
 During the drive back to the house he spoke in monosyllables: he went straight to the barn with Lettis after ward. and made no attempt to take the usual frank and hearty good night kiss
 You're as glum as an oyster" said. Lettis. when they reached their quar- tcrs. What's the matter. old manT'
 q don't know. Let: I feel kind of quiet somehow"
 Sick? Or something go wrongT'
 "No: nothing of the kind. It's just sort of an attack of stiffness. but feel durn gO"d.''
 Lettis laughed. If 1t wasn't you. Red. I'd say you were in love" he said.
 It was well the barn was dark. or he would have seen a change wonderful 10 behold come over the ex-puncher's face The lad has hit it." he said to himself in astOnishment: aloud he grunted ''hunh' scornfulIy. and aroused himself for an unnecessary joke or two.
 Miss Mattie had noticed the attack of stiffness and immediately tried to fasten the blame upon herself What had she done: She couldn't recall anything She remembered she had said something about the way his hair looked with the moon shining on it. Perhaps he had taken offense at that The remark vas entirely compliment sry. but sometimes people are touehy about such things. Still. that was not the least like Cousin VIII She must have said or done something. though What could it He5 Oh. what a pitIfuI memory that could not recoIIect an in jury done to ones lest friend. She tossed and wondered over it for a long time before at length she fsI ssIeep-
 Red also looked up at the roof and t0ok account of stock His face was radiant f8 the dark. If could only Puil that oT- he thought T must seem an awful rough Cuss to her. though All right for q co1si1. but its different when yoa cc1e to the other proposifion- My Jiriav: I'll take chz1re ia the morning and E1d cut snyho-- szid he- ard. ezsed fa