Amador ledger., 1907-11-01

feet. A feck of blood flew upon Miss
Gatty's faded froclz. Noting it, the
man said awkwardly: please excuse
me. I've been acting the brute But
those berries We're my PRIDE
''YOu had Il right to-do as you did, ;,
Miss Gatty painted. "Only-please go
away! Go quickr'
She spoke STOPPING over the hens.
The man looked at her, close enough
to see two tears plash down on the
corpses. He ran incontinently from
the sight. but not altogether cravenly.
Inside FIVE minutes he was back with a
basket of fine, dewy, scarlet berries.
Miss Gatty had vanished So had the
slain. He walked around to the back
door searching for her without finding.
Being a determined person, he stepped
boldly inside. Miss Gatty sat in the
prim dining room, her head buried In
her arms beside the old mahogany ia
bic. She was sobbing-hard, dry sobs.
The intruder half turned as though to
run away again. but thought better CT
it, stepped forward and set down his
basket in front of her with a resound-
ing thump. AS she sprang up startled
he said in an embarrassed voice: May
be you don't know who l am. Ny
Dame'S Labor
But did know it. You should not
be here Miss Gatty painted. Your
Wife
THANK you, but I haven't got a wife
NOT yet" M. Lalor said, with a grin.
you must be thinking of my sister-in-
law. Fanny keeps house for me. but
she hates the place and wants to leave.
| think III let har-and see if l can't
have reace-and Ieighbors. Don't you
think We ought to be neighbors? l
do. So I've brought these" pointing to
the berries. Wont you give me some
radishes TO take home for my lunch
eon?"
ITO be sure, III be so gladr' Miss
Gatty cried, springing up, quite forget
full Of tear stains, and darling toward
her dear garden, She meant to go
alone, but Andrew Lalor was right be-
hind her. Long before the radishes
were chosen they had buried all griev-
ances, past, present and to come Be
fore he left she had told him all about
Susanna-Susanna, who was the young
est, but had so much wiser head on
her shoulders. All unconsciously she
had told him many other things-things
that set him meGitating and smiling all
the way home. Once or twice, too, he
blushed and gnawed angrily at his
mustache, muttering: Lord, to think
that offered her money! Took her for
a quarrelsome old maid! It's going to
take time to live that down, but I'll do
it as sure as I'm six feet twor'
Susanna stayed on for whole week.
Quarterly meeting had turned out to be
the beginning OF revival, but Miss
Gatty did not mind in the least.
You must not worry thinking 1 am
lonely" she wrote. II am quite too
busy, keeping the hens as they should
be kept. And really 1 am finding out
that we have very good neighbors."
Susanna puzzled over that last SEN
tence, at least until she came home to
ma Mr. Laior established in the priv
ilege of keeping ward over the forag-
ings of the White Leghorns Her eyes
twinkled comprehension as he shook
hands on presentation. He caught the
twinkle and answered it boldly with:
please may l have your sister Helen?
1 knew it would do no good to ask be
fore you came home"
why, yes; L think you may" Su-
sauna said, the twinkle deepening
But do you think it is quite fair-this
way of playing beggar my neighbour"
You're really responsible. Your
hens have taught me to take what
want regardless of bounds" he flung
back at her. Susanna laughed out
right and answered honestly, 4'If they
really did il I'm mighty glad